👋 Hi Reader,
If the first set of emails you read this morning starts with “Hope this email finds you well....” and your reaction is this:
Parks and Recreation
You are not alone. Email fatigue is for real. And the bar is already set too low.
Which is when I realized that a lot of newsletter creators are using video in their email to break the pattern, I thought “Maybe they know something I don’t” and started poking holes to find out if video and email mixed well, or they were oil and water.
The verdict?
You are asking a guy who did consulting for two decades, so obviously my answer is:
It depends ;)
Let's start with the obvious first:
Why video?
It can make your email human. Before you come at me, think about this: I covered most newsletters being curated and also written by AI. If it’s not given due attention, it may not pass the reader’s sniff test for AI slop. So how to prevent that?
Open strong with a personalized video summary from the creator themselves.
But do email providers support playing video inline?
Most ESPs like Kit and Mailerlite provide rich media support. Substack goes further by also providing the ability to go live on video with the Substack app.
But even if a large portion of your subscribers use older or smaller email providers, you could still embed a clickable thumbnail which takes them to Youtube or Vimeo, where you host the long-form video.
Hmm, what else could I do with video?
If you are a newsletter creator and have a YT channel or a podcast (or BOTH, like us), use your newsletter as one more effective distribution channel.
If you are building a product or you have an online store, use video to show product walkthroughs inside the email content itself.
Check the below YT video which works well embedded in an email like this as well (I know, I am fishing here)
The possibilities are endless. So tell us, what are you planning to do with video on your next issue?
Share your thoughts by hitting ‘Reply’ on this email, or send a note to [email protected].
This newsletter is sponsored by The Alien Design
Looking for a partner to bring your digital product ideas to life? Alien specializes in product design, web design, and Webflow development. Alien helps businesses build visually appealing digital experiences that drive results. From concept to launch, Alien focus on delivering solutions that fit your brand and meet your business goals.
Want to get featured as the next sponsor on LetterStack? Reach out to us on [email protected]!
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Cheers,
The LetterStack Team
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