How to Embed Youtube video in Email

Embedding a YouTube video in an email refers to the process of including a playable video directly within the body of an email message. This feature allows email recipients to watch the video without having to click on any external links or leave their email client. To embed a YouTube video in an email, you typically need to use HTML code. The process involves obtaining the video’s embed code from YouTube and then inserting it into the HTML of your email. This code usually consists of an iframe element that points to the video’s URL and includes parameters to customize the video player’s appearance and behavior.

Embedding a YouTube video in an email can be an effective way to engage and communicate with your audience. It allows you to share video content, such as tutorials, product demonstrations, or promotional videos, directly within your email campaigns or newsletters. By including videos, you can enhance the visual appeal of your emails and deliver more engaging and interactive content to your subscribers. It’s important to note that not all email clients fully support embedded videos. While some clients, such as Apple Mail, Outlook.com, and Yahoo! Mail, can display embedded videos directly, others might only show a fallback image or a clickable thumbnail that redirects users to the video on a web page.

To ensure a wider compatibility, it’s recommended to use a combination of techniques, such as including a static image thumbnail of the video with a play button overlay, accompanied by a clear call-to-action that prompts recipients to click and watch the video externally. Embedding YouTube videos in emails can be an effective strategy to engage your audience, showcase your products or services, and deliver compelling content directly in your email campaigns.

How to Embed Youtube video in Email?

Embedding a YouTube video in an email allows you to include a playable video directly within the body of your email message. While the process may vary slightly depending on the email client or platform you are using, here are the general steps to embed a YouTube video in an email:

Select the YouTube video you want to embed:

Choose the video from your YouTube channel or find the video you want to share. Make sure you have the necessary permissions to use and embed the video.

Retrieve the embed code:

Under the YouTube video, click on the “Share” button, and then select the “Embed” option. This will display the embed code that you need to insert into your email.

Copy the embed code:

Click on the “Copy” button next to the embed code. This will copy the entire code snippet to your clipboard.

Open your email editor:

Access the email editor or the HTML editing mode of your email platform or client. This could be an email marketing tool, a text editor, or the HTML source code of your email template.

Insert the embed code:

Paste the copied embed code into the appropriate section of your email’s HTML code. This is typically where you want the video to appear within the email body.

Customize the video dimensions (optional):

You can adjust the width and height values within the embed code to resize the video player according to your preferences. Ensure that the dimensions fit well within the email and maintain a good aspect ratio.

Preview and test the email:

Before sending the email, preview it to ensure that the embedded video appears correctly. Test the email in various email clients to verify that the video is working as intended. Once you are satisfied with the email design and functionality, send it to your recipients.

Remember that embedding YouTube videos may not work in all email clients. Some clients may display a fallback image or a clickable thumbnail instead. To improve compatibility, consider including a static image thumbnail of the video with a play button overlay, linking it to the actual YouTube video or a landing page where recipients can watch the video. By embedding YouTube videos in your emails, you can create more engaging and interactive content, enhance visual appeal, and deliver valuable information or entertainment directly to your email recipients.

Why Should You Embed Video in Email?

Embedding videos in emails can be a powerful way to engage and communicate with your audience. Rather than simply including a link to a video, embedding allows recipients to watch the video directly within the email itself. Here are a few reasons why you should consider embedding videos in your email campaigns:

  1. Increased Engagement: Videos are highly engaging and can capture the attention of your audience more effectively than plain text or static images. By embedding videos in emails, you provide an interactive and dynamic experience that can lead to higher click-through rates and conversions.
  2. Enhanced Communication: Videos offer a rich and immersive way to convey your message. Whether you want to showcase a product, explain a concept, or share a testimonial, videos allow you to communicate your ideas more effectively and leave a lasting impact on your recipients.
  3. Improved Conversions: Embedding videos in emails can positively impact your conversion rates. Videos have been shown to increase the likelihood of viewers taking desired actions, such as making a purchase, signing up for a service, or completing a form. By including videos directly in your emails, you make it easier for recipients to consume your content and take the desired next steps.

How to embed YouTube video in email using HTML?

Embedding a YouTube video directly into an email using HTML is not recommended and generally not supported by most email clients. This is because email clients have different levels of HTML and CSS support, and many of them have strict security policies in place that prevent the execution of embedded scripts or external content, such as videos.

A better approach is to include a thumbnail image of the video with a play button overlay, which links to the actual YouTube video when clicked. Here’s how you can achieve this:

  1. Find the YouTube video you want to embed and obtain its thumbnail image URL. You can usually right-click on the video and select “Copy image address” or a similar option to get the URL.
  2. Create a new HTML email template or open your existing email template in an HTML editor.
  3. Insert an image tag in your HTML code using the thumbnail image URL as the source. Here’s an example:

<a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID_HERE” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>
<img src=”THUMBNAIL_IMAGE_URL_HERE” alt=”Click to watch the video” width=”320″ height=”240″>
</a>

  1. Customize the width and height attributes of the image tag to adjust the dimensions of the thumbnail image as desired.
  2. Save the HTML file and use it as the content for your email. Be sure to test the email in different email clients and devices to ensure it renders correctly.

By using this method, recipients of your email will see a clickable thumbnail image that takes them to the YouTube video when clicked.

How to embed a YouTube video in a Gmail email?

  1. Open your Gmail account and click on the “Compose” button to create a new email.
  2. In the email body, write the text or introduction you want to include before the video.
  3. Open a new browser tab and go to the YouTube video you want to share.
  4. Under the video, click on the “Share” button.
  5. A dialog box will appear with different sharing options. Click on the “Copy” button next to the video URL.
  6. Go back to your Gmail email and paste the YouTube video URL in the desired location.
  7. To add a thumbnail image of the video, you can use the YouTube video’s default thumbnail or create a custom thumbnail. Right-click on the thumbnail image and select “Copy image address” or a similar option.
  8. In your Gmail email, click on the “Insert Photo” button in the formatting toolbar (it looks like a mountain icon).
  9. In the “Insert Image” dialog box, paste the URL you copied in step 7 into the “Web address (URL)” field.
  10. Click the “Insert” button to insert the thumbnail image into your email.
  11. Lastly, select the inserted thumbnail image and click on the “Link” button in the formatting toolbar (it looks like a chain link icon).
  12. In the “Insert Link” dialog box, paste the YouTube video URL you copied in step 5 into the “Web address (URL)” field.
  13. Click the “Apply” button to add the link to the thumbnail image.

Embedding YouTube video in Outlook email

Embedding a YouTube video in an Outlook email or a MailChimp email template can enhance your message and engage your recipients. Here’s how you can embed a YouTube video in both platforms:

Embedding YouTube Video in Outlook Email:

  1. Open your web browser and go to YouTube.
  2. Find the video you want to embed and click on the “Share” button below the video.
  3. Click on the “Embed” option that appears in the share menu.
  4. Customize the video size and other settings as per your preference.
  5. Copy the generated HTML code provided by YouTube.

Now, let’s proceed with the specific instructions for Outlook:

  1. Open Outlook and start composing a new email.
  2. In the toolbar, click on the “Options” tab and select “HTML” in the “Format” section. This will enable HTML editing in your email.
  3. Position your cursor where you want the video to appear in the email.
  4. Paste the copied YouTube HTML code into the email body.
  5. Customize the email content around the video, add text, or additional images as needed.
  6. Complete your email by adding recipients, subject, and any other necessary details.
  7. Send a test email to ensure the video appears correctly.

Please note that not all email clients support embedded videos, so the recipient may need to view the email in a web browser to watch the video.

Embedding YouTube Video in MailChimp Email Template

  1. Log in to your MailChimp account and navigate to the Campaigns section.
  2. Create a new campaign or select an existing one to edit.
  3. In the campaign editor, locate the content block where you want to embed the video or add a new content block.
  4. Within the content block, click on the “Design” or “Edit” option to open the editor.
  5. Depending on your MailChimp template, you may find a video block or a custom HTML block where you can embed the video.
  6. If you have a dedicated video block, click on it and follow the prompts to add your YouTube video link or embed code.
  7. If you have a custom HTML block, switch to the HTML editor mode and paste the YouTube embed code provided by YouTube.
  8. Save your changes and preview the campaign to ensure the video displays correctly.
  9. Continue editing your email campaign, adding other content, personalization, and testing as necessary.
  10. Once you’re satisfied, send a test email to yourself or a sample group to verify the video playback.

Remember to consider that some email clients may not support embedded videos, so it’s essential to provide a fallback option such as a static image with a clickable link to the video. Always thoroughly test your emails in various email clients and devices to ensure optimal compatibility and user experience.

Embedding a YouTube Video in an Email Newsletter

Embedding a YouTube video directly into an email newsletter is generally not recommended due to the limitations mentioned above. However, you can create an engaging thumbnail image of the video and link it to the YouTube video’s landing page. Here’s how you can do it:

  • Capture a thumbnail image: Take a screenshot of the YouTube video or use a custom thumbnail provided by the video creator. You can edit the image to make it more visually appealing if necessary.
  • Create an image link: Insert the thumbnail image into your email newsletter and link it to the YouTube video’s landing page. This way, when users click on the thumbnail, they will be directed to the video on YouTube.
  • Add a call-to-action: Accompany the thumbnail image with a clear call-to-action text, such as “Watch the video,” to encourage users to click on the image and view the video.

Embedding YouTube video in transactional email

Similar to an email newsletter, embedding a YouTube video directly into a transactional email is not widely supported. However, you can follow a similar approach as mentioned above by including a thumbnail image and a link to the video. Here’s how:

  • Capture a thumbnail image: Take a screenshot or use a custom thumbnail image for the YouTube video.
  • Create an image link: Insert the thumbnail image into the transactional email and link it to the YouTube video’s landing page.
  • Provide a brief description: Include a short description or summary of the video content in the email to provide context for the recipient.
  • Encourage engagement: Use a clear call-to-action text to encourage the recipient to click on the thumbnail image and watch the video.

Remember to test your email in various email clients to ensure that the image and link work correctly. Additionally, always provide an alternative text link for users who may not be able to view the images or access the video.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can you embed a YouTube video in an email?

A: No, it is not possible to directly embed a YouTube video in an email.

Q: Why can’t you embed a YouTube video in an email?

A: Email clients and services typically do not support embedded videos due to security and technical limitations.

Q: What alternatives are there for including a YouTube video in an email?

A: You can include a thumbnail image of the video with a play button, and link it to the YouTube video page. Alternatively, you can create a GIF or short video clip and embed that directly into the email.

Q: How can I add a YouTube video thumbnail with a play button in my email?

A: You can capture a screenshot of the video and overlay a play button icon on top of it. Then, you can link the thumbnail image to the YouTube video URL.

Q: How do I create a GIF or a short video clip to include in an email?

A: You can use video editing software or online tools to create a GIF or short video clip. Convert the video snippet into a compatible format like GIF or MP4, and then insert it into your email.

Q: Can I use HTML code to embed a YouTube video in an email?

A: While HTML code can be used to embed videos on websites, it is not supported in most email clients. Some email clients may strip out the HTML code or disable the video playback.

Q: Are there any email marketing platforms that support embedded videos?

A: Some email marketing platforms provide workarounds or specialized features to include videos, such as adding a video player within the email. However, the playback experience can still vary across different email clients.

Q: How can I ensure the best video viewing experience for email recipients?

A: To provide a seamless video viewing experience, it is recommended to include a thumbnail image with a clear call-to-action and link it to the YouTube video or a landing page where the video can be played.

Q: Are there any limitations or considerations when including video content in emails?

A: Yes, it is important to consider the file size and loading time of the email, as large video files can increase the email size and potentially cause delivery issues. Additionally, ensure that your recipients have a reliable internet connection and access to YouTube or the video hosting platform you’re using.