A video newsletter can transform your email campaigns into dynamic, engaging experiences that capture attention and drive meaningful interactions with your audience.
Creating personalized video content requires attention to quality and proper display settings in email clients. Since not all email clients support direct video playback, using an eye-catching thumbnail with a link to your video ensures consistent delivery.
With Omnisend, you can send compelling video emails with clickable thumbnails and links or integrate with the Playable video platform to embed video content directly in your newsletters.
Join us below to discover how to use newsletter videos effectively in your marketing strategy.
Get started with Omnisend to build high-converting video newsletters
A video newsletter is a marketing communication format that combines email distribution with video content through embedded videos, animated thumbnails, or links to video content within a traditional email newsletter structure.
Instead of relying solely on written copy and images, you use video to deliver messages more effectively. They are particularly powerful at demonstrating things visually, like showing how a new product feature works, giving a factory tour, or introducing your team.
The visual nature of video helps break through inbox clutter and creates a more immersive experience for your subscribers.
The benefits of using video in emails
Video transforms your email marketing from static text into dynamic content, unlocking six key benefits that drive better subscriber engagement:
1. Increased engagement
Video thumbnails catch your subscribers’ attention immediately and encourage action. The combination of motion and sound creates a richer experience than standard text emails, making readers pause and spend time with your message.
You can use video email marketing to showcase products in action, share company updates, deliver educational content, and more.
2. Higher click-through rates (CTR)
People are naturally curious about video content. A compelling thumbnail in your video email marketing sparks interest and prompts clicks to learn more.
Subscribers eagerly follow these visual breadcrumbs to your website, landing pages, and product listings, hungry for the full video experience.
3. Improved conversion rates
Videos can demonstrate your products in action, effectively showcase real customer experiences, and explain complex features more clearly than text.
When potential customers see your offerings in action, they gain the confidence to make purchasing decisions, naturally driving higher conversion rates.
4. Better retention of information
Your message sticks when people can see it in action. Visual demonstrations make complex ideas crystal clear while product features appear on the screen.
Effective retention marketing relies on this visual impact — subscribers remember and act on what they’ve watched, not just read.
5. Stronger emotional connection
Words alone can’t match the impact of seeing real people tell stories. Video brings authentic personality to your email marketing, whether you’re sharing team celebrations, customer testimonials, or behind-the-scenes moments.
Watching real people share genuine experiences builds lasting connections far more effectively than polished marketing copy.
6. Enhanced brand differentiation
Your brand deserves to stand out in crowded inboxes. Video newsletters create distinctive, memorable experiences that subscribers remember and anticipate.
While many companies rely on walls of text, your video messages cut through the noise and give subscribers something they look forward to opening.
How to create a video newsletter
Follow these essential steps to get started with video newsletters:
Use your brand colors, logo, and fonts consistently throughout the template
Position your video thumbnail in the email’s prime viewing area, with clear play buttons or “Watch Now” text
Preview your design on both desktop and mobile to ensure proper scaling and readability
Step 5: Test delivery before rollout
Send test emails to different email clients
Verify consistent formatting on all devices
Verify all links lead to correct video content
Editing tips
Start by choosing the right video editing platform for your needs. For YouTube content, try YouTube Create — it’s free and designed for the platform.
DaVinci Resolve is another free option with more professional features. You can also upgrade to DaVinci Resolve Studio, which is good enough for Hollywood.
Adobe is another option. Premiere Pro handles video editing and arrangement, and After Effects lets you create advanced motion graphics and visual effects.
Here are the key editing priorities once you have an editing tool:
Trim the silence before someone starts speaking to keep things snappy
Trim out “umms” and “ahs” to keep speech clean
Delete repeated phrases to maintain pace
Place captions at the bottom of the screen for visibility
Keep caption font size consistent to aid reading
Sync captions with speech to avoid confusion
Use simple cuts between scenes to maintain flow
Keep your branded intro under five seconds to maintain the viewer’s attention
Embedding options
Your video won’t play directly in most email clients, so it’s best to create an engaging entry point with a thumbnail and play button.
Upload your video to platforms like YouTube or Vimeo, then use a compelling static thumbnail or an animated GIF preview in your email.
Ensure your thumbnail includes a clear play button or “Watch Now” text to encourage clicks, and always test your video links before sending.
Alternatively, Omnisend has Playable integration to generate thumbnails and GIFs automatically. With Playable integration, you can:
Upload your video to Playable
Choose whether to use a static thumbnail or an animated GIF preview
Copy Playable’s embed code
Paste it into your Omnisend email template in an HTML block
Add video with Omnisend
Here’s how to add video content to your Omnisend emails:
Step 1: Start with layout
Open Email Builder and add a layout to your design
Choose a two, three, or four-column layout if you want to display multiple videos
Here are seven proven video formats to enhance your newsletters:
1. Company updates and announcements
Turn company milestones and news into engaging stories that employees and customers want to watch. A quick video from your CEO or team leader adds personality and enthusiasm that text announcements can’t convey.
The Salty Donut’s Orlando store launch newsletter perfectly captures a company update through video. Its update combines milestone announcements and delivery news, using a video thumbnail and “Watch Video” CTA to share the excitement with subscribers:
Show your products in action instead of describing features in lengthy paragraphs. Concise video demonstrations help customers understand complex features quickly while showcasing real-world applications.
Miro’s onboarding newsletter breaks down product training into three bite-sized video tutorials. Its straightforward format pairs each core feature with a short video link, making it easy for new users to learn the basics of board navigation:
Image via Really Good Emails
3. Behind-the-scenes content
Give subscribers an exclusive peek into your company culture and daily operations. These candid glimpses into your workspace, team meetings, product development, and sponsorships build transparency and connection with your audience.
Manors Golf showcases its products in action through email newsletters with clickable video links that invite subscribers to watch their latest adventures:
Image via Really Good Emails
4. Industry expert interviews
Share valuable insights from thought leaders and specialists in your field. Quick, focused interviews position your brand as an industry authority while delivering practical knowledge to your subscribers. The other company might also market them, sending traffic to your website.
OnBrand’s conference update newsletters turn key moments into engaging video content, using eye-catching thumbnails and clear “Watch video” buttons to draw readers in:
Image via Really Good Emails
5. Event and achievement highlights
Share the best moments from your events and achievements so subscribers feel like they were there. Quick video highlights and stories give everyone a window into your brand’s biggest moments while encouraging brand interaction.
Athletic Brewing transforms a feature documentary announcement into an engaging multi-part email campaign. Its main video content, a documentary trailer about Jason Hardrath’s mountain climbing achievement, works great as a promotion tool:
Image via Really Good Emails
6. Educational content related to your niche
Deliver practical knowledge that helps your audience solve real problems in your industry. For instance, how to change a light bulb if you sell bulbs. Educational videos establish your expertise while providing genuine value that keeps subscribers coming back for more.
Platforma’s newsletters turn complex wireframing tutorials into digestible video lessons. This example guides users through their Figma workflow with a simple video link:
Image via Really Good Emails
7. Customer testimonials and success stories
Let your satisfied customers do the talking! By sharing their experiences directly with potential buyers through on-camera testimonials, you build trust and credibility. Take it a step further with videos that highlight customer success stories, offering authentic social proof to inspire confidence in your product or service.
Framer X’s newsletter showcases Spotify’s success story through a case study video. The brief teaser text introduces Spotify’s design challenge, while the video invitation promises deeper insights into how the design team uses Framer X for prototyping:
Image via Really Good Emails
FAQs
What is a video newsletter?
A video newsletter combines the direct reach of email marketing with engaging video content. Instead of traditional text-heavy updates, these newsletters deliver your message through embedded videos or clickable thumbnails that link to video content.
How do you create a newsletter video?
Start with a clear message and keep your video brief (under two minutes is ideal). Focus on one main topic, use good lighting and clear audio, and always include a call to action.
Can you put videos in a newsletter?
While most email clients don’t support direct video playback, you can effectively include videos using animated GIF previews or compelling thumbnails that link to your hosted video content.
How do I create a visual newsletter?
Design your newsletter with a clean, mobile-friendly layout that draws attention to your video content. Use an eye-catching thumbnail image, keep the surrounding text concise, and place your video link prominently in the email’s prime viewing area.
Aiste is a Content Marketing Manager at Omnisend. When she's not searching for the perfect synonym or refining her latest copy, you can find her curled up with her cat, binge-watching yet another TV series.
Omnisend AI
OFFER
