Tag: freelancer tips

  • AI Assisted Video Production: Why It’s Not Always Cheaper, Easier, or Just About Quantity

    Does AI simplify video creation? Many clients seeking creative services believe it should, expecting lower prices as a result. This creates a significant disconnect, as their cost expectations often don’t align with the time and effort truly involved, especially when aiming for high-quality, AI-assisted output.

    What’s often overlooked is that AI, while powerful, isn’t a magical button that instantly translates a script into a perfect video. Achieving the desired outcome with AI currently requires extensive prompt engineering and fine-tuning to make the video look realistic.

    a woman using a laptop
    Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

    Furthermore, many advanced AI features come with subscription costs that should be factored into the client’s budget, not solely borne by the creator.

    In this article, I’ll address the false assumptions about how AI affects video production expenses.

    Misconception 1: You Should Charge Me Half The Price Because You Are Using AI

    This common misconception stems from a misunderstanding of how AI integrates into video production. As a professional, it’s crucial to clearly outline where AI contributes and how it impacts pricing. For example, AI can significantly streamline the creation of a script, voiceovers, and background music, potentially allowing for cost reductions in these specific areas.

    However, once you move into the video editing and visual assembly phase, the value of human expertise becomes paramount. Clients need to understand the distinction between AI-generated assets and the nuanced, often iterative process of human editing.

    To navigate this, consider itemizing your quotes. Clearly separate the costs for AI-assisted elements versus human-intensive tasks. Better yet, employing an hourly rate often proves to be the fairest approach.

    This way, if a client initially opts for a more AI-driven video but then decides they prefer human-edited refinements or a complete shift away from AI-generated visuals, they’ll understand the increased cost reflects the additional time and specialized skill involved.

    This transparency manages expectations and ensures you’re compensated fairly for all your efforts.

    Misconception 2: Its Easy to Create Videos With The Help of AI. Anyone Can Do it.

    While it’s true that even basic prompts on premium AI video editors can generate video quickly, this simplicity comes with significant drawbacks. The core issue is that the assets and templates used in your video are often generic and widely available, meaning your content risks looking identical to others.

    Over time, you’ll likely encounter videos similar to your own, which dilutes your unique brand or message.

    happy woman using laptop in cozy living room at home
    Photo by Vlada Karpovich on Pexels.com

    Moreover, relying solely on AI output often means you’ll have to learn video editing yourself to truly customize the video. Tasks like adjusting audio levels for a voiceover or fine-tuning transitions require human intervention to achieve a polished, professional look.

    You might end up spending more time refining AI’s raw output than if you’d engaged a professional from the start, effectively wasting time to save a small amount of money.

    Beyond technical tweaks, successful video creation demands creativity. If you lack a creative eye, your AI-generated videos might feel generic, uninspired, and frankly, inhuman.

    An experienced video producer brings years of creative insight, ensuring your project stands out and connects with your audience in a meaningful way. So, while AI handles the prompts, human creativity and expertise are essential for crafting truly unique and engaging content.

    Misconception 3: Quantity, Not Quality, Matters.

    While it might seem tempting to churn out a high volume of videos with AI, this approach often overlooks the critical role of brand identity.

    How do you want your audience to perceive you?

    Strong brands are recognized by consistent elements like specific colors, fonts, and a unique voice. Unless your AI tool allows for precise adherence to your brand guidelines, you risk ending up with a chaotic mix of styles that confuses your audience and dilutes your identity.

    Focusing purely on quantity over quality means your brand’s voice and visual identity will likely be inconsistent, making it hard for people to recognize and connect with your content.

    A professional video producer, on the other hand, prioritizes aligning your videos with your company’s mission and vision, meticulously adhering to brand guidelines during editing.

    Once that strong, recognizable brand identity is established—where people can instantly identify your videos—then you can strategically scale up your content quantity. Building a high-value brand takes significant effort and a clear perception of how you want to be seen, not just a high volume of generic videos.

    Conclusion – Debunking AI Video Production Myths

    As we’ve explored, the world of AI-assisted video production is ripe with misconceptions. It’s clear that the belief you should charge half-price because you’re using AI often overlooks the nuanced skill and time involved in prompt engineering, fine-tuning, and integrating AI output with human expertise.

    Similarly, the idea that it’s easy for anyone to create quality videos with AI dismisses the critical need for creative vision, brand consistency, and often, additional human editing to achieve professional results.

    Finally, prioritizing quantity over quality with AI can dilute your brand identity and fail to resonate with your audience.

    While AI is a powerful tool, it’s an accelerator for skilled creators, not a magic wand that eliminates the need for human input, creativity, and strategic thinking.

    Understanding these distinctions is key to setting realistic expectations and valuing the blend of technology and talent that truly delivers impactful video content.


    Do you have other misconceptions about the cost of AI assisted video production? We’d love to hear them! Please share them in the comments section below.

    If you’re looking for professional AI-assisted video production services, contact me here.

    You can also follow me on social media @cheptionymutai for more insights and updates.

    Up until next, bye and bye and take care.

  • How to Work With Talented Freelancers With Poor Communication

    We are all wired to look for the best in everything- so long we can afford to pay for it. We feel bad when we fail to find the best or when we are tricked to believe its best when it isn’t.

    Video Summary of the Blogpost

    For instance, let’s say you are shopping on Ebay or Amazon for a good lapel microphone for your DSLR camera with some specific features and you find one within you price range. The packaging and pictures of the product looks good and you are convinced to buy it. The product is shipped to you.

    When you un-box and try it out, the sound it captures is horrible and has some hissing and pops. Alternatively, it may be perfect but not compatible with your DSLR camera as seller claimed online. What do you do?

    working macbook computer keyboard
    Photo by Negative Space on Pexels.com

    The only option you will have in this case is shipping the product back to the seller. While you are guaranteed to get your money back, you will have wasted your time and lost money in the process.

    Such experiences are very common In the Freelancing world but in a different way. A huge percentage of the Freelancing business -is service driven- and relies much on communication. If one of the parties involved in a project fails to communicate, the whole process is delayed and may result in many inconveniences especially when you are working on a deadline.

    In this blog-post, I share how to handle Freelancers with poor communication. If you are a freelancer and is dealing with a client with poor communication, please go and read this blog-post.

    So, how do you deal with good freelancers with poor communication? Well it depends. If you have posted a job and haven’t already hired, here is what I suggest you do in order to hire someone who will not let you down at the middle of the project with poor communication;

    Set your expectations

    In your post, be very clear on what you expect from the freelancer. What will help you catch a freelancer with poor communication is their response to your expectations when bidding. Put the following as your most important expectations from applicants; timeline, cost, revisions and working hours. i.e You can say you are looking for someone who works in your time zone for easy flow of communication.

    Remove applications which does not address the questions on your expectations

    If your offer is good and resonates with most freelancers, you will receive many applications. You will realize that most applications are generic. Sift through them and remove/decline applications which does not address your request. This alone will leave you with 10% of the applicants.

    Test their communication promptness

    Send them a message and ask them simple questions. See how fast they respond. Also, if they only answer your questions but does not ask any questions or clarification on your project, it means that the freelancer is after money than your project.

    Hire the freelancer who convinces you by show of their honest communication

    Many freelancers will pretend to work on weekends if you ask them only to just to please you. But a honest freelancer will tell you they don’t work on weekends and it will be up to you to hire them or not.

    Now, if you have already hired the best freelancer, and now you are finding it difficult to work with them because they are now responding late to your comments or request, here are the steps I recommend you follow to resolve it.

    Give yourself sometime to analyze why they are not responding on time

    Some freelancers will promptly communicate at the beginning of a project but relaxes after working with them for sometime. Their reasons maybe genuine while others are not. For example, a genuine reason maybe sickness or travelling. Them communicating upfront is professional.

    Pressure them to deliver within a timeline

    If the freelancer is swamped up with work, they will honestly tell you they will not. This means that their priority on your project is no longer their concern. This way, you can decide to hire someone else who will work on your terms.

    Analyze how you feel when they delay to communicate

    This is very important. The essence of starting any business endeavor is to get more work done and have freedom and happiness. If you are not feeling good, hire someone else immediately. Make sure you mutually end the contract with the freelancer and give them credit where they deserve.

    Use the experience to hire your next freelancer

    When scouting for your next freelancer, put in practice your experience while sifting through the many applicants. This way, you will be in a position to find the best freelancer.

    And that’s it from me today. And as they say, experience is the best teacher. Use your experience to hire the best freelancer who meets your demand. Don’t forget be kind and reasonable to each other. Let’s make internet safe and reliable market place to do business.

    And if you need help to create and produce professional screen-cast video tutorials for mobile apps, websites and software’s let me know here.

    Until next time, bye and take care.

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony

  • Is your Client Asking you to Rush a Project/Contract? Hold on, Here is How to Make More From It

    Any freelancer with proven track record will tell you that they regularly get requests from both past and new clients to work on a project within a very short timeline-in fact, it\’s the client who sets the timeline.

    When this happens, the client will offer to pay you more to complete the project. But not all of these clients will mention this when making their request, and if you are naive, you will accept the project and charge them your regular rates.

    As, someone experienced, you should not do this. Instead, you need to negotiate for more. It\’s your time to cash in on your experience. By the client choosing to contact you, it means they trust you and your service.

    Now, how do you start the pitch for more? Well, you need to be a very organised person and smart. Here are a few tips to approach it.

    Base Your Extra Fee on Delivery Timeline 

    If it\’s a client whom you have worked with in the past, they are well aware of your timelines based on your order. For example, if you usually deliver a video within 5 days and your client have placed an order and wants the same in 2 days, then, you should start your negotiations here. Tell them you appreciate the offer. Then now tell them how you work on such orders. 

    Don\’t Sound Like Someone in \’Dry Spell\’

    Not all months are same. I agree. There are some which are good while others are not. Before replying that e-mail request, calm down, sober up and be as professional as you can even if you are free. Your client already know that you are a busy person. Be someone who works on schedule. That way, your client will be like \’Can you pause other projects and do mine first.\’ 

    Give Them a Reasonable Fee for Fast Delivery

    Now, if the client proposes an amount from the start of his/her request, use that to initiate your negotiation. If they don\’t, then give them your price. For a returning client 30-50% is a good extra amount to charge. For a new client. You might have to change your strategy. Say, something like \’\’I usually double the price for fast delivery, but since you are a new client, I will charge you only 50% more. 

    Show Your Client that You Know What You are Doing 

    If you know what you are doing, you will ask your client the right questions. In turn, your client will close the deal fast. The questions you ask will help you collect  the right information you need to complete the project.

    If are not properly organised, or you negotiation strategy is not in order, you client will hesitate to hire you.

    Note that, you client is ready to spend. You only need to give them a reason to.

    And that is it from today.

    If you need professional help on video, let me know by sending me an e-mail on connect@cheptiony.com

    Till next time, bye and take care.

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony