How to share video clips in newsletters

Text, images and even animated GIFs work fine to send directly in the newsletter. But if you want to share video clips, it is not as easy. That is because for the vast majority of recipients, it is not possible to play videos in their email clients. And the whole point is that the recipient should be able to watch the video, right? Writing about the video and linking to it in the body text is not very clear or eye-catching, and probably few will click. Fortunately, there is a simple solution. If you want to work more with moving content in your mailings, a good newsletter tool is important. With Paloma's newsletter module you can create clear mailings, add image links to videos and follow clicks in the statistics.

The simple trick: create an image link to the video

Publish the video on the web if you have not already done so, for example on your own website or YouTube channel. When you create the newsletter, you create an image link that leads directly to the URL, the web address, where the video clip is ready to play.

Still image with a play button

One tip is to choose a still image from the video and paste a play button in the middle of the image you want to use as the video link in the newsletter. You can easily do that with the free service Add Play Button to Image.

How to link an image in the newsletter tool

As usual, you add an image to the newsletter by:
1. Dragging in an image module.
2. Clicking the placeholder image.
3. Choosing an image from your computer or the tool's file archive.

This is a simple way to use video in email mailings without making the email heavy or unclear for the recipient.

Then click the image you want to link, and the Edit field opens.

1. Choose the link type URL.
2. Fill in the video clip's web address.
3. Fill in an alternative text that briefly describes the image.
(The alternative text is shown instead of the image if the recipient has chosen not to load images, and it is read by screen readers for people with visual impairments.)
4. Fill in a link title. Example: Watch the video
(The link title is shown when the recipient hovers over the link with the mouse pointer. It is also shown in your mailing statistics and can be used to tell different links apart more easily.)

Well done, now you share video through the newsletter in a clear and neat way!

Create an animated GIF

As mentioned, animated GIFs work fine to send directly in the newsletter. There are several free online services where you can easily create an animated GIF from images or a finished video. One example is imgflip GIF Maker.

Suggested FAQ

Frequently asked questions about video in newsletters

Can you embed video directly in a newsletter?
Usually not. Most email clients do not play video directly in the email. That is why an image with a link to the video is usually the best solution.

What is the best way to share a video clip in a newsletter?
The most common way is to use a still image from the video with a play button on top. The image then links to the video on your website, YouTube or another landing page.

Why is an image link better than just adding a regular text link?
An image link is more visible, looks more clickable and makes it easier for the recipient to understand that it is a video clip.

Can you track how many people click on the video in the newsletter?
Yes, if you use a newsletter tool with statistics, you can follow clicks on the link to the video and see how the video content performs.

Do GIFs work better than video in newsletters?
GIFs can be shown directly in many email clients and work well for short animations. For longer content, an image link to the video is usually better.

More links:

• Create newsletters with Paloma

• Email sending software

• A guide to better newsletters

• The complete guide to email marketing

• How to create content for your newsletter