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The role of video in email marketing

November 18, 2023 | Jimit Mehta

As you sift through your overflowing inbox, a subject line catches your eye. You won't believe what we've got in store for you! it exclaims, accompanied by a thumbnail of a video player. Intrigued, you click through to find a message that's not just a wall of text, but a dynamic and engaging video presentation. This is the power of video in email marketing. In an era where attention spans are short and competition for inbox real estate is fierce, video offers a way to stand out, capture interest, and make an emotional connection with your audience. In this article, we'll explore the role of video in email marketing, from the benefits it offers to the best practices for incorporating it into your campaigns. Whether you're a seasoned email marketer or just getting started, get ready to discover how video can take your email game to the next level.

The benefits of using video in email marketing

Video has become an increasingly popular and effective tool for marketers to engage with their audience, and email marketing is no exception. Using video in email marketing can provide a range of benefits, including increased engagement, higher click-through rates, and better conversion rates.

One of the primary benefits of using video in email marketing is that it can help to capture and hold the viewer's attention. Videos are more engaging and can convey more information in a shorter amount of time than text alone. By using video in your emails, you can communicate your message more effectively and stand out in a crowded inbox.

Another advantage of using video in email marketing is that it can lead to higher click-through rates. According to studies, including a video in your email can increase click-through rates by as much as 300%. By providing an enticing thumbnail and a clear call-to-action, you can encourage your subscribers to take the next step and visit your website or landing page.

Finally, using video in email marketing can also lead to better conversion rates. By engaging your audience with a video and providing valuable information, you can build trust and establish yourself as an authority in your industry. This can lead to increased sales and revenue, as your subscribers are more likely to take action and make a purchase.

Overall, the benefits of using video in email marketing are clear. By incorporating video into your email campaigns, you can improve engagement, increase click-through rates, and boost conversions, helping you to achieve your marketing goals and grow your business.

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Examples of successful video email campaigns

Video email campaigns have become an increasingly popular way for marketers to connect with their audience and achieve their marketing goals. While creating a successful video email campaign may seem daunting, there are many examples of companies that have done it well, with great results.

One example of a successful video email campaign is from Airbnb. In one campaign, they sent an email that featured a video of a beautiful destination along with a clear call-to-action to "Book Your Trip Now". The video was engaging and visually stunning, which helped to capture the viewer's attention and inspire them to take action. As a result of this campaign, Airbnb saw an increase in bookings and revenue.

Another example of a successful video email campaign is from Grammarly, a writing tool that helps people improve their grammar and writing skills. In one campaign, they sent an email that included a video of a person typing a message, with their mistakes being corrected in real-time by the Grammarly tool. This video was informative, engaging, and showcased the product's value proposition in a creative way. As a result, the campaign was highly effective, leading to increased sign-ups and revenue.

A third example of a successful video email campaign comes from charity: water, a non-profit organization that provides clean and safe drinking water to people in need. In one campaign, they sent an email that included a video featuring the impact their work has had on people's lives, with a clear call-to-action to donate. The video was emotional, inspiring, and highly effective in communicating the organization's mission and goals. As a result of this campaign, charity: water was able to raise a significant amount of money for their cause.

These examples demonstrate that video email campaigns can be highly effective when done well. By creating engaging, informative, and inspiring videos, companies can connect with their audience and achieve their marketing goals, whether that's increasing sales, sign-ups, or donations.

Best practices for incorporating video into your email marketing strategy

Incorporating video into your email marketing strategy can be an effective way to engage with your audience and achieve your marketing goals. However, to get the most out of video in email, it's important to follow some best practices to ensure that your videos are well-received and effective in driving engagement and conversions.

One best practice for incorporating video into your email marketing strategy is to keep your videos short and sweet. Attention spans are short, and viewers are more likely to watch your video if it's under two minutes long. Keep your video focused on a single topic and make sure it's visually engaging to keep the viewer's attention.

Another best practice is to use a clear and compelling call-to-action in your video. Make it easy for the viewer to take the next step, whether that's visiting your website, signing up for a newsletter, or making a purchase. Include a clickable thumbnail or button that leads to the next step, and make sure it's prominently displayed.

It's also important to optimize your video for mobile devices, as more than half of all emails are opened on mobile devices. Make sure your video is responsive and can be viewed on a variety of devices and screen sizes.

Another best practice is to test your videos before sending them out to your entire email list. Send your video to a small group of subscribers to gauge their reaction and make any necessary adjustments before sending it out to your entire audience.

Finally, it's important to track the performance of your video email campaigns and make adjustments as needed. Use analytics tools to track metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversions, and make changes to your strategy based on the data.

By following these best practices for incorporating video into your email marketing strategy, you can create engaging and effective video campaigns that drive engagement, conversions, and ultimately, business growth.

Tips for creating engaging video content for email

Creating engaging video content for email can be a challenging task, but it's an essential part of any successful email marketing strategy. To make your video content stand out and grab your audience's attention, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Firstly, it's important to focus on the storytelling aspect of your video content. Your video should have a clear message that resonates with your audience. Whether you're trying to educate, inspire or entertain, make sure your message is clear and compelling. Also, try to keep your video content concise and engaging to keep the viewer's attention.

Secondly, pay attention to the visuals in your video content. Make sure your video is visually appealing and professional-looking. Use high-quality images and videos to tell your story, and incorporate graphics or animations where appropriate to help illustrate your message.

Thirdly, make sure the audio quality of your video is clear and crisp. Poor audio quality can be a distraction and make it difficult for viewers to understand your message. If you're using background music, make sure it's not too loud and doesn't detract from the main message of your video.

Another important tip is to use humor and personality in your video content, where appropriate. This can help to make your brand more relatable and memorable, and can help to create a connection with your audience.

Finally, make sure your video content is mobile-friendly. A growing number of people are accessing email on their mobile devices, so it's important to ensure that your videos can be easily viewed and played on a variety of devices and screen sizes.

By following these tips, you can create engaging and effective video content that resonates with your audience and drives engagement and conversions in your email marketing campaigns.

Common mistakes to avoid when using video in email marketing

Video is a powerful tool in email marketing, but it's important to use it strategically to avoid common mistakes that can hurt your campaign's effectiveness. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using video in email marketing:

The first mistake is using a video that is too long. Your audience's attention span is limited, and a lengthy video can cause them to lose interest quickly. Keep your videos short and to the point to ensure that your message is delivered effectively.

Another mistake is not optimizing your video for different devices. Many people check their email on their mobile phones, so it's important to ensure that your video can be viewed easily on mobile devices. Test your video on different devices to ensure that it can be viewed on different screen sizes and that the audio quality is not compromised.

A third mistake is not including a clear call-to-action in your video. Your video should have a specific goal, whether it's to drive traffic to your website, encourage social media engagement or generate leads. Be sure to include a clear and compelling call-to-action in your video to direct viewers to take the desired action.

A fourth mistake is not measuring the performance of your video email campaigns. Use analytics tools to track key metrics like open rates, click-through rates and conversions to evaluate the effectiveness of your video content. This will help you to make necessary adjustments and improve the performance of your campaigns.

Finally, a common mistake is not testing your video before sending it to your entire email list. Sending a test email to a small group of subscribers can help you to identify any issues with your video and make necessary improvements before sending it to your entire audience.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure that your video content is engaging and effective in driving engagement, conversions and business growth in your email marketing campaigns.

How to measure the success of your video email campaigns

Measuring the success of your video email campaigns is crucial to understanding their effectiveness and making necessary improvements for future campaigns. Here are some key metrics to measure when evaluating the success of your video email campaigns:

The first metric to measure is the open rate, which is the percentage of subscribers who opened your email. A high open rate indicates that your subject line and email content were engaging and piqued the interest of your subscribers.

The second metric to measure is the click-through rate, which is the percentage of subscribers who clicked on a link within your email. This metric indicates how effective your call-to-action was in driving engagement and traffic to your website or landing page.

The third metric to measure is the conversion rate, which is the percentage of subscribers who completed the desired action, such as making a purchase or filling out a form. This metric indicates how effective your video content and call-to-action were in driving conversions and generating business growth.

Other metrics to consider measuring include the bounce rate, which is the percentage of emails that were undeliverable, and the unsubscribe rate, which is the percentage of subscribers who opted out of receiving further emails from you.

Using analytics tools, you can track these metrics and evaluate the effectiveness of your video email campaigns. This data can help you to identify areas for improvement, make necessary adjustments and optimize your future campaigns for better results.

By measuring the success of your video email campaigns, you can gain valuable insights into your audience's behavior and preferences, improve your targeting and messaging, and ultimately drive better business growth through your email marketing efforts.

Technical considerations for including video in emails

Including video in emails can be a great way to engage with your audience and drive better results in your email marketing campaigns. However, there are some technical considerations to keep in mind to ensure that your video can be viewed easily and effectively in your subscribers' inboxes.

The first consideration is the file size of your video. Large video files can slow down the loading time of your email and make it more difficult for your subscribers to view your video. To avoid this issue, compress your video file to reduce its size and improve the loading time of your email.

The second consideration is the format of your video. Different email clients and devices may support different video formats, so it's important to choose a format that is widely supported and can be viewed on different platforms. MP4 is a popular video format that is widely supported on different devices and platforms.

The third consideration is the placement of your video in your email. Some email clients may not support embedded videos, so it's a good idea to include a thumbnail image or a play button that links to your video hosted on a website or landing page.

The fourth consideration is the quality of your video. Low-quality videos can make your brand look unprofessional and detract from the effectiveness of your email campaign. Ensure that your video is high-quality, with good resolution and clear audio, to ensure a positive viewing experience for your subscribers.

Finally, it's important to test your video email on different devices and email clients to ensure that it can be viewed easily and effectively. Test your email on desktop and mobile devices, and on different email clients like Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo, to ensure that your video can be viewed seamlessly across different platforms.

By considering these technical considerations for including video in your emails, you can ensure that your video content is engaging, effective and delivers the desired results in your email marketing campaigns.

Integrating video into different types of email marketing campaigns

Integrating video into different types of email marketing campaigns can help to engage your audience, increase conversions and drive better results for your business. Here are some examples of how you can integrate video into different types of email marketing campaigns:

  1. Welcome emails: A welcome email is the perfect opportunity to introduce your brand to new subscribers and establish a connection. Including a video in your welcome email can help to showcase your brand's personality, values and products or services, and create a strong first impression.

  2. Product or service launch emails: When launching a new product or service, including a video in your email can help to showcase its features and benefits, and provide an engaging and interactive experience for your subscribers.

  3. Promotional emails: Promotional emails can be a great way to drive sales and increase revenue for your business. Including a video in your promotional email can help to showcase your products or services in action, and demonstrate their value to your subscribers.

  4. Educational or instructional emails: Educational or instructional emails can help to establish your brand as an authority in your industry and provide value to your subscribers. Including a video in your educational or instructional email can help to simplify complex topics, and provide a more engaging and interactive experience for your subscribers.

  5. Customer testimonial emails: Customer testimonials can be a powerful way to build trust and credibility with your audience. Including a video testimonial in your email can help to showcase the positive experiences of your customers, and provide social proof of the value of your products or services.

By integrating video into different types of email marketing campaigns, you can create a more engaging and effective experience for your subscribers, and drive better results for your business.

The future of video in email marketing

As technology and consumer preferences continue to evolve, the future of video in email marketing looks promising. Video is becoming an increasingly popular and effective way for brands to engage with their audiences and drive better results in their email marketing campaigns. Here are some trends that may shape the future of video in email marketing:

  1. Personalization: Personalization has become a key trend in email marketing, and it's likely to continue in the future. By using data and analytics to tailor video content to individual subscribers, brands can create a more personalized and engaging experience that resonates with their audience.

  2. Interactive video: Interactive video is a new trend that is gaining traction in the email marketing space. With interactive video, subscribers can engage with the content in real-time, by clicking on links, filling out forms or answering questions. This can create a more immersive and engaging experience that encourages subscribers to take action.

  3. Artificial intelligence: AI is another technology that is likely to shape the future of video in email marketing. By using AI algorithms to analyze subscriber data and behavior, brands can create more targeted and effective video content that resonates with their audience.

  4. Mobile optimization: With more and more people accessing email on their mobile devices, mobile optimization is becoming increasingly important for video in email marketing. Brands need to ensure that their videos are optimized for mobile devices, with fast loading times and responsive design.

  5. 360-degree video: 360-degree video is an emerging technology that offers a fully immersive and interactive experience for subscribers. With 360-degree video, subscribers can explore the content from different angles, creating a more engaging and interactive experience.

Overall, the future of video in email marketing looks bright, with new technologies and trends emerging that can help brands to create more engaging and effective campaigns that resonate with their audience. As brands continue to experiment with video in their email marketing, we can expect to see new and innovative ways to use video to drive better results and engagement.

Case studies of brands that have seen success with video in their email marketing efforts

There are several brands that have seen success with video in their email marketing efforts, and case studies can provide valuable insights into how video can be used effectively in email marketing. Here are a few examples of brands that have seen success with video in their email marketing campaigns:

  1. Airbnb: Airbnb used video in an email campaign to promote its Experiences service, which offers travelers the opportunity to explore local destinations with a host. The video featured hosts from around the world sharing their unique experiences, and the campaign resulted in a 2x increase in bookings.

  2. Nest: Nest, a smart home technology company, used video in an email campaign to promote its new thermostat product. The video showcased the product's features and benefits, and the campaign resulted in a 64% increase in click-through rates.

  3. Grammarly: Grammarly, an online grammar checker, used video in an email campaign to promote its premium subscription service. The video showcased the benefits of the premium service, and the campaign resulted in a 10% increase in conversions.

  4. Sephora: Sephora, a beauty retailer, used video in an email campaign to promote its new lipstick line. The video featured beauty influencers trying on the new lipstick shades, and the campaign resulted in a 70% increase in click-through rates.

  5. J.Crew: J.Crew, a fashion retailer, used video in an email campaign to showcase its new collection. The video featured models wearing the new collection, and the campaign resulted in a 48% increase in click-through rates.

These case studies demonstrate how video can be used effectively in different types of email marketing campaigns to engage subscribers, promote products or services, and drive better results for businesses. By using video creatively and strategically in their email marketing campaigns, brands can create a more engaging and effective experience for their subscribers, and achieve their marketing objectives.

Over to you

In today's fast-paced digital world, email marketing remains a powerful tool for businesses to reach and engage their audiences. One of the latest trends in email marketing is the use of video, which has proven to be an effective way for brands to connect with subscribers and drive better results.

This article explores the role of video in email marketing and provides valuable insights for businesses looking to integrate video into their email campaigns. We discuss the benefits of using video in email marketing, share examples of successful video email campaigns, and provide best practices for incorporating video into email marketing strategies.

Additionally, we offer tips for creating engaging video content and highlight common mistakes to avoid when using video in email marketing. We also discuss technical considerations for including video in emails and offer guidance for integrating video into different types of email marketing campaigns. Finally, we take a look at the future of video in email marketing, exploring emerging trends and technologies that are likely to shape the industry in the coming years.

Overall, this article provides a comprehensive overview of the role of video in email marketing and offers practical advice and insights for businesses looking to leverage this powerful tool to engage their audience and drive better results.

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