Discover the 5 shortcuts I use every week to quickly edit my videos as a solo business owner!

Whether you’re new to video editing or a seasoned pro, these shortcuts will help you streamline your process and spend less time in your editor.

Plus…

I’ve partnered with my friend Salma Jafri to share how to script your videos for faster editing.

VIDEO: 5 Shortcuts for SPEEDY Video Editing

Some product links in this post are affiliate links, and I will be compensated when you purchase by clicking our links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Shortcut #1: Edit Your Video Like a Google Doc

Why Text-Based Editing Changes Everything

This shortcut was a total game-changer for me. Instead of the old-school method of dragging through your timeline looking for every flub, you can now edit your video just like you’d edit a Google Doc.

Tools like Descript, CapCut, and Adobe Premiere Pro can transcribe your entire video in seconds. Every word you say appears on the page as text: mistakes, pauses, script checks, coffee sips, all of it.

Why This Helps You Edit YouTube Videos Quickly

Reading is faster than watching, much faster. When your transcript is right in front of you, your mistakes stick out instantly. You can highlight, delete, rearrange, and clean things up before you ever touch the timeline.

The old way required watching your entire video back in real time. No wonder creators burn out. Text-based editing lets you skip the hunting and jump straight into trimming what doesn’t belong.

My Favorite Tool for This Shortcut

Descript basically invented this method, and it’s my go-to tool. It’s powerful for beginners and pros alike, and if you’re brand new to it, grab my free Descript Cheat sheet so you can start editing smarter right away.

Shortcut #2: Start with a Rough Draft (My BFF Method)

The Method That Keeps My Edits Organized

Before you even think about adding music, transitions, graphics, or text overlays, you need a strong foundation. This is where my BFF Method comes in, something I teach inside my course Video Editing Made Easy.

BFF stands for:

Basic — Create the rough cut

Trim the mistakes, remove awkward pauses, and tighten everything up.

Fine-tune — Polish the pacing

Smooth your cuts, fix timing issues, and make sure your message flows well.

Fancy — Add the personality

Logos, graphics, B-roll, music, sound effects… all the fun stuff.

Why This Order Helps You Edit Faster

If you skip straight to the fancy stage, you’ll waste time jazzing up clips you later decide to cut. A clean rough cut prevents those time-sink traps and keeps your edits predictable and efficient.

This is the method that helped me edit YouTube videos quickly instead of spiraling into perfectionism.

Start basic. Then polish. Then fancy. In that order. Always.

Shortcut #3: Never Start with a Blank Screen (Use Layout Packs or a Template Project)

Your Editing Life Will Never Be the Same

One of the biggest time-wasters in video editing? Rebuilding your scenes, graphics, and layouts every single time. Please don’t do that to yourself.

Instead, create a reusable template project.

How I Do This in Descript

Descript has layout packs you can create and reuse. They even give you some free ones to start with, and I also include layout packs inside my course, Video Brand Academy.

Here’s what my template usually includes:

My screen recording layout
My face in a circle bubble with a white border
A branded background
Smart transitions
Any frequently used elements

Instead of setting all that up from scratch, it’s already built into my layout pack. So when I edit, all I have to do is click a button to switch scenes.

If you’re using Descript:

Descript gives you free layout packs right inside the tool.
I also offer layout packs inside my course.

For example, I usually switch between:

my full talking-head shot
my screen recording with my face in a circle bubble
branded backgrounds
white borders
smart transitions

Instead of setting all that up from scratch, it’s already built into my layout pack. So when I edit, all I have to do is click a button to switch scenes.

Not Using Descript? You Can Still Do This

Just create a blank project with your:

Logo
Fonts and colors
Background music
Sound effects
Lower thirds
Intro and outro elements

Then duplicate that file for every new video. No more blank screen. No more rebuilding from scratch.

Shortcut #4: Organize Your B-Roll for Instant Access (Especially in Descript)

Stop the Endless B-Roll Searching

You know that moment where you think, “I just need a five-second clip of me talking to the camera, why can’t I find it?”

B-roll can make your video more engaging, but it can also steal your time if you have to hunt for clips.

To make B-roll fast and painless:

Step 1: Store your B-roll in one organized folder

I keep mine on an external hard drive.

Step 2: Label your B-roll files with keywords

For example:

“camera_peak_behind_scenes”
“typing_keyboard_closeup”
“teleprompter_setup”

This makes the clips searchable.

Step 3: (My Game-Changer) Import your B-roll into its own Descript project

I recently created an entire B-roll-only project.
I labeled every clip with exactly what’s in it.

Now all I do is hit Command + F, type a keyword (“camera,” “typing,” “teleprompter”), and Descript instantly finds the exact clip I need. Then I just copy/paste it into my main project.

This shortcut eliminates the dreaded “scrolling through 300 clips hoping to find the right one” nightmare.

Build a Searchable B-Roll Library

I keep my B-roll on an external hard drive and rename the files, so I know exactly what’s in them, but recently, I leveled up.

I imported all my B-roll into a separate Descript project, labeled every single clip, and now I can search for:

“camera”
“teleprompter”
“coffee”
“typing”

…whatever I need. Descript instantly takes me to the exact clip. Copy, paste, done.

This one trick alone cut hours out of my monthly editing time.

Shortcut #5: Use the Same Editing Workflow Every Time (Your Personal Assembly Line)

Consistency Makes You Faster

This is the shortcut most creators skip, but it’s the one that truly helps you edit YouTube videos quickly.

When you follow the same workflow every time, you:

eliminate guesswork
edit faster
develop muscle memory
stay consistent with your style

My workflow?

You guessed it, the BFF Method. Basic → Fine-tune → Fancy.

When you use the same workflow every time, your brain naturally speeds up. It becomes muscle memory. And because you’re creating videos to grow your business (not just your channel), having a reliable editing system ensures you can produce more videos in less time, which means faster growth.

Why This Matters for Your Business

If your YouTube videos support your business, speed matters. The faster you can script, record, and edit, the more videos you can publish. More videos = more visibility. More visibility = more customers.

It’s not just about being efficient; this is how you scale without burning out.

Bonus Tip: Faster Editing Starts With Smarter Scripting

You want a real editing shortcut?
It starts way before editing. It starts with scripting.

That’s exactly why I partnered with my friend Salma Jafri, who created a companion video all about scripting your videos so they’re easier to edit.

Record with editing in mind, and the editing phase becomes 10x faster. Her video is linked alongside my free Descript cheat sheet, and together, these two resources will change the way you create content.

Conclusion: Ready to Edit Your YouTube Videos Quickly?

Speedy video editing doesn’t come from being “naturally fast” or from having a supercomputer or years of experience. It comes from using a repeatable, simple workflow that removes friction and decision overload.

These five shortcuts—
✔ editing like a Google Doc
✔ starting with a rough draft
✔ using templates/layout packs
✔ organizing your B-roll
✔ sticking to a consistent workflow—
have allowed me to show up week after week as a solo business owner without burning out or sacrificing quality.

And with the combination of Descript, smart scripting, and a streamlined BFF workflow, you can do the exact same.

The faster you edit, the more videos you can create.
The more videos you create, the faster your brand grows.
And your business? It grows right along with it.

If you want to start implementing these shortcuts today, don’t forget to grab my free Descript Cheat sheet and check out Salma’s scripting video.

Let’s make your next edit the quickest one yet.