How to Embed a Video in Your Email

How to embed videos in your emails

You don’t necessarily have to include a whole video in your email. Adding a video’s thumbnail image will entice subscribers to click, and then they’ll be taken to the video’s landing page. Follow these steps to embed a video in an email. 

1. Pick an eye-catching image.

Choose a high-resolution thumbnail image that will stand out to your subscribers. The thumbnail gives your viewers a sneak peek at the video they are about to watch. It must be enticing and give them a reason to click the video.

Once you select an image, add your video to it. (You can choose whether to include a still image or a preview of the video.) Various online tools and email service providers have specific instructions for creating a video thumbnail.

Ensure that the image you choose accurately reflects your video’s content. If subscribers feel misled about the content, the video could do more harm than good.  

2. Embed the video in your email. 

Your email marketing service or provider will have specific instructions for embedding a video in your email. If the video is reasonably sized, it may be as simple as finding the paper clip or other icon that allows you to add an attachment to your email and then selecting your video. To embed a YouTube video in your email, add the link to the body of your message. You also may be able to paste the video’s URL into your email. 

3. Verify the video’s size. 

If the file is too large, you may have difficulty adding it to your email. For example, if your video is too large for Gmail, you’ll have to add the video through Google Drive. However, a better option may be to include a thumbnail for people to click on to get to your landing page and let them watch the video there.

If your video is too large as an attachment, another option is to upload it to YouTube first. 

4. Let subscribers know what they’ll see.

Your message’s wording is just as vital as the video. Avoid using language that sounds spammy or makes people suspicious of clicking the video. You want your subscribers to trust your content, so your language should reflect a reputable company. 

Here are a few ways to convey trust in your email:

• Don’t be too wordy. A brief overview of how your subscribers will benefit from watching the video will go a long way.
• Include the overview of the video first so your subscribers keep reading. 
• Ensure your subscribers understand precisely what they will see when they click the video so there are no surprises. 

5. Test your email. 

You’re probably excited to send your first video to your email subscribers. However, before you email your entire list, test a smaller audience segment first.

Set up a control group, and send the video to them to see how they respond. Test different subject lines, messages and images. Once you have a good idea of what works, you can email your entire list.

The importance of using video in email

Video is one of the most powerful forms of marketing, and a report by Wyzowl shows that 89 percent of people want to see more videos from their favorite brands. Additionally, 44 percent of consumers would rather learn about new products and services by watching a video than by reading the information. 

If you’re looking for a way to stand out from your competitors, adding video to your emails is one of the best tactics. When subscribers watch your video, it puts a face to your brand and helps them trust you. 

Let’s look at the most significant benefits of adding video to your emails. 

Increases email open rates

When you send a marketing email, your open rate reflects the percentage of subscribers who actually open it. A low open rate can indicate that your subject lines need some work.  

Anytime you include the word “video” in an email subject line, you increase the chances of improving your email open rate. In addition, businesses that send video emails are less likely to lose their subscribers. That’s because most people would rather watch videos than read text. Video is more engaging and takes less time to consume. 

Raises click-through rates

Once a subscriber opens your email, you’ll want to track the click-through rate. This metric is a good indicator of how engaging your content is. People are naturally curious and want to keep reading if they know a video is attached. 

Click-through rates are even higher when a video is part of an initial email subscription or campaign. It reels in viewers and keeps them looking for more emails from you. 

Boosts revenue

Any business owner’s ultimate goal is to increase profits. When revenue grows, it indicates that your marketing plan is working and that customers want what you have to offer. Adding video to your email can boost your revenue over the long run. That’s especially true if you’re trying to sell a product in the video.

For example, a demo video of your product can help customers understand how it works. After watching the video, they’ll have a better sense of whether your product is the right fit for them. 

Builds a connection with your audience

Another great way to use video is by adding customer testimonials to your emails. When you show feedback from real customers, you’ll build a better connection with your audience and highlight the benefits of your product or service. In addition, subscribers are much more likely to remember a company by their video than by a traditional email. 

Consider including videos of yourself or your employees to add a face to your brand and help subscribers connect with you. You’ll no longer be just another email taking up space in their inbox. Create videos that target your audience, and find a way to keep them engaged. Consider using the same individual in each video to build a connection. 

Improves SEO

One lesser-known benefit of adding video to your emails is that it can boost your search engine optimization (SEO). After your subscribers open the video, they are more likely to share it on social media and drive people directly to your site. 

The more videos subscribers share, the more traffic comes to your website and the bigger benefit you’ll see from SEO. Plus, watching videos keeps people on your site longer and will show search engines that you have interesting content to share.

Best email marketing software for embedding videos

Once you’re ready to incorporate video into your email marketing campaigns, it’s crucial to choose the right tools. We’ve highlighted some of the best email marketing software and services to help you create and manage content for an effective email marketing campaign. 

Here are our top picks:

• Constant Contact: Constant Contact streamlines, automates and analyzes email campaigns. One key feature of this software is its integration with Vimeo, which allows you to create and embed videos directly into a large volume of emails. Constant Contact also tracks video performance so you can easily measure engagement during a campaign. To learn more about how this software can support video content in emails, check out our Constant Contact review.
• monday: This versatile work management tool is particularly useful for email campaign management because it is a collaborative platform, which helps team members track campaign progress and responsibilities. This feature can be especially beneficial for introducing videos into your email campaign. It helps ensure everyone knows their role in the process so your videos are embedded with good quality and within the campaign timeline. Read more about how this software can enhance your email marketing strategy in our monday review.
• Freshmarketer: This email marketing software is known for its various integrations and multichannel engagement capabilities. Freshmarketer makes it easy to add a video thumbnail or integrate videos directly from Vimeo into your email campaigns. This flexibility lets you tailor your email content to best suit your audience and campaign goals. To explore more of this software’s email campaign functions, see our Freshmarketer review.

Increase interest in your emails

Embedding videos in your emails will help you engage with your email marketing contact list more meaningfully. Keep your audience in mind as you create your videos and messaging, and remember that, oftentimes, less is more. 

While videos can give your business a boost, it’s best to keep them short. If you limit your video to 30 seconds or less, you’ll increase the odds that your subscribers will watch it to the end.

Shayna Waltower contributed to this article.