| Video email marketing transforms ordinary campaigns into messages people actually watch and remember. Embedding videos boosts engagement and brand connection. Focus on the formats that fit your audience, keep videos short, and always optimize for smooth playback and tracking. Done right, it makes emails alive without overloading subscribers. Pairing this with clear storytelling and calls-to-action ensures your video email campaigns drive real results and stronger customer interaction. |
Suddenly, your email seems alive. A face, a voice, a quick demo, even just a 5-second clip that feels more human than paragraphs ever could. And you don’t need Hollywood-level production for this.
Done right, video marketing drives crazy engagement without breaking flow. Done wrong, it destroys the design or ends up unplayable. So if you want to be in the first camp, your search has brought you to the right place. In this guide, we will show you the real ways to embed videos into emails and get results worth talking about.
There isn’t just one way to drop videos into your emails. Marketers mix and match different tricks depending on the video marketing tools they use and how much control they want over the design. Here are the 5 most effective ones.
This is the dream setup: your subscriber opens the email, hits play, and the video runs right there. But you only get this luxury in a few email clients:
If your audience data shows a large number of Apple users, it is worth trying. Use the HTML5 <video> tag and always include:
👉 Action tip: Don’t assume this works everywhere. Check your email analytics first. If fewer than 20–30% of your subscribers use supported clients, skip this method and go straight to thumbnails or GIFs.
This is the most reliable approach and the one you will see used the most. You are not actually embedding the video – you are making it look embedded. It works in every inbox and doesn’t break your design.
How to do it right:
👉 Action tip: Style the video thumbnail so it invites a click. High contrast and centered play button with minimal clutter works best.
Sometimes you don’t need to send people a video at all. An animated GIF can carry the weight when you want movement but don’t want to mess with embeds or redirects. They automatically play everywhere, which makes them great for grabbing attention in the first two seconds.
Best uses for GIFs in emails:
Things to watch out for:
👉 Action tip: Don’t treat GIFs as a full replacement for video. Use them as teasers or visual hooks. If you need detailed storytelling, stick with an actual video and link to it.
If coding video embeds makes your head spin, this route saves you the stress. Most email marketing tools like Mailchimp and Campaign Monitor already give you built-in ways to incorporate videos into your email campaigns. You don’t need to mess with HTML code or figure out which clients support embedded videos.
Here’s the usual flow:
A few things to keep in mind:
👉 Action tip: Don’t just rely on the default preview your platform spits out. Take two extra minutes to design a thumbnail that looks alive. That tiny tweak can double your clicks.
When doing video email marketing, you don’t always need the full video inside the body. A short looping snippet in your header or banner can do the job of grabbing attention right at the top.
Best uses:
How to do it right:
👉 Action tip: Use snippets as a hook, not the whole story. Their job is to pull readers into the rest of your email, where you can drop the full thumbnail or video link.
Not every video you make is going to do wonders in an email. Some just fall flat, others get skipped without a click. Let’s talk about the 5 that consistently work.
If you are selling something, nothing beats showing it in action. A product demo video cuts through walls of copy because people instantly see what the product does and how it works.
You can use AI tools to increase productivity and generate scripts for high-quality videos quickly, without sacrificing clarity or engagement.
How to do it right:
At Broadcast2World, we specialize in creating tailored animated explainer videos and product demos that break down even the most complex features into short, punchy videos your target audience can actually digest in an email.
Here’s how we can help:
Social proof still sells, and nothing is more convincing than a real customer saying, “This worked for me.” A testimonial video in an email feels human and way more engaging than another written quote with a headshot. When done right, it gives subscribers that last bit of reassurance they need to act.
Let’s say you are promoting an online real estate tool like this accelerated depreciation calculator. In this niche, hesitation is normal. Real estate investors aren’t going to take a tool at face value – they want proof from someone like them.
A simple text testimonial, “This calculator helped me save on taxes,” is helpful, but a 30-60 second video of a real user walking through their experience hits differently. They can show exactly how they entered their numbers, how the results clarified their strategy, and how it gave them confidence to make a financial decision.
How to do it right:
This is where you make your customers or users feel like part of the inner circle. A quick welcome or thank-you video or even a short company introduction video makes your brand approachable and keeps people opening future emails.
How to do it right:
Events are hard to sell with just text. An event video invite lets people feel the energy of what is coming, and a recap video helps them see what they missed. Both drive engagement – either before or after the event.
How to do it right:
👉 Tip: Time these carefully. Send the invite video at least two weeks out and follow up with a shorter teaser closer to the date. Drop the recap within 48 hours while the event is still fresh.
This type is about building trust and connection. People like to see who is behind the brand and how things are made. It makes your emails feel less transactional and more human.
How to do it right:
Videos can lift your emails big time, but only if you don’t trip over the common mistakes. Here are 6 wrong moves you will want to dodge.
What looks amazing on your laptop might look broken in Gmail on mobile. If you add videos without testing, you are basically betting it all on your campaign. Some clients block autoplay, some strip code, and others squash your layout.
How to avoid it:
One video can lift your engagement. Three can sink it. Piling on videos makes your email heavy and overwhelming for the reader. Think quality over quantity. If everything is “must-watch,” nothing gets watched.
How to avoid it:
Nothing ruins trust faster than clicking on a thumbnail that promises something juicy… only to find the video isn’t even close. You might get the click once, but people won’t fall for it twice. Set accurate expectations, then deliver.
How to avoid it:
People care about privacy. If you are embedding videos in ways that track viewers without their knowledge, or if you are not compliant with GDPR/CCPA rules, you are opening yourself up to issues.
How to avoid it:
Not all email recipients will watch your video. Some people can’t (bad connection, no sound), and some just won’t. If your entire message is inside the video, those people miss everything. So treat the video as the highlight, not the whole message.
How to avoid it:
If you are not tracking clicks and plays, you are running without a map. You won’t know if the video actually worked or if people bailed halfway through.
How to avoid it:
Video emails aren’t something you add to every campaign just because they look cool. They shine in very specific moments. Let’s walk through 5 times where they actually add impact.
A launch email without a video feels flat. Sure, you can write about features, but showing it in action seals the deal. A short demo instantly answers the question everyone has: “How does this thing actually work?” And honestly, most people would rather watch a one-minute video than scroll through a wall of text.
Using a video for product launch emails works for any business, but for high-value or premium products where customers need more information and reassurance, it becomes even more important. You can’t just rely on text or static images; people want to feel confident about their investment before they commit.
Take Nordvik Saunas as an example. A sauna isn’t a small impulse buy; it is a serious investment in money, space, and lifestyle. When Nordvik launches a new model, video email marketing makes all the difference. Their videos capture the experience, the ambiance, and the feeling of using it.
It is about experiencing how a backyard can transform into a personal retreat before you even step inside. That kind of immersive preview builds confidence and a real connection with the product – all before the first click on “buy.”
What to do: Keep it short. Show the product solving a real problem instead of just listing features. Add a clear “See More” button under the video that takes people to your product page.
Every list has people who stop opening emails. Sending them the same type of text-based content usually won’t bring them back. A video, though? That is different. It feels fresh and harder to ignore.
This is especially true in the health and safety space, where decisions are made carefully. Unlike fashion or entertainment, people can’t just “try and return” medical equipment. One wrong choice can mean frustration or even risk in an emergency.
Let’s consider the example of MedicalAlertBuyersGuide. For them, re-engaging inactive subscribers in this niche requires more than a catchy subject line or a simple text reminder. For people who have gone quiet, a short video highlighting key comparisons or showing how a system works instantly communicates value.
By sending a value like this, it transforms abstract text into something tangible, and suddenly, your email is a resource they can rely on.
What to do: Try a personalized reactivation message. For example, a quick clip from your founder saying, “Hey, we haven’t seen you in a while. Here’s what’s new.” Keep it human, not polished.
This is one of the best times to use video content. A welcome email with a smiling face (or even a quick screen recording) starts things on the right foot way better than a long block of text. It helps new customers feel supported and reduces the chances they will ghost after buying.
What to do: Create a short welcome customer onboarding video that explains what happens next. Show them how to get started or point out a key feature. If you are in SaaS, a screen share walkthrough works wonders. For services, a friendly team intro video makes your business approachable.
Urgency sells. Pair that with a video, and you have a powerful combo. A short video can highlight what is on sale or build FOMO by reminding people that the deal won’t last.
What to do: Don’t overcomplicate it. A 20–30 second clip is enough. Show the product, mention the offer, and flash a countdown or deadline to push urgency. Add clickable text or a button right under the video so they can grab the deal instantly.
Pro-Tip: If you really want to grab attention during a sale, think about who your audience is and what they actually need right now. To understand this better, let’s take this sewing machine parts store. Their customers aren’t just window shopping – they are in the middle of a project, maybe trying to fix a machine or finish something before a deadline.
Imagine this: a 20-second clip shows a worn bobbin case being swapped out for a new one. Then the email flashes a countdown: “Sale ends in 48 hours!” Now, it is a solution that feels immediate and relevant.
Viewers can see that yes, the part fits, yes, it works, and yes, they can solve their problem before time runs out. That is the sweet spot where limited-time offers and practical value collide, and a well-crafted video email makes it impossible to ignore.
When your company hits a milestone, a plain email doesn’t capture the energy. A video lets you share the excitement in a way that text can’t. It humanizes your brand and makes subscribers part of the journey.
What to do: Keep it authentic. Show your team celebrating or have your CEO speak directly to the camera. The goal isn’t polish; it is connection. End with a thank-you to your loyal customers for being part of the story.
At the end of the day, video email marketing is the upgrade your campaigns need if you want attention that lasts longer than a click. Plain text and images will always have their place, but video adds energy that nothing else can match.
Start with the formats that fit your audience best, keep the videos short, and use embedding methods that won’t break the experience.
At Broadcast2World, we combine the speed of AI with handcrafted storytelling to create animated explainers that help you break down complex ideas and showcase your product. From script to storyboard, voice-over to final animation, we handle it all so you can focus on results, not production headaches.
If you are ready to add spark to your video email marketing strategy, get in touch with us today, and let’s make it happen.