How to Get Client Feedback on a Video Edit With Timestamped Comments

You send a cut for review, and the notes arrive in texts, emails and voice messages. “Can you change the part where he talks about pricing?” Then you’re scrubbing to find the part before you can even fix it.

Send your client one review link where they can comment at the exact moment they mean. In Ponder, you can send a link from any timeline, and your client watches in the browser and comments at the exact timecode, with no Ponder account needed.

How do I keep every note in one place?

Send one link from the timeline you want reviewed. Viewers watch in the browser, so there’s nothing for them to install, and each comment sits at its timecode so you know which moment it’s about. When the notes are in, ask Ponder to work through them, so you don’t have to copy each one into your edit.

What else should I know?

• Does my client need a Ponder account? No, they watch in the browser and comment at the exact timecode.
• How do I keep track of the notes? You can reply to and resolve comments in Ponder’s Share window, so you can see what’s still open before you send the next version.
• Can I review a cut away from my desk? Yes, you can open a review link on your phone too.
• Do I need Ponder just to collect comments? No, review tools like Vimeo also offer timecoded comments. We think Ponder makes sense if you’re already editing there, since the link comes straight from your timeline.

What can I control on the link?

You can let viewers download the video from the link, add a password if the video shouldn’t be open to anyone who has the link, and pick 720p, 1080p or 4K. The video renders on your computer, so keep Ponder open until it’s done.

How do I get better notes from clients?

How you ask matters too, and these tips work with any review tool:

• Tell people what stage the cut is at, so they don’t give color notes on a rough cut.
• Ask one person to combine notes when a whole team is reviewing.
• Give a date for feedback, so a round doesn’t stay open for weeks.

Is it free to try?

Yes, there’s a Ponder free trial, so you can send your next cut as a review link and see how the notes come back.

If you love it, you can keep going for free by inviting a friend. Click the invite button in Ponder, and your friend gets a free month of Starter, then you get one too once they make and export their first cut.