Comments on: Video in Gmail: design tests and implications for email marketing http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and.html Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:53:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mark Brownlow http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and.html#comment-186 Mark Brownlow Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:42:51 +0000 http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and-implications-for-email-marketing.html#comment-186 There are certainly downsides to YouTube, but I'm struggling to see the embedded ads you warn about? When I preview one of my videos at Gmail, no ads show up.<br /><br />My understanding was that the overlay ads on videos require the uploading entity to activate them as part of the YouTube partner program. So if I'm embedding my own uploaded videos, there's no way ads can appear in my video? There are certainly downsides to YouTube, but I'm struggling to see the embedded ads you warn about? When I preview one of my videos at Gmail, no ads show up.

My understanding was that the overlay ads on videos require the uploading entity to activate them as part of the YouTube partner program. So if I'm embedding my own uploaded videos, there's no way ads can appear in my video?

]]> By: Mark Spivey - Vmail Marketing consultant. http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and.html#comment-185 Mark Spivey - Vmail Marketing consultant. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:13:11 +0000 http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and-implications-for-email-marketing.html#comment-185 This would be ok for a bit of fun but simply unsatisactory for business. Youtube's embedded video ads would be a distraction. Your competition's ad embedded on your video and links to other videos? Not great. I just did a cleanup of two sites yesterday using Youtube's video (I had several videos that simply did not exist anymore). I guess I have a love hate relationship with Youtube in the way they interconnect tagged videos. Even safe for kids videos occasionally end up somehow being linked to more "adult" content. I once created a video and uploaded it and it ended up being linked to an Islamic message. Google of course does not mind - it's all revenue for them. Truth is if you want quality you'll have to pay for it. This would be ok for a bit of fun but simply unsatisactory for business. Youtube's embedded video ads would be a distraction. Your competition's ad embedded on your video and links to other videos? Not great. I just did a cleanup of two sites yesterday using Youtube's video (I had several videos that simply did not exist anymore). I guess I have a love hate relationship with Youtube in the way they interconnect tagged videos. Even safe for kids videos occasionally end up somehow being linked to more "adult" content. I once created a video and uploaded it and it ended up being linked to an Islamic message. Google of course does not mind – it's all revenue for them. Truth is if you want quality you'll have to pay for it.

]]> By: Mark Brownlow http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and.html#comment-163 Mark Brownlow Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:13:55 +0000 http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and-implications-for-email-marketing.html#comment-163 Anna...yep, unfortunately it still looks like there simply is no perfect video email solution. Always something missing (or costing extra to have). Anna…yep, unfortunately it still looks like there simply is no perfect video email solution. Always something missing (or costing extra to have).

]]> By: Mark Brownlow http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and.html#comment-162 Mark Brownlow Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:12:40 +0000 http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and-implications-for-email-marketing.html#comment-162 Good point robinteractive: some of these issues will change as people get accustomed to seeing the video tagged to the bottom of an email. In fact, if you don't use YouTube, they might even get concerned that no preview shows up for your alleged video link...?! Good point robinteractive: some of these issues will change as people get accustomed to seeing the video tagged to the bottom of an email. In fact, if you don't use YouTube, they might even get concerned that no preview shows up for your alleged video link…?!

]]> By: Anna Yeaman http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and.html#comment-161 Anna Yeaman Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:05:32 +0000 http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and-implications-for-email-marketing.html#comment-161 It's a shame the links with tracking we all use don't activate the video...I'm guessing link shorteners like tinyurl don't work either. Though many ESPs allow you to disable tracking on individual links. It's a shame the links with tracking we all use don't activate the video…I'm guessing link shorteners like tinyurl don't work either. Though many ESPs allow you to disable tracking on individual links.

]]> By: robinteractive http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and.html#comment-160 robinteractive Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:54:35 +0000 http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and-implications-for-email-marketing.html#comment-160 Like Justin, I've had this enabled as a lab feature for a while. And, like Justin, I would prefer that people watch YouTube videos embedded on my own site, surrounded by my own content, links, etc.<br /><br />However, since enabling it as a lab feature, I confess that I personally have been more likely to watch the video at the bottom of Gmail than I am to click through to a site (be it YouTube or otherwise). I'm curious if this is typical.<br /><br />In the end, I would rather have the person watch the video in the e-mail (particularly if it is linked to the brand I'm promoting) than not watch it at all.<br /><br />Although this was previously a Gmail Labs feature, not all Gmail Labs features are Google related. In labs, Gmail has a preview option similar to YouTube for Google-owned Picasa as well as for Flickr (owned by competitor Yahoo).<br /><br />I am curious in terms of revenue/advertising if these YouTube videos within Gmail will feature ads related to the e-mail content as opposed to the video content.<br /><br />Lots to think about. Thanks, as always, for your thorough testing. Bookmarked :) Like Justin, I've had this enabled as a lab feature for a while. And, like Justin, I would prefer that people watch YouTube videos embedded on my own site, surrounded by my own content, links, etc.

However, since enabling it as a lab feature, I confess that I personally have been more likely to watch the video at the bottom of Gmail than I am to click through to a site (be it YouTube or otherwise). I'm curious if this is typical.

In the end, I would rather have the person watch the video in the e-mail (particularly if it is linked to the brand I'm promoting) than not watch it at all.

Although this was previously a Gmail Labs feature, not all Gmail Labs features are Google related. In labs, Gmail has a preview option similar to YouTube for Google-owned Picasa as well as for Flickr (owned by competitor Yahoo).

I am curious in terms of revenue/advertising if these YouTube videos within Gmail will feature ads related to the e-mail content as opposed to the video content.

Lots to think about. Thanks, as always, for your thorough testing. Bookmarked :)

]]> By: Mark Brownlow http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and.html#comment-159 Mark Brownlow Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:34:06 +0000 http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and-implications-for-email-marketing.html#comment-159 Jordan, Justin,<br /><br />Thanks for thoughtful inputs. I would be inclined to agree that rich media might be a little longer off. But I'm more open minded about interactivity in the broadest sense. I'm thinking here of the integration of inboxes with social media and networks.<br /><br />It's hard to make concrete predictions, but my stomach tells me that webmail services and software manufacturers will strive harder and harder to keep people at their properties or in their system. And "interaction hubs" are a strong option there.<br /><br />It's certainly an exciting time, if a little scary with all the change going on. Jordan, Justin,

Thanks for thoughtful inputs. I would be inclined to agree that rich media might be a little longer off. But I'm more open minded about interactivity in the broadest sense. I'm thinking here of the integration of inboxes with social media and networks.

It's hard to make concrete predictions, but my stomach tells me that webmail services and software manufacturers will strive harder and harder to keep people at their properties or in their system. And "interaction hubs" are a strong option there.

It's certainly an exciting time, if a little scary with all the change going on.

]]> By: Justin Premick http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and.html#comment-158 Justin Premick Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:58:23 +0000 http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and-implications-for-email-marketing.html#comment-158 Cool to see them rolling this out to all users. I've been using it in my own Gmail account since it was announced as a Labs feature some time ago and am a big fan of it as a recipient.<br /><br />That said, I tend to favor sending subscribers to a page of your/my own site where the video is embedded alongside other content. There are certainly cases where sending the subscriber directly to YouTube makes sense, but I don't see those as a majority.<br /><br />Re: plain text email vs. HTML with optional video - these YouTube links work with plain text messages as well. (I've utilized this feature of Gmail most when friends email me YouTube links, always in plain text.) So while I generally favor HTML over plain text, I'm not sure the difference between the two options is exaggerated by the addition of YouTube previews.<br /><br />I also agree w/Jordan: a broad rollout of Enhanced Email strikes me as unlikely. Probably going to be for a select few (large brands). Would sure love to be wrong on that one... Cool to see them rolling this out to all users. I've been using it in my own Gmail account since it was announced as a Labs feature some time ago and am a big fan of it as a recipient.

That said, I tend to favor sending subscribers to a page of your/my own site where the video is embedded alongside other content. There are certainly cases where sending the subscriber directly to YouTube makes sense, but I don't see those as a majority.

Re: plain text email vs. HTML with optional video – these YouTube links work with plain text messages as well. (I've utilized this feature of Gmail most when friends email me YouTube links, always in plain text.) So while I generally favor HTML over plain text, I'm not sure the difference between the two options is exaggerated by the addition of YouTube previews.

I also agree w/Jordan: a broad rollout of Enhanced Email strikes me as unlikely. Probably going to be for a select few (large brands). Would sure love to be wrong on that one…

]]> By: Jordan Cohen http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and.html#comment-157 Jordan Cohen Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:53:05 +0000 http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and-implications-for-email-marketing.html#comment-157 Excellent and very informative post Mark. <br /><br />Re: the conclusion - I am not so sure we'll see more new inbox functionality within the next few *months* (at least as far as rich media and video are concerned). <br /><br />Google is in a unique position to do this b/c of their ownership of YouTube. Meanwhile, the "Enhanced Content" offering a la Sears and Netflix doesn't seem to be scalable (seems like they are working with only the largest brands and on a case by case basis).<br /><br />I am a fervent advocate of "rich email", and find it quite pathetic that it's 2010 and we're still so far away from it.<br /><br />To make the inbox richer, industry needs to coalesce around standards that will make it so. And I'm afraid that we are still years from that becoming a reality, not months...<br /><br />Best regards,<br /><br />-Jordan Excellent and very informative post Mark.

Re: the conclusion – I am not so sure we'll see more new inbox functionality within the next few *months* (at least as far as rich media and video are concerned).

Google is in a unique position to do this b/c of their ownership of YouTube. Meanwhile, the "Enhanced Content" offering a la Sears and Netflix doesn't seem to be scalable (seems like they are working with only the largest brands and on a case by case basis).

I am a fervent advocate of "rich email", and find it quite pathetic that it's 2010 and we're still so far away from it.

To make the inbox richer, industry needs to coalesce around standards that will make it so. And I'm afraid that we are still years from that becoming a reality, not months…

Best regards,

-Jordan

]]> By: Mark Brownlow http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and.html#comment-156 Mark Brownlow Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:43:18 +0000 http://www.email-marketing-reports.com/iland/2010/02/video-in-gmail-design-tests-and-implications-for-email-marketing.html#comment-156 My pleasure Reinhard. I think we'll see more new inbox functionality over the coming months. This is just the beginning. My pleasure Reinhard. I think we'll see more new inbox functionality over the coming months. This is just the beginning.

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