Embedding video into emails has become a hot topic, and there are recent developments that are leading to some limited support for direct playing of embedded video in email. However for today – here’s the best way to get video into your email campaign in a way that will be viewable by virtually any email client.
The best method is to change your mindset from ‘how to I embed Video in Email’ to ‘How to I incorporate Video in my Emails?’ (assuming of course that you have determined that your should add video).
We’re simply going to add a graphic image to our email that looks like a video to be played, and we’ll include a link to a hosted video. The video can be hosted on YouTube, your site, … wherever. Our example belos is hosted on YourTube.
- Take a screenshot of the video displaying in a video player. (Here’s a YouTube example from a Mini commercial).
- Add a prominent “play” button to the center of the image.
- Put the screen shot in your email, linked to the page where the video is hosted (don’t forget your alternate-text attributes). Here’s how the graphic within your email will look – you can click on the image below to go to the actual video:
Play the Mini Commercial
Here are 5 great examples by www.stylecampaign.com - they’re consumer-oriented but they’re still excellent examples of how to simulate video in email.
Tip: Make as much of your supporting copy HTML text as possible. The examples above all use images, when they could have used HTML.
Next Up: how and When to Use Video in Email
