Video Processing Checklists

Introduction

Processing videos is the second stage of the Content Factory. We start with raw footage and turn it into different pieces of content, such as YouTube videos, One Minute Videos, and more. These pieces of content are then shifted to stages 3 and 4 (posting and boosting) to reach our target audience and help us achieve our business goals.

Whether you're an internal or external VA responsible for editing on behalf of us or our clients, these are the checklists you should adhere to for processing any type of video content. Our checklists cover everything from basic editing tasks, such as trimming footage and adding music, to more advanced tasks like creating subtitles and incorporating lower thirds and CTAs.

We've also included example videos that showcase the outcomes of following these checklists step by step. Make sure to watch them first to gain a better understanding of our expectations for video processing.

QA Checklist for One Minute Video

General

  • Add a visual hook, which is text at the top of the video (see example videos below)
  • Ensure all the spellings are correct.
  • Use square or portrait format (1080 x 1350 or 1080 x 1920).
  • Add very soft background music (minimally audible).

Intro

  • Add lower thirds with the names of the speakers that last 5 seconds each.
  • Ensure the lower third is placed in either the left or right lower third of the frame.

Captions

  • Ensure the font is readable.
  • Should not exceed three lines and should be centered.
  • Must not contain grammatical or spelling errors.
  • Exclude any curse words.

Main Content

  • Remove filler words ("Uh," "Um," or "Hm," etc) stuttering or dead air. 
  • Remove low authority moments such as when people say, "This is my first time speaking...," "I'm nervous...," "I'm scared...," or "I haven't talked into a microphone before..."
  • If you have two or more camera angles for the same video, transition between the different camera angles appropriately.
  • Ensure that the audio is properly synced with the video.

Outro

  • Add appropriate branding as an outro.

What Not to Do

  • Do not start the video at mid-sentence.
  • Do not include an intro bumper.
  • Do not use copyrighted music.
  • Do not use stock images. (Only use our own images and b-roll)

Examples:

QA Checklist for 1-Hour Video (YouTube or Landing Page)

 
❑ Ensure you understand the GCT of the video.
 
❑ Opening:
    • Start with a hook - e.g. a killer snippet from the interview that is up to 15 seconds long.
    • Then, cut it with an Opening Bumper (company logo with music) and proceed to the main video.
      Here's an example video (watch the first 45 seconds of this video) to see what it should look like.

❑ Insert lower thirds - In most cases, we add the lower thirds while introducing the person. If this is inappropriate, add them whenever you deem it fitting.

❑ Captions - should not contain grammatical or spelling errors. The colors should complement the branding colors or logo colors. 
 
❑ Color Correct/Color Grading - This will improve the general appearance of the video and make it look more professional and appealing to watch.
    • If there are two or more camera angles provided, ensure that the color balance for the A-roll matches the others. Add smooth transitions to each angle.
❑ Cut pauses, dead air, long breaks, and unnecessary or low-authority scenes. You can accomplish all of these tasks using the 'remove filler words and shorten word gaps' option in Descript. You can also punch in or punch out of your subject to keep your viewer oriented in the space.
 
❑ Add visual support items, like b-rolls, photos, screenshots, text animation, motion graphics, ideally every 10 seconds in the video to keep it interesting.
Watch this 14-minute video from Parker Walbeck to see the basic workflow we want to incorporate into our videos.
 
❑ Do not use any stock images or stock videos as b-roll.
 
❑ Do not use copyrighted music.
 
❑ Ensure the sound is easily audible and there's no background noise.
 
❑ Add an appropriate call to action according to the content and purpose of the video (GCT) 

❑ Create a thumbnail for YouTube (1920x1080). Consider the color palette/scheme for the speakers in the video.

Examples:

Examples:

These checklists outline the video processing procedures we adhere to for both our content and our clients' content. We believe that this will make it much easier for you to independently QA your videos. If you wish to learn more about video processing, learn how to edit videos using Descript.
That's it. Now, let's see you process your first video.
If you enjoyed this tutorial, be sure to explore our Task Library for more tasks waiting to be mastered!