Resonance over perfection (in video editing)

What feeling do you give the audience?

What feeling, by the end of the video, do you leave your audience with?

Is it satisfaction? Interest? Curiosity? Inspiration? Happiness? Thrill?

Or nothing at all?

This is why heavily edited videos can flop - because there's no emotion, there's no meaning, it's just transitions and effects one after another with no purpose.

It's why a 720p, shaking hand-held shot on a iPhone can become viral - while a tens of thousands of dollars commercial flops and no one cares.

Resonance is more important than perfection.

Actually, in context of content creation, resonance is perfection.

Perfection is:

• Obsessing over details no one notices.
• Tweaking transitions, cuts, colors endlessly.
• Trying to make something “flawless.”
• Coming from fear: “What if it’s not good enough?”

It often leads to:

• Overediting
• Paralysis
• Delays
• Detachment from your audience

Resonance is:

• Asking: “Will this make someone feel something?”
• Prioritizing the emotional impact.
• Leaving in some imperfections if they make the moment feel real or raw.
• Coming from confidence: “This will land with someone.”

It leads to:

• Clarity
• Faster workflow
• More meaningful connection with viewers

Example:

A perfectly timed 0.2s zoom cut doesn’t matter if the core idea is dull.
But a slightly shaky shot of you saying something real? That resonates.

So next time you’re editing, try this:
Before you tweak anything, ask:

🧠 “Does this version already land emotionally?”
🛑 If yes — stop editing. Post it.
🎯 Because the goal is not perfection — the goal is impact.

It's the reason why a simple heartfelt video of you speaking to the camera can drastically outperform a professionally edited video.

Does this article make you excited to shoot your next piece of content? One that resonates with your audience and make them feel something?

Warm Regards,

Jacob Pugmire