Video email: technology test results + a warning

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videoI've outlined the options for using video in your email campaigns (which doesn't always mean using video in your actual emails).

But a missing element has always been a definitive and detailed review of exactly what video-playing technologies work in different desktop email clients, webmail interfaces and mobile email applications.

Missing no more.

Campaign Monitor just released a report on the current state of video in email which fills this gap near perfectly.

I only say "near perfectly" because we're still waiting to learn how for-fee certification programs may open up certain ISPs to allowing streaming video to work in emails in the future.

Until then, it seems we're still looking at an image linking to a video at a website as the best option for most people, with animated gifs running second. Any "video email" services wishing to beg to differ are invited to comment...

Regarding the animated gif option, the Campaign Monitor report also discusses some pros and cons, and take a look at Justin Premick's post for some more thoughts on that alternative.

Oh, and one more thing.

I increasingly see services and press releases referring to "video email".

While most of us think of video email as "videos in email", these references often take a broader view.

On closer inspection, they commonly mean video production or hosting/analytics tools for use in combination with email campaigns, i.e. where the video does not play in the email itself.

All fine and legitimate, of course. But just be careful with terms and definitions in any discussion of video email...blog posts included ;-)

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[This post brought to you by Campaigner Email Marketing]
Permalink | January 13, 2009 | 1 comment(s) - add yours!
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1 Comments:

I really never believed video ads were going to come via email. If the technology allows it we can expect CTR to skyrocket and drop like a bucket for html messages.
By Anonymous Vincent C, on 13 January, 2009  
 

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