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10 ways to use visual content in email marketing

Image of Ebnu Sudarso
November 17, 2023 | Ebnu Sudarso

Email marketing is a powerful tool that you can use to increase sales, promote products or services, and build relationships with customers. It's an easy way to reach out to thousands of people without the hassle, thanks to email automation tools such as Mailchimp and Buzzstream. But plain emails might not get the attention they deserve.

Why use visual content in email marketing

In order to be effective, email marketing must be well-crafted and carefully planned. To craft a compelling email, it takes more than just excellent copy. One way to enhance the effectiveness of an email marketing campaign is to incorporate visual content into the messages. Visual content can take many forms, including images, infographics, and videos.

The email must have a visual component which is vital to catch the eye reader and to create reader engagement. When used correctly, visual content can help capture email recipients' attention, convey important information quickly and easily, and encourage recipients to take action.

We're all visual beings, and email messages that include visual content are more likely to be noticed, read, and remembered than those without. Imagery can also boost click-through rates and help to ensure that your email messages are opened and read.

The good news is that there are a lot of ways you can incorporate visual content into your email marketing. In this article, we're going to list ten different ways that you can use visual content in your next email marketing campaign.

10 ways to use visual content in emails

While there's many ways to utilize visual content in emails, the content should always be personalized to the recipient. This means sending the right kinds of content that most likely resonates with the recipient. This can be accomplished by either proper customer segmentation or image personalization.

How to use images in email marketing

Images are a great way to add visual interest to an email and can be used to highlight key points, showcase products or services, or simply add some personality to a message.

When selecting images for email marketing, be sure to choose high-quality images that are relevant to the message you're trying to communicate. In addition, including an appropriate image can help to increase the likelihood that an email will be opened and read.

How to use infographics in email marketing

Infographics are a type of visual content that you can use to communicate complex information in a more easily digestible format. They typically include images, charts, and graphs and can be an effective way to engage recipients and encourage them to learn more about a particular topic.

Infographics are excellent for delivering detailed or numeric data in a more straightforward format. Overall, they make excellent learning aids, and you won't have to worry about your information being lost in translation.

How to use videos in email marketing

Videos are an increasingly popular type of visual content and can be used in email marketing to grab attention, convey important information, and tell a story. When used correctly, presentation videos can be highly effective in promoting products or services, increasing sales, and building relationships with customers.

Moving images like videos are highly effective because they can capture attention and hold it for longer than static images. Other than that, with a good video copy, videos provide an opportunity to show, rather than tell recipients about what you're offering.

How to use data visualizations in email marketing

Data visualizations are another type of visual content that you can use to communicate complex information in a more easily understandable format. Data visualizations can take many different forms, including charts, graphs, and maps.

If you have loads of data and statistics, data visualization is a great way to present it all in an email. Not only will this make your email more visually appealing, but recipients will also be able to quickly and easily understand the information you're trying to communicate.

How to use animated GIFs in email marketing

Animated GIFs are a fun and engaging type of visual content that you can use to add personality to an email, make a message more memorable, or simply make recipients smile. You can use memes, GIFs of your team in action, or even create your own original animations to spice up a boring email and create a different kind of brand perception.

While you should use animated GIFs sparingly, they can be a great way to add some personality to an email and make it more memorable. Just be sure that the GIF you choose is relevant to the message you're trying to communicate.

How to use image maps in email marketing

Image maps are a type of visual content that you can use to create clickable images. Image maps can be used to promote products or services, encourage recipients to take action, or simply provide more information about a particular topic.

For example, you could use an image map to create a clickable product catalog or an interactive map of your store locations. Image maps are a great way to make an email more interactive and can be a fun way to engage recipients.

How to use live charts in email marketing

Live charts are a type of visual content that can be used to display real-time data. Live charts are an effective way to engage recipients and encourage them to take action.

The good thing about live charts is that you can use them to display a variety of different types of data, including stock prices, sports scores, and weather conditions. Adding a live chart to your email will make it more interactive and can help you to communicate complex information in a more easily digestible format.

How to use product photos in email marketing

Product images are a great way to showcase the products or services that you offer. In addition, they can help to increase the likelihood that an email will be read and acted upon. If you have a variety of products, using product photos is a great way to highlight each one.

While product photos are a great way to promote your products or services, be sure to use them sparingly. Too many product photos can make an email look like a sales pitch and turn recipients off.

Nicklas Spelmeyer, CEO at eCommerce.de, knows about the importance of product photos, especially for ecommerce brands:

"Email has been shown to be an effective marketing tool for ecommerce stores, and using product photos in email marketing can be a great way to showcase your products and increase sales.

There are a few things to keep in mind when using product photos in email marketing. First, make sure the photos are high-quality and professional-looking. This will help to create a good impression of your store and products.

Second, try to use photos that are relevant and personalized to the email content and recipient. For example, if you're promoting a sale on summer clothing, include photos of people enjoying the outdoors in your email.

Finally, you can also consider using your images as a call-to-action (CTA) in your email to encourage recipients to click through to your website and purchase the featured products."

How to use screenshots in email marketing

In email marketing, you can use screenshots to provide recipients with a visual preview of a particular product or service. Screenshots can also be used to highlight features and benefits or to simply add some personality to a message.

For example, if you're promoting a new software application, you could include a screenshot of the interface to give recipients a better idea of what it looks like. Or, if you're promoting a new website, you could include a screenshot of the homepage.

Including screenshots in your email can be a great way to engage recipients and give them a better idea of what you're offering. Just be sure to use them moderately so as not to overwhelm recipients with too much information.

How to use customer testimonials in email marketing

Customer testimonials are an effective way to build trust and credibility with potential customers. Customer photos are a great way to add a personal touch to your email and make it more relatable.

For example, you could include a customer testimonial along with a photo of the customer in your email. This would help to add credibility to your message and make it more personal.

When used in email marketing, customer testimonials can effectively promote products or services, increase sales, and build relationships with customers. However, it's important to make sure that the customer testimonial is relevant and personalized to the recipient so make sure the testimonial is of a customer from the same industry as your email recipient.

Wrapping up

So there you have it! Ten different ways that you can use visual content in email marketing. Incorporating visual content into your email marketing campaigns can increase engagement, build relationships with customers, and drive sales. You'll also keep readers engaged and interested in your content. So what are you waiting for? Start using visual content in your email marketing today!

By including visual content in email marketing messages, businesses can more effectively engage with their customers and achieve their desired results. When used correctly, visual content can help make an email marketing campaign more successful.


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