Email Marketing’s Best Kept Secret: Video
How can video save your boring emails?
“Emails are a thing of the past.” At least, that’s what some marketers would have you believe.
With social media, AI chatbots, and viral video marketing taking over, it’s easy to assume email is dead.
Surprise, surprise, emails are still alive.
But we’re not talking about those walls of text that felt like reading an instruction manual like we used to in the '00s.
We need a visual aid to make them easier on the eyes. And explainer videos can come in handy at times like this.
Why Email Marketing Still Crushes It
Despite the rise of TikTok, Instagram, and AI-powered chatbots, email remains one of the most powerful sales channels in digital marketing.
Marketing pros love email, with 44% of them saying email is their most effective marketing channel, a greater percentage than for any other channel.
But there’s a catch…
Growing an email list is HARD.
Most visitors won’t just hand over their email addresses for nothing.
You need to earn that opt-in — and that’s exactly where explainer videos can help.
How to Grow Your Email List with Explainer Videos
An explainer video alone won’t magically turn a viewer into a lead. You need to prompt action, whether that’s clicking, signing up, or engaging further.
Here’s how you can strategically use explainer videos to convert viewers into email subscribers:
Use a Lead Magnet to Reel Them In
If you want people to hand over their email, you need to offer something valuable in return.
That’s where lead magnets come in.
A lead magnet is a free but high-value resource you offer in exchange for an email. This could be:
- An e-book (e.g., “10 Secrets to Winning Customers with Video”)
- A whitepaper (e.g., “The ROI of Explainer Videos”)
- A case study (e.g., “How XYZ Company Grew Conversions by 400%”)
- An exclusive webinar or training video
- A discount code for first-time buyers
💡 How to Use Explainer Videos for Lead Magnets 💡
- Step 1: Your video should highlight a problem your audience faces.
- Step 2: Offer your lead magnet as the solution.
- Step 3: Add a clear CTA (Call to Action) directing them to the sign-up form.
- Step 4: Use a tool like Leadpages or OptinMonster to automatically capture emails.
Example in Action:
Imagine you sell marketing software. Your explainer video could outline the common struggles of email marketing and then offer a free checklist to help businesses improve their email campaigns in exchange for an email sign-up.Read More: How to Effectively Embed Explainer Videos in Emails
Add a Powerful Call-to-Action (CTA)
Most people won’t take action unless you tell them exactly what to do.
That’s why your explainer video NEEDS a strong call to action.
🎯 CTA Ideas for Explainer Videos 🎯
“Want exclusive marketing tips? Sign up for our newsletter below!”
“Download our free guide — just enter your email!”
“Subscribe to get insider insights straight to your inbox!”
Best Practices for CTAs in Videos:
✔ Keep it short & direct. No long-winded explanations.
✔ Place it at key moments. Don’t just wait until the end! Drop CTAs before engagement drops off.
✔ Use video tools like Wistia Turnstile. It lets you add an email form directly into the video.
Example in Action:
A SaaS company might have an explainer video about their software, with a Turnstile email gate popping up at the 30-second mark, asking viewers to enter their email before continuing.
We’ve created the ABCs of CTA in explainer video, read it here: 5 Best Call-to-Action (CTA) Designs [Infographic]
Embed Clickable Links in Your Video
Want to make it stupidly easy for people to sign up?
Add clickable links inside your video.
🔹 YouTube’s “End Screens”: Place a clickable link to your sign-up page at the end.
🔹 YouTube Shorts: Embed another related YouTube videos to let viewers learn more about something.
🔹 Vimeo’s Interactive Video Tools: Embed links that let viewers click directly to a sign-up form.
Best Places to Add Links:
- In the video description
- As a pinned comment
- Inside YouTube annotations/cards
- On your website’s landing page where the video is hosted
Example in Action:
A personal finance coach might create an explainer video titled “3 Easy Ways to Save $500 This Month.” At the end, a CTA link appears:👉 “Get my free budgeting spreadsheet. Click here to download!”
Trigger a Video Popup
If your explainer video is hosted on your website, take advantage of exit-intent popups or end-of-video modals to capture emails.
What’s an Video Popup?
It’s a little message that pops up (it can be when the video started or right as the video ends) to prompt viewers to sign up.
It would look like this:
How to Set It Up?
1) Use OptinMonster, Sumo, or ConvertBox to trigger a popup when the video finishes.
2) Write a short, compelling message: “Want more insights? Join our email list for weekly tips!”
3) Keep the sign-up form simple — just ask for an email (maybe a first name, but no more).
At Breadnbeyond, we craft cool, professional, animated explainer videos.
Check our works here.
Ready to jazz up your next campaign with a snazzy new video ad? Drop us a line. We’re all ears, and we’ve got a FREE consultation for you.
And don’t sweat it — there are no sneaky strings attached!
