You have spent hundreds and hundreds of hours perfecting your craft. You're talented, dedicated, and hungry for growth.
But here's the truth: technical skill alone has turned video editing into a commodity.
Most freelance editors never break past $20/hr because they offer the exact same service as everyone else. You're left competing on price with others, wondering if you will ever earn what you deserve.
What if I told you raising prices isn't about being the fastest or the fanciest?
It's about delivering more value than you invoice for. If you do that, clients will fight over you.
Today I'll share how to:
Stack skills
Turn one-offs into retainers
Lock in clients who refuse to let you go
Why “Good Enough” Editing Leaves You Replaceable
Myth: “Keep doing a good technical (repetitive) job and the work will keep flowing.”
Reality: Clients don't pay for technical skills.
They pay for someone who:
Offers ideas and solutions
Feels like a part of their team
Stacks extra skills so they never have to hire again
I used to think charging more was… arrogant. Until I realized this.
Charging more allows me to generate more value for my current clients. I don't have to search for more clients and try to be “good enough” just to earn a livable wage.
I started over-delivering - pitching content ideas, helping with scripting, thumbnail drafting, and more.
Clients started seeing me not as a disposable editor and necessary evil, but as someone who helps bring their vision to life. This led to more trust and higher-paying projects.
I call this the "Value-Stacking Mindset".
When you decide to adopt this lens and evolve into a creative partner, you'll:
Charge higher prices
Become your clients' first call
Turn clients into "fans" of your work
"I can't charge more" is the #1 mindset limitation I see most often. Let's tear it down.
Step 1 - Adopt the Value-Stacking Mindset
Always overdeliver (do more than you're paid for). Clients will see you as invested in their success.
An example could be you sending a thumbnail concept alongside the final edit.
Step 2 - Become a Creative Partner
Propose script tweaks, A/B testing, growth tactics - jump in wherever you can.
You will no longer be "an editor". You'll be the strategist they rely on.
Step 3 - Be The Most Reliable Person They Know
Establish daily/bi-daily check-ins, always deliver on time. Make sure clients always know a project's status.
Reliability builds trust, and they’ll have no reason to look elsewhere.
Take these 3 simple steps, and you'll transform into an unreplaceble business partner. Someone clients call first, pay well, and recommend without hesitation.
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If you feel like freelancing is a lot of work, it is.
And if you want guidance along the way, consider my 1-on-1 coaching.
Just message me on X/Twitter.
Thank you for reading.
- Joni