How to Add Video to Your Emails

[Gloria Rand]

Want to get the best ROI for your email marketing efforts? Start including video. A new survey by the Web Video Marketing Council found that 7 in 10 marketers currently use video in their emails because they believe it helps increase their click through rates. And the same number feel consumers are more likely to buy after viewing an email campaign that includes video.

So, what’s the best way to go about adding video? Unfortunately, there are very few email service providers that allow you to embed your video directly into the email message, and the service can be pricey. And even if you do embed a video in your email, there’s no guarantee your recipients will be able to view the message.

Link Video Image to Video Sharing Site

There is a way around this problem, which I discovered after realizing my email service provider didn’t allow embedded videos. This is what you can do:

• Upload a video to YouTube. (Or any other video sharing site that you prefer.)
• Capture a screen shot of the video and upload it to your email provider. (ScreenHunter has a free service that you can download here.)
• Link the picture to the video on YouTube.

Now, when someone opens your email, they just have to click on the image, and they’ll be taken to the video sharing site to watch the video.

Remember, when you are uploading videos to a video sharing site to optimize them for the search engines, so your message can extend beyond your email marketing efforts.

[Monica Hall]

Gloria, you are SO right about the value of video email! In fact, I've been using it personally for 4 and half years now. Ironically, my tag line is "Multimedia Markets You Better!"

I think I have good news for you about being able to simplify the process. The program I use lets you add video [and audio, by the way] right into your emails and creates the thumbnails automatically.

But here's the best part. We all understand the importance of branding your product or service, so it also gives me the ability to customize a graphic template around my video. And, I can include unlimited links to my various webpages and social media!

As you wisely pointed out, you want to link to the video rather than embed it, and this system does that automatically, as well.

Since you appreciate video, I think you'll enjoy this, too - it also comes seamlessly integrated with Live Broadcasting and Webcasting modules - for pennies a day, literally. So everyone has the equivalent of their own internet TV show.

If you'd like to explore it further, just let me know. And again, thanks for helping spread the awareness of video's value to the marketplace.

Take care!