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Freelance video editors lose money on revisions, render waits and scope creep they never logged. These templates help you reach them where they already talk shop. Each one is ready to copy. Fill in the brackets and send it today.

All guidesFor founders of a Time tracker for video editors

1. Reddit DM to an editor who complained about billing

Subject: Your post about [unpaid revisions / hourly vs flat rate] Hi [username], I read your post in r/editors about [specific problem, e.g. a client asking for a 6th revision round]. I'm building a time tracker made for editors. It logs time per project and per revision round, so you can show a client exactly where the hours went. Would you try it free on your next project and tell me what's missing? No pitch beyond that. [Your name] Use this when someone in r/editors, r/VideoEditing or r/freelance posts about underbilling or revision fights in the last two weeks.

2. Post in a Facebook editing group asking for testers

Post: Editors who bill hourly or track hours for flat-rate jobs: how do you track time today? I'm building a simple tracker for editors that splits time into assembly, revisions, color and exports per client. I'm looking for 10 freelance editors to use it free for a month and tell me honestly what's annoying. Comment or DM me and I'll send access. [Your name, one line on who you are] Use this in groups like Premiere Pro Editors, DaVinci Resolve Users or Freelance Video Editors, after reading the rules and checking that tester posts are allowed.

3. Twitter/X DM to an editor who shares their workflow

Hi [name], your thread on [their topic, e.g. how you structure a YouTube edit] was useful. Quick question: how do you keep track of how long each video actually takes you? I'm building a time tracker for editors and want to learn from people who already think about workflow. Happy to give you free access for feedback. [Your name] Use this for editors who post workflow tips or day-in-the-life content and mention clients or rates.

4. LinkedIn message to a post-production coordinator

Subject: Tracking editor hours across projects Hi [name], I see you coordinate post at [company]. When freelance editors invoice you, how do you check hours against the job? I'm building a tracker that editors run during the edit, so hours come broken down by project and revision round. Would a 15 minute call to tell me how you handle this today be OK? I'm not selling anything yet. [Your name] Use this for post-production coordinators, post supervisors and agency producers who hire freelance editors often.

5. Email to a YouTuber's editor found in video credits

Subject: Question for the editor of [channel name] Hi [name], I found you through the credits on [channel]'s videos. Editing for a channel on a retainer often means more hours than the deal covers. I'm building a time tracker for editors that shows hours per video so you can renegotiate with numbers. Would you try it on your next 3 uploads and tell me if it changes the conversation with [creator]? Free, and I'll set it up with you. [Your name] Use this for editors credited in YouTube descriptions or listed on their own portfolio sites with a contact email.

6. Reply-to-comment template in Discord editing servers

Message: Saw your note about [losing track of hours on a wedding edit / not knowing if a flat rate was worth it]. Same problem made me start building a tracker just for editors. Want to try it on that project? I'll DM you a link if that's fine with the mods. Use this in servers like the Video Editing Discord or creator-economy servers, only as a reply to someone who raised the problem and only where self-promotion is allowed.

7. Follow-up after someone said yes

Subject: Your access to [product name] Hi [name], thanks for agreeing to try it. Here is your link: [link]. Start the timer when you open your next project in [Premiere / Resolve / Final Cut] and tag sessions as edit, revision or export. I'll check in on [day] with two questions: what felt slow, and would you pay [price] a month for it. Reply here anytime something breaks. [Your name] Use this within an hour of a yes, then send that check-in on the day you promised. If you want help finding and messaging these editors every day, Hulby, an AI cofounder, can do this work for you.

Mistakes to skip

  • Sending the same generic message to everyone instead of naming their post, channel or project.
  • Pitching features like reports and integrations before asking how they track time today.
  • Posting links in editing groups or Discords without checking the self-promotion rules.
  • Getting a yes and then waiting days to send access, so the editor forgets why they cared.

Want this done for your Time tracker for video editors, every day?

Hulby finds the people asking for what you built, writes every reply and email, and keeps you on it until they pay. Free to start.

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Questions

How many DMs should I send per day?

Aim for 15 to 25 personalized messages. Fewer, specific messages beat mass sends.

Should I charge my first users?

Give a free trial period, then ask directly if they would pay a stated price. A real yes to a price tells you more than praise.

Where do freelance video editors spend time online?

r/editors, r/VideoEditing, Facebook groups for Premiere and Resolve users, editing Discords, and Twitter/X. Post coordinators are easiest to reach on LinkedIn.

What if nobody replies?

Send one short follow-up after 3 to 4 days. If replies are still near zero after 50 messages, change who you target or the problem you lead with.