Email is one of the most common and important forms of online communication, yet it can be difficult to know how to properly format your messages. One question that often arises is whether or not you should embed videos in your emails.
The answer to this question is not always clear, as there are both pros and cons to doing so. On one hand, embedding videos can add a personal touch to your messages and help you stand out from the crowd. On the other hand, videos can be large files that take up a lot of space in your email, and they may not always play correctly for all recipients.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to embed videos in your emails should come down to your specific needs and goals. If you think that adding videos would be beneficial to your communication, then go for it! However, if you’re not sure, or if you’re worried about potential problems, then it might be best to stick with other types of attachments.
What does it mean to embed a video?
Embedding a video means that the video is placed on a Web page using HTML code. The code is generated by the video hosting site, and you can copy and paste it into your Web page. To embed a video in emails or other applications, you can use the video’s URL. Embedded content appears as part of the page, and users can play it without leaving the page.
Benefits of embedding video in email marketing
1. Increased engagement
When you embed a video in an email, it’s more likely that your recipients will take the time to watch it. In fact, one study found that including a video in an email leads to an increase in click-through rate that’s 80% higher than a plain text email.
Also, a video is more likely to capture someone’s attention than an image. After all, a video is a moving image, which is more eye-catching than a still image.
2. Improved brand awareness
When you include a video in your email marketing, you can improve brand awareness. After all, your video will feature your brand’s logo, colors, and/or other elements.
Plus, if you include a video in your email, it’s more likely that your recipients will remember your brand. In fact, one study found that people who watch videos in emails are three times more likely to remember your brand than people who don’t watch videos in emails.
3. May increase ROI
Email marketing is one of the most cost-effective marketing channels. In fact, one study found that email marketing has an ROI of 4%.
When you include a video in your email marketing, you can further increase your ROI. In fact, one study found that including a video in an email can increase your ROI.
4. Improved open rates
As we mentioned earlier, including a video in an email can increase your click-through rate. In fact, one study found that including a video in an email can increase your click-through rate by up to 300%.
Including a video in an email can also improve your open rates. In fact, one study found that including a video in an email can increase your open rate by up to 6%.
Open rates are important because they indicate how many people are opening your emails. The more people who open your emails, the more people who will see your videos.
These benefits make it clear that embedding video in email marketing can be beneficial.
Are videos in emails effective?
Yes, videos in emails are effective. Videos help to grab attention and make email more engaging. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind when embedding video in email marketing.
First, not all email clients support video. For example, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and Outlook do not support video. Second, even if an email client does support video, there’s no guarantee that your recipients will be able to watch your video. For example, some email clients block external content, such as video.
Also, even if an email client does support video and your recipients can watch your video, there’s no guarantee that they will have the bandwidth to do so. For example, some people have data caps or slow internet speeds.
Furthermore, even if an email client does support video, your recipients can watch your video, and they have the bandwidth to do so, there’s no guarantee that they will have the time to do so. After all, people are busy, and they may not have the time to watch a video.
Finally, even if an email client does support video, your recipients can watch your video, they have the bandwidth to do so, and they have the time to do so, there’s no guarantee that they will be interested in your video. After all, your video may not be relevant to them.
Keep these things in mind when embedding video in email marketing.
How to Embed Video in Email
1. Find the URL of the video
To create an email with a video, you must first find the URL of the video. You can find the URL of a video on YouTube by opening the video and copying the URL from the address bar of your web browser.
2. Create an email
Next, you need to create an email. You can do this in any email client, such as Gmail, Outlook, or Apple Mail.
3. Add the video URL to the email
Once you have created an email, you can add the video URL to the email. To do this, simply paste the URL into the body of the email.
4. Send the email
Once you have added the video URL to the email, you can send the email to the recipient.
Do’s & Dont’s of video in email marketing
There are several do’s and dont’s to keep in mind when embedding a video in email:
Do’s
1. Include a Good CTA in Video Thumbnail
Your video thumbnail should be a compelling representation of the video you’re sending. Include a strong CTA inviting recipients to click through and watch. Also, don’t forget to make sure your video is properly sized for mobile. Make sure your video thumbnail isn’t too big or too small.
2. Send the Video to the Right People
You want to send your video to people who will actually watch it. So make sure you’re segmenting your list properly. You don’t want to use your video to onboard new leads. You want to use your video to send targeted content to your existing customers.
3. Keep It Short
Email recipients are notoriously impatient. They don’t want to watch a long video in their inbox. So make sure your video is under 1 minute. Not only will your video load faster, but it will be more likely to hold your viewer’s attention.
4. Include a Fallback Image
You can’t assume that your video will load on every email client. Some email clients (like Gmail) will block video from loading. So you need to include a fallback image that tells recipients what the video is about. That way, your email will still make sense if the video doesn’t load.
5. Test, Test, Test
The only way to know for sure if your video is working in email is to test it. Send a test email to yourself and to a few of your colleagues. Many email clients won’t show video by default. So, you need to make sure recipients can still see your video if they want to.
Dont’s
1. Don’t Send Video to Everyone
Sending video to everyone on your list is a recipe for disaster. Not everyone will want to watch your video. So make sure you segment your list properly. Only send your video to people who will appreciate it.
2. Don’t Send Video to New Leads
You don’t want to use your video to onboard new leads. You want to use your video to send targeted content to your existing customers.
3. Don’t Send Video to People Who Don’t Watch Videos
You don’t want to send your video to people who don’t watch videos. That’s a waste of time and resources. So make sure you segment your list properly. Only send your video to people who will actually watch it.
4. Don’t Make Your Video Too Long
Email recipients are notoriously impatient. They don’t want to watch a long video in their inbox. So make sure your video is under 1 minute. Not only will your video load faster, but it will be more likely to hold your viewer’s attention.
5. Don’t Forget to Test
The only way to know for sure if your video is working in email is to test it. Send a test email to yourself and to a few of your colleagues. Many email clients won’t show video by default. So, you need to make sure recipients can still see your video if they want to.
Embed Video in email alternatives
When it comes to embedding videos in emails, it’s not the only method available to you. Here are other options you may want to consider:
1. Use a GIF
GIFs are a great alternative to video. Unlike video, they’re short and don’t require an internet connection. You can download GIFs from sites like Giphy or make your own using video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro X.
To use a GIF, simply upload it to your email service provider and insert it into the body of your email.
2. Use an image
If you’re not keen on using video or GIFs, you can use images instead. Images can be just as effective as videos and are much easier to create.
To use an image, simply upload it to your email service provider and insert it into the body of your email. You can also use an image with a link to your video. This way, people can click on the image to watch the video if they want.
3. Use a link
If you don’t want to use video or images, you can simply use a link to your video. This is the easiest way to add a video to your email, but it’s not as effective as using video or images.
To use a link, simply insert the URL of your video into the body of your email.
4. Use an email signature
If you want to add a video to your email but don’t want it to take up space in the body of your email, you can use an email signature. Email signatures are a great way to add a video to your email without taking up space.
To use an email signature, simply create a signature in your email service provider and insert the URL of your video.
Conclusion
If you are not sure whether to embed a video in your emails, it may be worth doing some A/B testing and seeing if it’s something that works for you. The only way to know is to try it, and it’s certainly not something that you should be afraid to do. However, this article has outlined the pros and cons of embedding videos in email, so you can make an informed choice.
It is important to note that there are some potential downsides to embedding video in an email, so it is vital that you weigh up the pros and cons before you decide to do so. In particular, you need to be aware of potential compatibility issues and the fact that some email clients will not display video.
