Looking to monetize your video production skills remotely? With video marketing booming, brands crave high-quality corporate video, social media video, explainer animations and more. This comprehensive guide covers turning your video production talents into an online side business or full-time career.
Research Video Production Roles
First, understand the spectrum of remote video production roles in-demand by organizations and individual video creators:
- Videographer/video editor - Shoot, edit and produce video content from commercials to YouTube productions. Requires video equipment, editing software skills and creative vision. Freelance videographers set rates based on project sizes and complexity involved.
- Animator - Create visually appealing motion graphics, kinetic text, 2D animation and explainer videos. Must master animation software like Adobe AfterEffects. Especially helpful for complex services/products needing demonstration.
- Video captioning and subtitling service - Add text captions, subtitles and translations allowing videos to reach wider, global audiences across platforms. Meticulous transcribing skills a must. Allows those with just basic tech setups to participate.
- Video marketing consultant - Advise clients on video strategy, ideation, scriptwriting, production planning and distribution. Requires both production knowledge and marketing savvy to align efforts with business goals, audiences and platforms.
The range of opportunities spans needs small businesses have around basic social media content to video ads required by global enterprises. Review job boards like Flexjobs, SolidGigs and Upwork for current remote openings.
Develop In-Demand Video Production Skills
While specific equipment and software needs vary between video production roles, core competencies remain consistent:
- Shooting skill - From framing, lighting, focus pulls and seamless camera movement during recording, quality footage starts here. Consider investing in courses to keep honing technique.
- Editing ability - Chopping clips, arranging b-roll, audio editing, color correction, adding graphics/effects and outputting polished final cuts. Platforms like Adobe Premiere are gold standards to learn.
- Motion graphics talent - For explainer videos and ads, skills in kinetic text, logo reveals, animated infographics, character animation and more bring extra polish. Aftereffects and Illustrator are commonly used tools.
- Brand messaging - Grasp of marketing principles like identifying target audiences, aligning to branding guidelines and optimizing content for intended goals.
- Remote collaboration skill - Comfort hopping on strategy calls, managing feedback cycles and work communicating via project management platforms. Fluency conveying creative ideas verbally as well as in writing.
Building experience around corporate video, ads, YouTube creator content, social media video, explainer animation and more expands your value as a flexible video asset ready to support various business needs.
Create an Online Video Production Portfolio
The most important tool for attracting remote video production work is a stellar portfolio. Clients invest in creative talent only after seeing strong samples first. Include:
- Identify your specialty - Are you pitching yourself as a generalist able to deliver diverse projects start to finish? Or positioning around niche motion graphic animation or video editing mastery? Allow your portfolio organization and homepage messaging to reflect your sweet spot.
- Feature best corporate work - For business-focused creative work, ensure polished samples of business advertising, event production, branding videos, case studies and more take the spotlight if seeking corporate gigs.
- Showcase YouTube content - For video editor/videographer roles supporting online creators, curate selections demonstrating YouTube thumbnail design, personality-focused editing with graphics, solid understanding of platform optimization conventions etc. Match samples to target client needs.
- Display technical range - Across projects selected, aim to feature videos leveraging various shooting techniques, editing effects, animation styles, complex transitions and audio. This illustrates versatility adapting to assignments as needed.
Having an online portfolio site allows prospective clients to review work 24/7. Provide video samples directly on the portfolio site rather than just linking out. Make browsing user-friendly.
Optimize Your Freelance Video Production Resume
When formally applying for remote video production roles, ensure your resume makes relevant skills, past clients and deliverables shine:
- Feature measurable key achievements rather than just listing job responsibilities. What viewership, engagement or conversion rates have your video deliverables achieved? Call out formally recognized creative awards received if applicable.
- Structure experience to put video production roles front and center. Include specifics like types of corporate videos produced, YouTube creators supported, typical video length turnaround times in post-production roles etc. Identify niche areas like social media ads, events or trainings.
- Incorporate relevant metrics and technical terminology. How many stories were typical shoots? What editing platforms mastered? Types of animation techniques applied in motion design roles. Cases of repurposing one video deliverable across platforms?
- List key programs and equipment mastered over the years beyond top-level proficiency in Premiere, Aftereffects etc. Drill down to reflect mastery of proprietary production systems, filming gear used and more.
Tailor your application materials to each production job targeted, aligning background and vision to the clients' needs.
Prepare For Common Video Editor Assessments
Applying for remote editing roles in particular? Expect skills testing:
Editing Tests
- Time-limited video editing challenges testing speed transforming raw clips into polished cuts showcasing scene arrangements, transitions, text, audio alignment and effects.
- Style examination reviews assessing if you can identify when cuts, transitions or techniques do/don't align to cinematic, corporate, documentary or YouTube creator conventions. Distinguishing appropriate usage in context is key.
Technical Assessments
- Platform tests evaluating editing interface navigation and tool proficiency importing media, constructing timelines, leveraging effects, exporting. Adobe Premiere is commonly evaluated.
- Video format examinations assessing compressed video knowledge across codecs like H.264, ProRes, AVCHD; color spaces like RGB vs YUV; containers like MOV, MXF and MP4; and data rates affecting quality.
Use online editing challenges and reading up on technical specifications to get comfortable with potential test scenarios.
Grow Your Video Production Business
As your remote video production business picks up steam, actively nurture its growth:
- Continue expanding your portfolio and reel - Tackle new styles of corporate video, social media ads, animation as possible to diversify what you offer.
- Invest in better equipment - Upgrade cameras, lenses, lighting, computer processing power and software packages. Pitch clients requiring advanced tools.
- Develop efficient workflows and templates - Create reusable workflows around tasks like color correction setting, title builds, lower thirds etc. Streamline the production process.
- Take on assistant video editors or subcontractors during peak times to handle the editing load if needed. Instill consistent quality standards.
Stay vigilant about work-life balance as your client roster grows. Avoid overcommitting capacity. Vet potential new clients carefully to ensure budget needs align before signing contracts. Stick to your core creative strengths rather than diluting specialty.