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Video Editing for Social Media

Cut short videos that hook in 3 seconds and pay you to edit for creators and brands.

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About this course

Learn the craft of editing short video that actually performs on Reels, TikTok, Shorts and Stories — hooks, retention, captions, pacing, repurposing one shoot into many clips, and copyright-safe music — all doable on a phone or a budget laptop with limited data. You will master CapCut, InShot and the basics of Premiere and DaVinci, then leave able to take one piece of footage and ship platform-ready shorts, plus a clear plan to get paid editing for creators and brands in naira and dollars.

Editing for social is not editing a wedding tape. The viewer is one thumb-flick from leaving, and your only real job is retention — keeping them watching to the end.

Who this course is for

For creators who want their videos to perform, and for people who want to be paid to edit for creators, brands, churches, schools and events. It is built for a phone or a budget laptop with limited data, and assumes no editing experience.

What you'll learn

By the end you will be able to

Pay, demand and the market in Nigeria

Every brand, creator, pastor, politician and event now needs short video, and most of them cannot edit. In 2026 Nigerian editors charge ₦3,000 to ₦10,000 per short for beginners, ₦10,000 to ₦30,000 per short for polished work, and ₦100,000 to ₦400,000 a month on retainer for a creator or brand needing 12 to 20 clips. International clients on Upwork and Fiverr pay $15 to $60 per short. Editors who understand retention and hooks — not just transitions — are the ones who get retained.

Tools and what it costs to start

CapCut and InShot on a phone (free tiers are enough for the course), a folder system for footage, and 2 to 5 GB of data a week for downloads and uploads. A used laptop (from about ₦150,000 in 2026) unlocks Premiere and DaVinci Resolve (free) and faster work. Royalty-free music sources are covered in the tools lesson.

Course syllabus — 7 lessons

  1. Editing for retention: the 3-second hook and why people keep watching13 min
  2. Pacing: cutting on action, cutting on the beat, and finding your rhythm13 min
  3. Captions, text and safe zones: editing for the silent, small-screen viewer12 min
  4. Aspect ratios and formats: editing the right shape for every platform12 min
  5. One shoot, many clips: repurposing, b-roll, motion and covers14 min
  6. Tools and copyright-safe music: CapCut, InShot, Premiere, DaVinci — and staying legal13 min
  7. Get paid to edit: trends, posting cadence, finding clients and pricing in naira14 min

Your project

One Shoot, Two Platform-Ready Shorts

A single shared document link (Google Doc, Word or Notion, set to 'anyone with the link can view') containing: a note on the source footage used, links to BOTH exported shorts (each for a different platform, with captions and correct aspect ratio), the track/source used for music on each, and a 150-250 word retention note explaining your hook, your dead-air cuts, the platform differences, and one improvement.

One shoot, two platform-ready shorts: from one piece of footage you deliver two edits for two different platforms, with a note on the choices you made, packaged as a public link. It is graded on hook, pacing, captions and correct format — the things clients pay for.

Certificates on Skillnaija are earned, not issued for attendance: you submit this project, it is graded against a rubric, and passing issues a certificate anyone can verify. See the full project brief, rubric and free workbook →

Frequently asked questions

Is Video Editing for Social Media free?

Yes. Video Editing for Social Media is completely free on Skillnaija. You need a free account to open the lessons, and there is no charge for the course, the project, or the certificate.

How long does Video Editing for Social Media take to complete?

5 weeks · ~4 hrs/week. There are 7 lessons, about 2 hours of material in total. You learn at your own pace and your progress is saved.

Do I need any experience to start Video Editing for Social Media?

Beginner-friendly. You can start from scratch — no prior experience is assumed.

What will I learn in Video Editing for Social Media?

You will build practical skills in Editing for retention: the 3-second hook and cutting dead air, Pacing — cutting on action and on the beat, Captions for silent viewing and respecting safe zones, Aspect ratios and formats per platform (Reels, TikTok, Shorts, Stories, YouTube), Repurposing one shoot into many clips and covers/thumbnails, Tools across the board: CapCut, InShot, Premiere and DaVinci basics, Copyright-safe music and getting paid to edit for creators and brands. Every lesson is written for a Nigerian context, with examples drawn from how the work is actually done and paid for here.

Do I get a certificate for Video Editing for Social Media?

Yes, but it has to be earned. You complete the course project — One Shoot, Two Platform-Ready Shorts and submit it for grading. Passing the project issues a verifiable certificate; finishing the lessons alone does not.

Can I edit professionally on a phone?

Yes for short-form social video, which is most of the paid work. CapCut on a phone is what many working editors use for Reels and TikToks. Longer projects and colour work are where a laptop pays for itself.

How do I find video editing clients in Nigeria?

Start with the creators and businesses you already follow: re-edit one of their videos as a sample and send it. The last lesson covers outreach, portfolio pages, pricing and platforms in detail.

Is the music I use on TikTok safe to use for a client's ad?

Usually not — in-app music licences cover personal use, not commercial. The course explains royalty-free sources and the disclosure rules so a client's ad is not muted or taken down.

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