Video embedded inside an Email

FathomSEO · #1 (**permalink**) 05-24-2007, 09:29 AM

Before everyone jumps all over my back for asking this, let me preface my question -

I understand placing video in email is risky, as many ISPs will render it useless.

That being said, I read an article published by Marketing Sherpa which describes how one email marketing company had some success using video embedded (presumably streamed) into the email.

The article can be found here:
MarketingSherpa: How Video Message Gets Viewed by 59% of Target Audience

My question is this - logistically, how is this possible? In terms of coding the actual HTML, how can a video be embedded without using <embed>, <object>, or JavaScript so that it renders in most ISPs?

I'm not concerned with bandwith issues either... just the specifics about how this is programmed. Does anyone have any idea how this is done?

calmdesign · #2 (**permalink**) 05-24-2007, 07:06 PM

Hi,

To embed a video in a html email, you can use a method using the DYNSRC (dynamic source)
so for example the code would be something like

<img dynsrc="yourmovie.mpg" start="mouseover" />

you'd then have a call to action telling the user to move their mouse of the area which would trigger the movie to start.

Hope that helps

Coris

rickvidallon · #3 (**permalink**) 05-24-2007, 11:42 PM

Just tried sending video via email. This is really cool. Came through ok in Outlook and Hotmail, but Gmail showed a broken image. Rats...

itispals · #4 (**permalink**) 05-25-2007, 12:40 AM

Our Xerago Team had embedded videos for its fortune 500 client last year. It is true that these videos actually generated much better viewership and the client had been following it regularly in their videos. Right now i dont have the code with me...
I should update in the next post...
with regards,
itispals
Xerago

bizzboss · #5 (**permalink**) 05-25-2007, 04:38 AM

Does anyone know a way to embed SWF (Flash) movies in a mail?

I dont't think there is any, but since there are magicians here obviously...

vashonpotter · #6 (**permalink**) 05-25-2007, 05:30 AM

Hi all how it is possible.

simonmohr · #7 (**permalink**) 05-25-2007, 06:08 AM

Try http://www.vismail.com/. I know that they have had a lot of success with embedded email video.

wgoodman · #8 (**permalink**) 05-25-2007, 09:09 AM

If a good spam filter didn't weed out a video embed, I would be suprised.

If you have to click to have the video start, you may as well click to launch HTML with a flash video embed. Then you don't have to risk the filters.

The day I start to recieve e-mail that has autostart streaming video is the day I look for better e-mail software. Text spam is bad enough.

Wayne Goodman, Web Site Design, Search Engine Marketing

RHunt · #9 (**permalink**) 05-25-2007, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizzboss

Does anyone know a way to embed SWF (Flash) movies in a mail?

I dont't think there is any, but since there are magicians here obviously...

I got this a while back. There are actually several ways to accomplish this. I kinda like the flash approach described here.

totalwebvideo.com

If you need to produce the video content, let me know!

Good luck!

FathomSEO · #10 (**permalink**) 05-31-2007, 10:59 AM

I tried using the following code to display my movie:

Code:

<img src="http://www.fathompbm.com/ArtTest/VideoTest/test.jpg" dynsrc="http://www.fathompbm.com/ArtTest/VideoTest/4art.avi" alt="View this video." border=0 height="240" width="320"></a>

This displays and works fine when viewed as an HTML webpage in IE 7.

However... it does not work in FireFox (only the image displays; the movie never plays).

ALSO - when I send this code as an HTML email, I run into the following issues:

Outlook 2003: the code remains intact, but the movie never plays
Yahoo Main Beta: the DYNSRC attribute is completely stripped from the code, so the movie does not play
Windows Live Mail: Microsoft hides the HTML code from me, but the movie does not play
Gmail: Google hides the HTML code from me, but the movie does not play

I only tested the above ISPs/email clients, but with no success I stopped there (these are among the most popular).

So basically the DYNSRC attribute is useless when it comes to email... did anyone have success testing this?

Firstbyte · #11 (**permalink**) 06-07-2007, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FathomSEO

So basically the DYNSRC attribute is useless when it comes to email... did anyone have success testing this?

I received the same results... anyone else find a better solution?

FB

Nsssix · #12 (**permalink**) 07-04-2008, 03:45 PM

Embedding video directly into the body of an email is not possible, but there are ways to get video without sound to play right on the body of an email which can prompt a call to action that will trigger the same video to play. vdoLife.com has very smart solution where they use green screen footage to achieve a seamless video right on the body of an email.