Embedding video and photos in automated emails

Hi.

I would like to add video clips and photos in the automated emails. I’m asking Shopify to make our automated emails more like the marketing emails so we can reinforce the messaging. Basically, this would be like paying for a google ad or retargeting.

In today’s world of video and short span of attention, I’m asking for one of the following:

  1. A workaround if you have one
  2. Respond with a “Yes, Shopify, please provide this functionality” so they know there is a need for this.
  3. Last option, paying for another app that does this.

Thank you!

2 Likes

Hi @rjhudson !

Thank you for your feedback on this, I can definitely appreciate the desire for more robust email content to help engage your customers effectively.

All your automated emails that are sent out are based on the default notification templates found in your admin under Settings > Notifications. These templates are fully customizable, but for this level of customization it would most likely require a developer comfortable in HTML and liquid to make those changes for you.

Each notification template has a range of variables to customize the email sent out based on the type of order placed on the store, so it’s not quite as easy as just adding in the URL for an embedded image or video clip. You can learn more about editing email templates here: Edit notification templates · Shopify Help Center,

You can also look at 3rd party marketing email apps to assist with this as well. They offer the ability to replace the default emails being sent out with your own, and they would provide different types of email editors that might be more suited to your needs.

Some of the most popular email apps available are Seguno, Omnisend and Klaviyo. You can have a look at these apps and many like them in our app store here: Shopify App Store - Email Apps.

Can you put a video in an email? You can put a video in an email by embedding it directly, but we don’t recommend this option. Many email providers don’t support embedded video, so the message could get flagged as spam. Instead, we recommend creating a thumbnail that links to an external URL of your video.

I understand what you’re saying about spam.

How can I do this with a thumbnail?

Thank you for being so quick.

Hi Shay.

Even adding photos isn’t easy. This should be as easy as the marketing email system Shopify offers, which is awesome by the way!

We should be able to drop in photos and add thumbnails easily.

Thank you.

Hi how do you create a thumbnail that links to an external URL?

@rjhudson Hi,

My understanding of your requirement is that you’d like to embed a video into your Shopify emails and automations that will play when the recipient opens the email.

This has long been a request of email marketers, as adding video to your email would bring together your most effective sales channel (email) with your most effective content (video).

The good news is that email has evolved and it is now possible to add video to the body of your Shopify emails and automations that will play automatically at the moment the recipient opens the email.

The maximum duration of the video that can be played in email is 60 seconds, with around 30 seconds proving to be the most effective in terms of driving response. It is important to note that video in email does not play with sound, as audio files are not compatible with email, so it’s crucial that your video content communicates your proposition without the need for sound.

This how to add video to your Shopify email guide will be a good place to learn the process of adding video to your Shopify email, its super simple, as its really just a copy and paste exercise, so no technical skills required :blush: .

The app that you use to create the video embed code can be used for free so long as you don’t mind having a small watermark on the videos that you are adding to your campaigns. To remove the watermark you simply need to upgrade to paid plan.

Hope that helps

David