Video is becoming an increasingly important part of email marketing. Did you know that 84% of consumers have been convinced to make a purchase after watching a video?
Or that viewers can remember 95% of a message when they watch it in video form, compared to 10% when they read it?
Video is also a great way to give your emails an engagement boost.
What is Email Marketing?
Before we dive into how to use video in your email marketing, let’s briefly review what email marketing is. Email marketing is a form of direct marketing that uses emails to promote commercial messages. It’s an effective way to build relationships with customers and prospects and drive sales and leads.
If you are not using email for your business, check out why you should and compare service providers to help you pick the right one.
Spoiler Alert: The Busy Llama uses MailerLite for our email services!
Ideas on how to use Video in Newsletters
Now that we’ve reviewed what email marketing is let’s dive into how you can use video in your email campaigns. Video can be a great way to engage your subscribers and add an element of interest to your emails.
Here are a few ideas on how you can use video in your newsletters:
- Use video to introduce yourself or your company. This is a great way to build rapport with your subscribers and give them a taste of your personality.
- Use video to showcase new products or services. If you’ve recently launched a new product or service, consider using video to promote it in your email campaigns. This is a great way to give your subscribers an inside look at your offering.
- Use video to share customer testimonials. Video testimonials are a great way to build trust and credibility with your subscribers. They’re also a great way to show off your happy customers!
- Use video to run a contest or promotion. If you’re running a contest or promotion, consider using video to promote it in your email campaigns. This is a great way to generate interest and excitement around your contest or promotion.
- Use video to thank your subscribers. A quick thank-you video is a great way to show appreciation for your subscribers. It’s also a great way to build loyalty and keep them returning for more.
How to Use Video in Your Email Marketing
You can use video in your email marketing in a few different ways. The most common is to embed a video in your email. You can also include a screenshot of the video with a link to the video itself. Or, you can use animated GIFs to give your emails some visual interest. Let’s take a closer look at each of these options.
Screenshot with Video Link
If you want to include a video in your email but don’t want to embed it, you can include a screenshot of the video with a link to the video itself. This is a great option if you’re worried about email size or if you want your subscribers to be able to watch the video on a larger screen. To do this, simply take a screenshot of the video and then insert it into your email. Then, add a link to the video so your subscribers can watch it.
Don’t forget to add a play button to the image you screenshot. Adding a play button is a stronger CTA than almost anything else you can ask your readers to do. Free tools such as http://addplaybuttontoimage.way4info.net/ allow you to add a play button for free.

Animated GIFs
Animated GIFs are another great way to add visual interest to your emails. They’re also a great way to add some personality and fun. You can create animated GIFs from videos or images. To do this, simply create a video or image you want to animate. Then, use a tool like Giphy to create the GIF. Once you have your GIF, you can insert it into your email.
Embedding Video in Your Email
If you want to include a video in your email but don’t want to use a screenshot or an animated GIF, you can embed the video directly into your email. This is a great option if you want your subscribers to be able to watch the video without leaving their email inboxes. To do this, simply find the embed code for the video. Then, copy and paste the code into your email.
Cons to Keep in Mind
While there are many benefits to using video in your email marketing, you should keep a few things in mind. First, video can increase the size of your email. This can be an issue if you’re worried about email size or if you have a lot of subscribers on a slow internet connection.
Second, not all email clients support video. This means that some of your subscribers may not be able to watch the video. Finally, video can be distracting. If you use too much video in your emails, it can be difficult for your subscribers to focus on the content of your message.
With that said, video is still a great way to engage your subscribers and add an element of interest to your emails. Just be sure to keep these things in mind when you’re using video in your email marketing.
Video Email Marketing Best Practices
Here are a few best practices to keep in mind when using video in your email marketing:
- Keep it short and sweet. Your videos should be short and to the point. The average attention span is only eight seconds, so make sure your videos are under two minutes.
- Use an enticing thumbnail image. When people see a video in their inbox, they’re more likely to click on it if the thumbnail image looks interesting. So, make sure to use an enticing thumbnail image that will grab their attention.
- Use descriptive text. In addition to an enticing thumbnail image, you should also use descriptive text to let people know what your video is about. This will help them decide whether or not they want to watch it.
- Keep the focus on your message. Don’t let your videos be a distraction from your message. Make sure your video focuses on delivering your message in an interesting and engaging way.
Following these best practices, you’ll be able to create effective and engaging videos for email. Video is a great way to engage your subscribers and add an element of interest to your emails. So, get creative and start experimenting with video in your email campaigns. You might be surprised at the results!
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