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How to Use Video in Your Email Marketing

November 17, 2023 | Jimit Mehta

Are you looking for a way to take your email marketing game to the next level? Look no further than video! Adding video to your emails can help increase engagement and conversions, and it's not as complicated as it may seem. In fact, incorporating video into your email marketing strategy is a great way to spice up your content and connect with your subscribers on a more personal level. In this article, we'll explore some tips and tricks for using video in your email marketing campaigns that will help you stand out from the crowd and drive results. So, grab your popcorn and let's dive in!

Understanding the Benefits of Using Video in Email Marketing

When it comes to email marketing, it's not just the words that matter - it's also the visuals. That's where video comes in. By incorporating video into your email marketing strategy, you can reap a wide range of benefits. For one, video can be a great way to increase engagement and capture your subscribers' attention. It's an easy way to showcase your products or services in action, share customer testimonials, or provide a sneak peek behind the scenes at your business.

In addition to being engaging, video can also be a powerful tool for building trust and establishing a personal connection with your subscribers. When people see your face or hear your voice in a video, they're more likely to feel like they know and trust you. This can go a long way towards building brand loyalty and ultimately driving sales.

Finally, using video in your email marketing campaigns can also help you stand out from the competition. Many businesses are still hesitant to use video in their emails, so by incorporating it into your strategy, you can set yourself apart and demonstrate that you're willing to try new things to better serve your customers.

All in all, the benefits of using video in your email marketing strategy are numerous and varied. By taking the time to understand these benefits, you can start incorporating video into your emails in a way that maximizes your results and helps you achieve your marketing goals.

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Types of Videos to Use in Email Marketing

There are many different types of videos that can be used in email marketing, each with its own strengths and benefits. The type of video that will work best for you will depend on your goals and the message you're trying to convey. Here are a few examples:

  1. Product demos: A product demo video is a great way to showcase your product in action and provide potential customers with a closer look at its features and benefits.

  2. Customer testimonials: Video testimonials from happy customers can be a powerful way to build trust and social proof. Seeing and hearing real people talk about their positive experiences with your business can go a long way towards convincing others to give you a try.

  3. Behind-the-scenes videos: Behind-the-scenes videos can be a great way to showcase your company culture, introduce your team, and provide a more personal touch to your emails. These videos can be especially effective in building a connection with your audience and establishing your brand identity.

  4. Educational videos: Educational videos are a great way to provide value to your subscribers by teaching them something new or helping them solve a problem. By providing helpful information, you can establish your business as an authority in your industry and build trust with your audience.

  5. Promotional videos: Finally, promotional videos can be a great way to promote a specific product or service and create a sense of urgency. By creating a short, snappy video that highlights the key features of your offering, you can encourage your subscribers to take action and make a purchase.

These are just a few examples of the types of videos that can be used in email marketing. By experimenting with different types of videos and analyzing your results, you can find the right approach that works best for your business and your subscribers.

Tips for Creating Engaging Video Content

Creating engaging video content is key to the success of your email marketing strategy. Here are some tips for creating videos that your subscribers will want to watch:

  1. Keep it short and sweet: Attention spans are short, so keep your videos concise and to the point. Ideally, your video should be no more than a few minutes long.

  2. Focus on quality: While you don't need a Hollywood-level production, it's important to make sure your video is of decent quality. This means investing in good lighting, sound, and editing tools.

  3. Grab attention from the start: The first few seconds of your video are critical for capturing your audience's attention. Start with an attention-grabbing hook that makes it clear what your video is about and why it's worth watching.

  4. Tell a story: People love stories, so consider framing your video around a narrative or storyline that will keep your audience engaged.

  5. Provide value: Your video should provide some sort of value to your audience, whether that's through education, entertainment, or inspiration. Think about what your audience needs or wants and try to provide it in your video.

  6. Call to action: Finally, make sure your video includes a clear call to action that encourages your viewers to take action. This might mean visiting your website, making a purchase, or signing up for a newsletter.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can create videos that are engaging, informative, and effective at achieving your marketing goals.

Best Practices for Incorporating Video in Your Emails

Incorporating video in your email marketing campaigns can be a great way to engage your subscribers and drive results. However, there are some best practices to keep in mind to ensure that your videos are effective and well-received. Here are some tips:

  1. Use a compelling thumbnail: The thumbnail is the first thing your subscribers will see when they receive your email, so make sure it's eye-catching and compelling.

  2. Keep the file size small: Large video files can slow down email load times, which can be frustrating for subscribers. Try to keep your video file size small to ensure that your email loads quickly and smoothly.

  3. Embed the video: While you could include a link to a video hosted on a third-party site, it's best to embed the video directly in the email. This ensures that your subscribers can view the video without leaving the email, which can improve engagement and click-through rates.

  4. Provide a text alternative: While video can be a great way to communicate your message, not all subscribers will be able to or choose to watch it. To ensure that everyone can access your content, provide a text alternative that summarizes the key points of the video.

  5. Optimize for mobile: Many people read emails on their mobile devices, so make sure your video is optimized for mobile viewing. This might mean using a vertical orientation, making sure the video is short and to the point, and ensuring that the file size is small enough to load quickly on mobile networks.

By following these best practices, you can create email marketing campaigns that effectively incorporate video and engage your subscribers.

How to Optimize Your Videos for Email

Optimizing your videos for email is important to ensure that they load quickly, play smoothly, and are well-received by your subscribers. Here are some tips for optimizing your videos for email:

  1. Keep the file size small: Large video files can take a long time to load and may even cause your email to be blocked by the recipient's email provider. To ensure that your video loads quickly, try to keep the file size as small as possible.

  2. Use an appropriate format: Not all video formats are created equal. Some formats, such as MP4, tend to be more widely supported than others. If you have a video in other formats then use a video converter to convert video to MP4. Be sure to choose a format that is widely supported to ensure that your video plays smoothly for all recipients.

  3. Host your video on a reputable platform: Rather than attaching your video file directly to the email, it's best to host it on a reputable platform like YouTube or Vimeo. This not only ensures that your video will play smoothly, but it also helps to keep the file size of your email down.

  4. Provide a clear call to action: Just like any other email, your video email should include a clear call to action that encourages your subscribers to take action. This might mean directing them to a landing page, encouraging them to make a purchase, or asking them to subscribe to your newsletter.

  5. Test before you send: Before sending your video email to your entire list, be sure to test it out on a few different devices and email clients to ensure that it loads quickly and plays smoothly for all recipients.

By following these tips, you can optimize your videos for email and create engaging, effective email marketing campaigns that help you achieve your business goals.

Tools and Platforms for Adding Video to Your Emails

Adding video to your email marketing campaigns can be a powerful way to engage your subscribers and drive conversions. Fortunately, there are a variety of tools and platforms available that can help you easily add video to your emails. Here are a few options:

  1. Video hosting platforms: Platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and Wistia make it easy to host and share your videos online. Once you've uploaded your video to one of these platforms, you can then embed the video in your email using a simple HTML code.

  2. Email marketing platforms with built-in video functionality: Some email marketing platforms, such as Mailchimp and Constant Contact, offer built-in functionality for adding video to your emails. This might include features like video thumbnails, in-email video players, and more.

  3. Video email marketing platforms: There are also a number of platforms that specialize in video email marketing, such as BombBomb and Vidyard. These platforms offer features like video analytics, A/B testing, and more, making it easy to create and send effective video email campaigns.

  4. Video editing software: If you're creating your own videos, you'll likely need some video editing software to put everything together. There are a variety of options available, from basic free software like iMovie to more advanced paid options like Adobe Premiere Pro.

By using these tools and platforms, you can easily add video to your email marketing campaigns and create engaging, effective content that drives results.

A/B Testing Your Video Emails for Maximum Impact

A/B testing, also known as split testing, is a powerful technique for optimizing your email marketing campaigns. By sending two different versions of your email to a small subset of your list and measuring the results, you can gain valuable insights into what works best for your audience. This can help you improve your open rates, click-through rates, and ultimately, drive more conversions.

When it comes to video emails, A/B testing can be particularly valuable. By testing different aspects of your video email, such as the subject line, the placement of the video, or the length of the video, you can determine which elements are most effective for engaging your subscribers and driving results.

Here are a few tips for A/B testing your video emails:

  1. Test one element at a time: To get accurate results, it's important to only test one element at a time. For example, if you want to test the impact of different subject lines on your open rates, make sure that everything else in the email, including the video itself, is identical.

  2. Use a large enough sample size: To ensure that your results are statistically significant, you'll need to test your email on a large enough sample size. This will depend on the size of your email list and your desired level of confidence in the results.

  3. Measure the right metrics: Depending on what you're testing, you may want to measure different metrics. For example, if you're testing the placement of the video, you may want to measure the click-through rate for each version of the email.

By using A/B testing to optimize your video emails, you can create more effective campaigns that engage your subscribers and drive results. Whether you're just getting started with video marketing or you're a seasoned pro, A/B testing is a valuable tool for maximizing the impact of your campaigns.

Analyzing Your Results and Measuring the Success of Your Video Email Campaigns

Analyzing your results and measuring the success of your video email campaigns is a critical step in the email marketing process. By tracking your KPIs and analyzing your results, you can gain valuable insights into what's working and what's not, and make data-driven decisions to improve the effectiveness of your campaigns.

Here are a few key metrics to consider when analyzing your video email campaigns:

  1. Open rates: Your open rate is the percentage of subscribers who opened your email. This metric can give you a sense of how well your subject line and preview text are working to capture your subscribers' attention.

  2. Click-through rates (CTR): Your CTR is the percentage of subscribers who clicked on a link in your email. This metric can give you a sense of how well your video is engaging your subscribers and driving traffic to your website.

  3. Conversion rates: Your conversion rate is the percentage of subscribers who completed a desired action, such as making a purchase or filling out a form. This metric can give you a sense of how well your video is converting subscribers into customers or leads.

  4. Watch time: If you're using a video hosting platform like YouTube or Vimeo, you can track how much of your video your subscribers are watching. This can give you valuable insights into which parts of your video are most engaging, and which parts may need improvement.

  5. Feedback: Don't forget to ask your subscribers for feedback! Including a survey or a simple question in your email can give you valuable insights into what your subscribers thought of your video and how you can improve your campaigns in the future.

By tracking these metrics and analyzing your results, you can gain valuable insights into the success of your video email campaigns, and make data-driven decisions to improve your future campaigns. Whether you're a seasoned email marketer or just getting started with video, analyzing your results is a critical step in creating effective, engaging campaigns.

Overcoming Common Challenges and Obstacles in Using Video in Email Marketing

While using video in email marketing can be a powerful way to engage your subscribers and drive results, it's not always easy. There are a number of common challenges and obstacles that you may encounter along the way, but with the right strategies and tools, you can overcome them and create effective campaigns.

Here are a few common challenges you may face when using video in email marketing, and how to overcome them:

  1. Deliverability: Some email clients and ISPs may block embedded videos or large file sizes, making it difficult for your subscribers to view your video. To overcome this challenge, consider using a video thumbnail or animated GIF that links to your video on a landing page.

  2. Mobile optimization: With more and more people viewing emails on their mobile devices, it's important to ensure that your video is optimized for mobile. This means using a responsive design and choosing a video hosting platform that's optimized for mobile playback.

  3. Engagement: Even if your subscribers open your email and click on your video, it's still important to ensure that your video is engaging and holds their attention. To overcome this challenge, focus on creating high-quality, valuable video content that speaks directly to your subscribers' needs and interests.

  4. Production costs: Video production can be expensive, especially if you're hiring a professional videographer or using high-end equipment. To overcome this challenge, consider using simple, low-cost tools and techniques, such as creating a screencast video or using your smartphone to record a quick video.

  5. Technical issues: Finally, technical issues can be a common challenge when using video in email marketing. From buffering and playback issues to compatibility issues with different email clients, there are a number of technical challenges that you may encounter. To overcome these challenges, be sure to test your video thoroughly before sending it out, and use a reliable video hosting platform that's optimized for email playback.

By being aware of these common challenges and obstacles, and taking steps to overcome them, you can create effective video email campaigns that engage your subscribers and drive results. Whether you're just getting started with video marketing or you're a seasoned pro, it's important to be prepared for the challenges that may arise along the way.

Innovative Ways to Use Video in Your Email Marketing Strategy

Video has become an increasingly popular way to engage audiences and promote brands. While using video in email marketing is a well-known tactic, there are some innovative ways to incorporate video into your email marketing strategy that can help you stand out from the competition and drive results.

Here are some innovative ways to use video in your email marketing strategy:

  1. Interactive videos: Interactive videos allow viewers to interact with the video, such as by clicking on different options or hotspots within the video. By using interactive videos in your emails, you can provide a unique and engaging experience that encourages viewers to take action.

  2. Personalized videos: Personalized videos are customized for each viewer, based on their interests and behavior. By using data and automation tools, you can create personalized videos that speak directly to each viewer, making them feel more connected to your brand.

  3. Video series: Instead of sending a single video in an email, consider creating a series of videos that tell a story or provide ongoing value to your subscribers. This can help keep your audience engaged and coming back for more.

  4. Live videos: Live videos can create a sense of urgency and excitement, as viewers tune in to watch your video in real-time. By hosting a live video event or webinar and promoting it through email, you can create a buzz and encourage subscribers to attend.

  5. Video testimonials: Video testimonials from satisfied customers or clients can be a powerful way to build trust and social proof. By including video testimonials in your emails, you can show potential customers the value of your product or service in a more compelling way.

By using these innovative ways to incorporate video into your email marketing strategy, you can create engaging and memorable campaigns that resonate with your audience and drive results. Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of video and see what works best for your brand and your subscribers. With a little creativity and the right tools, you can take your email marketing to the next level.

Wrapping up

Incorporating video in email marketing is a powerful way to boost engagement, increase conversion rates, and improve the overall effectiveness of your email campaigns. The article covers various topics, such as the benefits of using video in email marketing, the types of videos that work best in emails, tips for creating engaging video content, best practices for incorporating video in your emails, how to optimize your videos for email, tools and platforms for adding video to your emails, A/B testing your video emails, analyzing the results of your campaigns, overcoming common challenges, and innovative ways to use video in your email marketing strategy.

By following these strategies and experimenting with different types of videos, you can create engaging and memorable campaigns that resonate with your audience and drive results.

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