YouTube video editing

A clear structure

1. 01

   Opening

   Confirm what the video answers.

   Output: Hook

2. 02

   Main content

   The steps, points or story.

   Output: Body

3. 03

   Summary

   Recap the key points.

   Output: Recap

4. 04

   Next step

   What to watch or do next.

   Output: Ending

Delivering on the title

Viewers who click a video called 'How to choose a boiler' expect to learn how to choose a boiler. The opening should confirm that quickly, and the content should follow. Long introductions, unrelated stories and delayed answers can make viewers leave. Cut anything that does not serve what the title promised.

Pacing

Even longer videos need momentum. Trim pauses and repeated points, use cutaways to show what is being described, add simple on-screen text for key terms and vary shots where possible. Pacing should suit the topic: a detailed tutorial can be slower than an entertaining overview. Watch a draft at normal speed before approving.

YouTube's recommended upload settings

Export settings

YouTube's help on recommended upload settings lists MP4 with H.264 video and AAC-LC audio at 48kHz, says content should be encoded at the frame rate it was recorded, and gives recommended bitrates, such as 8 Mbps for 1080p at standard frame rates. Interlaced footage should be deinterlaced before upload. The page notes some features are for partners using Content Manager, but the settings are a useful reference for any upload.

Example: tutorial videos for a heating engineer

Before uploading

Captions

YouTube's help explains that captions can be uploaded as a file, auto-synced from a transcript or typed in YouTube Studio, and that automatic captions use speech recognition and only cover the video's default language. Uploading checked captions gives viewers accurate text, especially for names and technical terms.

Shorts from longer videos

YouTube's help says square or vertical videos of up to three minutes uploaded since 15 October 2024 are classed as Shorts, and that a 16:9 ratio keeps a video long-form. Cutting vertical Shorts from a longer video can introduce the full video to new viewers.

Chapters

Chapters, where YouTube shows them, let viewers jump to the part they need. Plan them during editing so each section has a clear start and a short, descriptive name. Short, descriptive names help viewers scan.

Thumbnails

A thumbnail that matches the video's content helps the right viewers click. YouTube's help says custom thumbnails need a verified account. Design them alongside the edit.

Sound for longer videos

In a long video, uneven sound is tiring. Level the voice so it stays consistent, reduce background hum, and keep any music low under speech or leave it out. A viewer may listen through headphones or a phone speaker, so check both.

On-screen text and graphics

Simple lower thirds for names, short text for key terms and clear labels on screen recordings help viewers follow. Keep them in your channel style and on screen long enough to read on a phone.

End screens

Point viewers to one related video or a clear next step at the end, rather than several options.