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How to use video in your email marketing campaigns

November 18, 2023 | Jimit Mehta

As a marketer, you're always on the lookout for new ways to reach your target audience and grab their attention. And with email marketing being one of the most effective channels for engaging with your customers, it's important to stay ahead of the curve and make your emails stand out from the rest. That's where video comes in - by incorporating video into your email marketing campaigns, you can create a more dynamic and engaging experience for your subscribers. But where do you begin? In this article, we'll explore the best practices for using video in your email marketing campaigns, including tips for creating engaging content, optimizing for deliverability, and measuring your results. Whether you're new to email marketing or a seasoned pro, read on to learn how you can use video to take your campaigns to the next level.

Benefits of incorporating video into your email marketing strategy

Incorporating video into your email marketing strategy can offer a number of benefits to your business. Firstly, it's a great way to increase engagement with your audience. With video, you can communicate your message in a more dynamic and visually appealing way, which can help to capture your subscriber's attention and keep them engaged for longer.

Video is also a powerful tool for building trust and establishing a personal connection with your subscribers. By showcasing your brand or team members in video content, you can help to create a more human and relatable image of your business, which can ultimately help to build stronger relationships with your audience.

Additionally, video can be a great way to boost your email open rates and click-through rates. Including the word "video" in your email subject line can help to pique your subscriber's interest and encourage them to open your email. Once they're inside, the presence of video can help to encourage more clicks and interactions with your content, as well as increase the amount of time your subscribers spend engaging with your brand.

Finally, incorporating video into your email marketing strategy can help to differentiate your business from competitors and keep your brand top-of-mind for your subscribers. By offering unique and valuable video content, you can help to establish your brand as a thought leader and drive more conversions and sales over time.

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Types of videos to include in your email campaigns

When it comes to incorporating video into your email campaigns, there are several types of videos that can be effective for engaging with your audience. Here are a few options to consider:

  1. Product demos: If you're promoting a new product or service, a video demo can be a great way to showcase its features and benefits in action. By highlighting the key selling points of your product or service in a visually engaging way, you can help to drive more conversions and sales.

  2. How-to videos: How-to videos can be a powerful way to provide value to your subscribers and establish your brand as a thought leader in your industry. By creating instructional videos that help your subscribers solve common problems or learn new skills, you can build trust and loyalty with your audience over time.

  3. Brand videos: Brand videos are a great way to showcase your company's story and values in a visually appealing way. By creating a video that highlights your company culture, team members, or mission, you can help to establish a personal connection with your subscribers and build a stronger brand identity.

  4. Testimonials: Testimonial videos can be a powerful way to build social proof and credibility with your audience. By showcasing happy customers or clients sharing their positive experiences with your brand, you can help to build trust and encourage more conversions over time.

  5. Event recaps: If your business hosts or attends events, creating a video recap can be a great way to share the experience with your subscribers and showcase your brand in action. By highlighting key moments from the event in a visually engaging way, you can help to build buzz and excitement for future events.

By choosing the right type of video for your email campaign, you can help to create a more engaging and valuable experience for your subscribers, and ultimately drive more conversions and sales for your business.

Tips for creating engaging video content

Creating engaging video content can be a powerful way to connect with your audience and drive more conversions and sales. Here are a few tips to help you create video content that resonates with your subscribers:

  1. Keep it short and sweet: Attention spans are short, so it's important to keep your video content concise and to the point. Focus on communicating your key message in a clear and concise way, without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.

  2. Show, don't tell: Video is a visual medium, so it's important to make use of visuals to help tell your story. Use imagery, animation, or graphics to help illustrate your points and keep your audience engaged.

  3. Make it relevant: Your video content should be relevant and valuable to your audience. Focus on creating content that addresses their pain points or interests, and that provides actionable insights or solutions to their problems.

  4. Add a personal touch: Adding a personal touch to your video content can help to create a more human and relatable image of your brand. Consider showcasing team members or behind-the-scenes footage to help build trust and establish a personal connection with your subscribers.

  5. Keep it on-brand: Your video content should be consistent with your brand voice and image. Make sure that your video content aligns with your overall brand messaging, and that it feels like a natural extension of your other marketing materials.

By following these tips, you can create video content that is engaging, relevant, and valuable to your subscribers, and that ultimately helps to drive more conversions and sales for your business.

Best practices for optimizing video for email deliverability

Optimizing video for email deliverability can be a bit tricky, as many email clients and spam filters can be finicky about displaying video content. Here are some best practices to help ensure that your video content is optimized for deliverability:

  1. Use a video hosting service: Rather than embedding your video directly into your email, it's generally better to host your video on a third-party service like YouTube or Vimeo. This ensures that your video will play correctly in most email clients and helps to avoid issues with spam filters.

  2. Use a static image: To ensure that your email looks good even if your video doesn't display properly, it's a good idea to include a static image of your video with a play button overlay. This gives your subscribers a visual cue that there is a video to watch, even if they can't see the video itself.

  3. Include a clear call-to-action: To encourage your subscribers to watch your video, it's important to include a clear call-to-action (CTA) in your email. This could be as simple as a button or text link that says "watch the video now", or a more elaborate CTA that explains the benefits of watching your video.

  4. Optimize for mobile: Many subscribers will be viewing your email on a mobile device, so it's important to ensure that your video content is optimized for mobile viewing. This means using a responsive video player that adjusts to different screen sizes and resolutions, and keeping your video file sizes as small as possible to ensure quick load times.

  5. Test, test, test: To ensure that your video content is delivering properly, it's important to test your emails across multiple devices and email clients before sending them out to your entire subscriber list. This will help you identify any issues with your video content and ensure that your subscribers are receiving the best possible experience.

By following these best practices, you can help to ensure that your video content is delivered correctly and that your subscribers are encouraged to engage with your brand and take action.

How to embed video in your email campaigns

Embedding video in your email campaigns can be a great way to increase engagement and drive conversions. However, it's important to do it properly to ensure that your video content is displayed correctly in your subscribers' inboxes. Here are the steps to embed video in your email campaigns:

  1. Choose a video hosting service: First, you need to choose a video hosting service to host your video content. Some popular options include YouTube, Vimeo, and Wistia. Upload your video content to your chosen hosting service.

  2. Create a thumbnail image: Next, you need to create a thumbnail image for your video. This is the image that will be displayed in your email, and it should be a still frame from your video that entices subscribers to click and watch. You can use a tool like Canva or Adobe Spark to create an eye-catching thumbnail.

  3. Get the embed code: Once you have your video uploaded and your thumbnail created, you need to get the embed code for your video. This will allow you to add the video to your email. Each video hosting service has different instructions for getting the embed code, but you can usually find it by clicking on the "share" or "embed" button next to your video.

  4. Insert the video into your email: Now that you have your embed code, you can insert your video into your email. Depending on your email marketing platform, this process may vary slightly, but you'll typically need to insert the embed code into the HTML of your email. Most email marketing platforms will have a tool to help you do this.

  5. Test your email: Before sending your email to your subscribers, it's important to test it thoroughly to ensure that your video content is displaying correctly. Send test emails to yourself and other team members, and check the email on different devices and email clients to ensure that everything looks good.

By following these steps, you can embed video in your email campaigns and use this powerful marketing tool to engage your subscribers and drive more conversions.

Tips for writing effective email subject lines for video content

Writing effective email subject lines for video content is crucial if you want to get your subscribers to actually open your email and engage with your video. Here are some tips to help you craft subject lines that will entice your subscribers to click through and watch your video:

  1. Keep it short and sweet: Your subject line should be short and to the point, with a maximum of 50 characters. This makes it easy to read on mobile devices and ensures that the most important information is front and center.

  2. Use descriptive language: Use descriptive language that clearly communicates what your video is about. Avoid vague or generic subject lines, and be as specific as possible about the content of your video.

  3. Use numbers and statistics: Using numbers and statistics in your subject line can be a great way to grab your subscribers' attention and entice them to click through. For example, "5 tips for improving your email marketing" or "Get 50% more conversions with this video".

  4. Personalize the subject line: Personalizing your subject line with the subscriber's name can help to increase open rates. However, be sure to use this tactic sparingly and only if you have the subscriber's name on hand.

  5. A/B test your subject lines: A/B testing is a great way to determine what subject lines are most effective with your particular audience. Create two versions of your subject line and send each version to a small portion of your list. The version with the highest open rate can then be sent to the rest of your list.

By following these tips, you can write effective email subject lines for video content that entice your subscribers to click through and engage with your brand. Remember to keep your subject lines short, descriptive, and engaging, and to test different versions to see what works best for your audience.

Measuring the success of your video email campaigns

Measuring the success of your video email campaigns is an important step in understanding how your subscribers are engaging with your video content and how you can improve your future campaigns. Here are some key metrics to track when measuring the success of your video email campaigns:

  1. Open rate: The open rate is the percentage of subscribers who opened your email. This metric can give you a general idea of how well your subject line and preheader text are working.

  2. CTR: The click-through rate is the percentage of subscribers who clicked on a link in your email. This metric is especially important for video email campaigns since you want your subscribers to click through and watch your video.

  3. Play rate: The play rate is the percentage of subscribers who actually clicked the play button and watched your video. This metric is a great indicator of how engaging your video content is and how well it resonates with your audience.

  4. Completion rate: The completion rate is the percentage of subscribers who watched your video all the way to the end. This metric can give you insights into how well your video content is holding your subscribers' attention and whether it's too long or too short.

  5. Conversion rate: The conversion rate is the percentage of subscribers who took a desired action after watching your video, such as making a purchase or filling out a form. This is the ultimate goal of any marketing campaign, and tracking this metric can help you determine the overall success of your video email campaign.

By tracking these metrics, you can gain insights into how well your video email campaign is performing and how you can improve it in the future. Use the data to refine your email content, improve your video content, and test different strategies to see what works best for your particular audience. With time and practice, you can develop a winning formula for your video email campaigns and drive more engagement and conversions for your brand.

Examples of successful video email campaigns

Looking at examples of successful video email campaigns can be a great way to get inspiration and ideas for your own campaigns. Here are some examples of successful video email campaigns that have proven to be effective:

  1. Dollar Shave Club: Dollar Shave Club used a simple, humorous video to introduce their subscription service and showcase the benefits of their product. The video went viral and helped to increase their subscriber base.

  2. Airbnb: Airbnb used video to create a sense of wanderlust and inspire viewers to travel. The video was highly visual and featured stunning footage of different destinations around the world.

  3. Uber: Uber used a video to showcase the convenience and ease of their ride-sharing service. The video featured real riders and drivers sharing their experiences with the service.

  4. Charity: Water: Charity: Water used a video to tell a powerful story about the impact of their work in providing clean water to communities in need. The video was emotional and inspiring, and helped to raise awareness and funds for their cause.

  5. Grammarly: Grammarly used a video to showcase the benefits of their grammar and spelling checker. The video was informative and easy to understand, and helped to educate viewers about the value of their product.

These examples demonstrate the power of video in email marketing campaigns. Each campaign used video to communicate a unique message and connect with their audience in a memorable way. By studying these successful campaigns and experimenting with different approaches, you can find the right formula for your own video email campaigns and achieve similar success for your brand.

Common mistakes to avoid when using video in email marketing

Using video in email marketing campaigns can be a powerful way to engage with your audience and boost conversions, but it's important to avoid common mistakes that can hinder your success. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using video in email marketing:

  1. Not optimizing video for mobile: Since a large percentage of email is now opened on mobile devices, it's important to optimize your video for mobile viewing. Make sure your video is formatted to display properly on a variety of devices and that the file size is small enough to load quickly on slower connections.

  2. Making the video too long: Attention spans are short, and viewers are more likely to engage with shorter videos. Keep your video to 2 minutes or less to ensure that your audience stays engaged and watches the entire video.

  3. Not including a clear call-to-action: A call-to-action (CTA) is a critical part of any marketing campaign, and video email campaigns are no exception. Make sure to include a clear CTA at the end of your video, encouraging viewers to take a specific action.

  4. Not using a compelling thumbnail image: The thumbnail image is the first thing viewers will see when they receive your email, so it's important to use a compelling image that entices them to click on your video.

  5. Embedding the video directly in the email: Some email clients don't support video playback within emails, so it's important to embed your video on a landing page and provide a link to that page in your email.

  6. Forgetting to test before sending: It's essential to test your video email campaign before sending it out to your entire subscriber list. This ensures that the video plays correctly and that your call-to-action works as intended.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a more effective video email campaign that engages your audience, drives conversions, and helps you achieve your marketing goals.

Tips for using video in email newsletters

Video can be a great addition to your email newsletters, helping to increase engagement and drive conversions. Here are some tips for using video in your email newsletters:

  1. Keep it short and sweet: Like with any video content, it's important to keep your video short and to the point. A video that's too long can cause viewers to lose interest and disengage. Try to keep your video to around 30 seconds or less.

  2. Add a thumbnail image: A thumbnail image is a great way to give viewers a preview of your video and entice them to click and watch. Use an eye-catching image that's relevant to your video content to draw viewers in.

  3. Use autoplay with caution: Autoplay can be a great way to grab viewers' attention, but it can also be disruptive and annoying. Consider using autoplay sparingly, or allow viewers to choose whether or not to play the video.

  4. Use captions: Captions are an important tool for making your video content accessible to a wider audience. They can also help to increase engagement by providing an additional way to consume your content.

  5. Include a call-to-action: Just like with any marketing campaign, it's important to include a clear call-to-action in your video content. Encourage viewers to take a specific action, such as visiting your website or making a purchase.

  6. Test before sending: It's essential to test your video content before sending it out to your subscribers. Make sure that the video plays correctly and that all links and calls-to-action work as intended.

By following these tips, you can create engaging and effective video content for your email newsletters that captures viewers' attention, increases engagement, and drives conversions.

Final thoughts

Incorporating video into your email marketing campaigns can be a powerful way to engage with your audience and increase conversions. But it can be tricky to get it right. In this article, we've covered everything you need to know to effectively use video in your email marketing campaigns.

We've discussed the benefits of incorporating video into your email marketing strategy, including increased engagement, higher click-through rates, and improved brand awareness. We've also covered the different types of videos you can include in your email campaigns, such as product demos, tutorials, and customer testimonials.

To create engaging video content, we've provided tips such as keeping it short, adding captions, using a compelling thumbnail image, and including a clear call-to-action. We've also discussed best practices for optimizing video for email deliverability, such as using a video hosting platform and testing your campaigns before sending them.

Additionally, we've covered how to embed video in your email campaigns and provided tips for writing effective subject lines for video content. We've even included examples of successful video email campaigns and common mistakes to avoid.

By following the tips and strategies outlined in this article, you can create effective and engaging video content for your email marketing campaigns that resonates with your audience, drives conversions, and helps you achieve your marketing goals.

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