Hire Your First Editor Without Losing The Soul Of The Channel

At some point, editing becomes the bottleneck. Footage piles up, upload days slip and you spend more time dragging clips than shaping stories. Hiring an editor is the obvious next step, but it can feel risky. Handing over the timeline can change the feel of the channel if you treat the editor as a pair of hands instead of a creative partner. The goal is to gain speed and quality without losing the sense that viewers are still watching you.

You do that by hiring slowly, briefing clearly and building a shared language for what a good episode looks like.

Define why you are hiring before you post anything

Before you talk to any editors, be clear about what problem you are solving.

Do you need to publish more often, keep the same level or reduce burnout.
Do you want to raise polish for the same volume of content.
Do you want to free up time for writing, strategy or other work.

Write this down. It will shape who you hire and how you judge whether it works.

Gather reference episodes from your own library

Editors cannot read your mind, but they can read your back catalogue.

Pick three to five episodes that feel most like the channel at its best.
Note what you like about pace, cuts, use of b roll, music and graphics in each one.
Also note episodes that feel wrong to you and why.

These references will become the core of your creative brief.

Write a simple editor brief in plain language

A good brief does not need corporate jargon. It needs clarity.

Explain what the channel is for and who watches.
Describe the usual structure of an episode in a few bullets.
State your preferences on rhythm, humour, jump cuts, music and text on screen.
Link the reference episodes and list what to copy and what to avoid.

This gives potential editors something real to respond to.

Test editors with real but low risk footage

Portfolios are useful but do not show how someone edits your material.

Prepare a test pack with a short script or talking section, related b roll and any graphics.
Give a clear brief, rough length target and a simple deadline.
Pay for the test if you can. It sets a good tone.

Compare tests on both technical skill and how well they match the feel of your references.

Give structured feedback on tests

Feedback is where you see how collaboration will feel.

Start by noting what worked so the editor knows what to repeat.
Then list two or three changes that would move the edit closer to your vision.
Watch how they respond, both in attitude and in the next version.

You are looking for someone who can adjust without losing their own eye.

Start with a clear trial phase

It is easier for both sides if the first phase has an end point.

Agree to work together on a small number of episodes as a trial.
Define how feedback will work and how many rounds of changes are included.
Set check in points to discuss what is working and what is not.

This keeps expectations realistic and makes it easier to part ways if the fit is not right.

Separate narrative control from technical work

One way to protect the soul of the channel is to keep hold of story decisions at first.

Let the editor handle assembly, pacing, basic graphics and audio cleanup.
Keep final control over structure, key lines and moments that define the emotional arc.
As trust grows, invite the editor to suggest structural changes too.

This balance lets you ease into the partnership without feeling like you have given everything away.

Build a shared language for notes

Over time you want notes to be fast and precise, not long essays.

Create a small glossary for common notes, such as tighten, breathe, punch and hold.
Agree what each note means in seconds or frames where possible.
Use timecoded comments so the editor always knows exactly where you mean.

A shared language speeds up each round and reduces frustration.

Document the edit process as you go

As you settle into routines, write them down.

Note how projects are named, where files live and how versioning works.
Capture export settings, colour presets and audio treatment in one place.
Update this document when you change tools or preferences.

This makes it easier to add more help later or to cover for each other when needed.

Keep your hiring approach channel agnostic

Whether your channel focuses on teaching, reviews, builds, commentary or stories, the pattern is similar. You are hiring someone to help express your voice, not to replace it. Clear briefs, small tests and a shared language keep that balance healthy.

Practical checklist for hiring your first editor

Define why you are hiring and what success looks like.
Collect reference episodes and write a simple creative brief.
Run paid tests with real footage and give structured feedback.
Start with a clear trial phase and keep narrative control early on.
Build shared language and process docs as you go so collaboration gets easier over time.

When you hire your first editor without losing the soul of the channel, you turn editing from a private bottleneck into a shared craft. That lets you publish more steadily, raise quality and keep the parts of the work that only you can do.