Videos play an important role in social media marketing; nothing sells quite the way an interesting video can. Videos are what drives the Internet these days as people’s attention is grabbed easier with interesting content. But boring videos won’t cut it. To enhance your marketing strategy, you need free video editing software.
Why Do Videos Matter In Social Media Marketing?
When you create content for your social media accounts, you need to focus on visuals that will attract and lure people in. Videos do that very well. People love being entertained, and the right kind of videos are entertaining. It has been noticed that tweets with videos have a six times higher chance of getting retweeted. And Facebook Live videos get 10 times more comments. Clearly, videos are the way to go when it comes to creating compelling visual content.
So, Which Free Video Editing Software Is The Best?
There are quite a few editing software options that are brilliant and won’t cost you a cent. For your convenience, we’ve gathered information about the best free video editing software currently available.
This list includes software that can be used on mobile apps as well as desktops. Each of them has features that make them worth your time. It is up to you to find the best software for your projects and social media campaign.
Note: The following list of top 5 free video editing software options is in no particular order.
Blender
Blender works on Windows, Mac and Linux and is considered one of the best free video editing software tools. It is an open-source tool and can be used by anyone. Furthermore, Blender offers many great features.
When using Blender, you can expect to enjoy features such as audio mixing, live preview, waveform visualisation and chroma vectorscope. Other features include scrubbing, syncing, luma waveform and histogram displays.
Also, Blender has 32 slots to add audio, effects, videos and images. Another bonus is that there is a 3D animation suite that can be used with more experienced editors. Because of its professional features, Blender can be difficult to use for those new to editing.
OpenShot
OpenShot is available on different platforms – Mac, Windows, and Linux. It is considered one of the best free video editing software options. With numerous features, this editor is very useful. Using the drag-and-drop interface is simple and easy enough for even complete beginners.
Several of the features from OpenShot are what you’d expect from advanced software tools. Real-time previews, unlimited layers and video transitions are just some of the features on offer.
You can make use of video effects, keyframes and animation features as well. However, sometimes, the software can lag, which is inconvenient.
iMovie
This free video editing software is available exclusively on Mac and iOS. You can use it as an app on mobile devices if needed. iMovie supports 4k resolution which makes it quite useful to professional editors.
With a drag-and-drop and clean interface, it is easy to add effects, titles, music and more to videos. Editors can also speed up or slow down videos and add several filters to enhance their uniqueness. Something that sets iMovie apart from other editing software options is the ability to change background locations. With this, your characters can appear to be anywhere.
It has a clean and minimal drag-and-drop interface that you can use to add titles, music, and effects, etc. to your video clips. You can slow down or speed up the videos and add filters to make them more interesting.
VSDC
This open-source and free software is available on Windows and supports almost any format you can throw at it. There is a paid version available as well. However, the free version offers enough features to keep you satisfied. The paid version is better suited to professional editors though.
Using VSDC is not at all very complicated and has several features such as blending modes and filters. You will also get colour correction and some visual and audio effects. Unfortunately, this software is only available on Windows. It can sometimes be a little slow to respond.
Lightworks
Lightworks is available to Linux, Windows and Mac users. There is a paid version too, but the free one is very sufficient. This is a very powerful tool that is appreciated for its professional features.
You can expect to be able to make use of features such as exporting to 720p (for YouTube). Other features include multi-cam support and high-precision video trimming.
There are also other audio and video features. However, Lightworks can be a little bit advanced for some users. Fortunately, there are video tutorials that show users the ropes.
Other Great Free Video Editing Software Tools
Shotcut
Yet another open-source and free video editing software option, Shotcut is compatible with Linux, Windows and Mac. The features on offer here are impressive and very satisfactory. Using it is very easy as well – it can be easily downloaded.
Shotcut supports all platforms and formats despite being designed for Linux at first. It isn’t necessary to import the video that you want to edit – this saves a lot of time. Another great feature is that Shotcut supports 4K resolution.
In addition, the tool has features such as colour correction, wipe transitions, video and audio effects, interlacing and more. Using Shotcut is trickier than some of the other tools on our list so it’s not as recommended for beginners.
Filmora
Here, you have a powerful and free video editing software tool that is quite popular. It is well-designed and offers users professional features. With Filmora, it is possible to layer clips and audio.
Background noise is not a big problem as it can be removed with this tool. Users can export videos in different frame sizes and even share them online. Filmora is available on Mac and Windows but not Linux. Using it is very easy and straightforward.
Adobe Premiere Rush
Adobe’s tool is available to users of Windows, Android, Mac and iOS. It has been made to meet the sharing and video editing needs of any editor. This is a mobile application that can be used anywhere. There is also a desktop version that works well on Windows and Mac.
The interface is easy-to-use and editing options are simple to navigate. It is possible to create a video right on the app, which is very convenient. Features include motion graphics and audio manipulation.
The free version is a bit limited on what it allows users to do. The paid version, however, is rich in features. You can easily share created and edited videos on social media.
VideoPad
Exclusive to Windows, this free video editing software tool is a really good option. As a starter tool, VideoPad is very popular. For basic editing, this editor is easy to use and comes with many pre-made transitions.
There are many sound effects also available for easy use as well as 3D video editing. You can export your videos directly to YouTube and other social media platforms.
GoPro QuikStories
GoPro QuikStories are available to Andriod and iOS users that can create really engaging videos. The interface is simple and GoPro created this free video editing software to be an easy way to edit videos.
There are a number of very useful features available and several presets that don’t need much editing. It is a superb way to edit and post videos on the go but does not offer as many advanced options. This is the perfect tool for beginners but won’t satisfy professional editors as much.
DaVinci Resolve
This is a professional video editor that is aimed at more experienced users. It offers really good features that can create great video content. The Individual User Cache feature is great for teams. It gives everyone on a team working on a project the opportunity to work together.
In addition, the editor offers up to 500 sound effects that are royalty-free. It is compatible on Linux, Mac and Windows. However, DaVinci Resolve is not as easy to use, so will take a while for beginners to get used to.
HitFilm Express
HitFilm Express is another really professional free video editing software option for marketers. It forms part of a number of projects by FXHome Limited. You get many great features that are easy to use and help enhance video quality.
The tool is actually geared towards helping make superior movies, so you know you’re getting the best. It has more than 400 presets and effects as well as video tutorials. However, this tool could be a bit overwhelming for beginners.
In addition, it does not work on Linux systems. If you’re a Mac or Windows user with some experience, you might love this editor though.
How To Use Free Video Editing Software In Social Media Marketing
Now that you know about the editing software available to you, we will briefly discuss how you can use these tools.
There are several things to remember when using videos on social media platforms. Each network has its own ‘rules’. Stick to these rules and you’ll get the most out of your social media marketing campaign.
Timing
Your videos should be the right length to get the most engagement and it differs, depending on the network you use. On Facebook, videos should be about 120 minutes and Twitter’s videos should be no longer than 30 seconds.
When posting videos on Instagram, keep them 60 seconds or less and on Snapchat, 10 seconds are long enough.
Autoplay
Some social media networks offer users an Autoplay feature. This allows videos to be played automatically on users’ feeds. It encourages people to watch your videos since they are already playing. These grab attention so it’s a great tool for marketing.
Go Live
Live videos are extremely popular. People spend three times more time watching Facebook Live videos than pre-recorded videos. By broadcasting live, you can see how many people your video is reaching. They can comment in real-time as well.
For posters of live videos, it’s possible to comment on comments as they come in. These videos get a lot more engagement and views – ideal for marketing purposes.
Use Subtitles
It is a good idea to add subtitles because users can’t always watch videos when they’re using their social media accounts. Sometimes, they need to be quiet and would have to skip loud videos. Users can mute the videos and still watch what you want them to see. Also, hearing-impaired users value the addition of subtitles to videos.
Be Search-Optimized
When it comes to effective social media marketing, having your content optimized for search results is vital. You want people to find your content when they’re searching for information on your niche or industry.
Make sure that your videos have keywords and important phrases in the headlines and descriptions. This is relevant for all social platforms that you could be using. Hashtags are a great way to add some SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to your content.
Call To Action
The goal of your videos is to get people to perform certain actions. This includes visiting your site or buying your product/service. Make sure that the action you desire is obvious in your video. Don’t leave viewers guessing at what it is you want them to do upon seeing your videos. The point engaging content such as videos is engagement. Give people reason to engage and then tell them where and how to do so.
Final Thoughts on Free Video Editing Software
As a digital marketer, you need to create content that is engaging and compelling. Videos are a great way to do this but can be difficult to get right. With the right tools, such as video editors, you can create high-quality content. There are many options to choose from, and the free options are just as good as the premium software. Make use of the list of products we mentioned here to improve your social media marketing campaigns. Be creative and spend as much time as you need building your content – you’ll reap the rewards.