A big push these days for email marketers is the idea of having streaming video right in the email. Although it sounds like a great idea, a majority if not all email clients do not support it. The work around? An image that looks like the video player with a play button.

The point of putting the image is so the end user establishes the link that if they click it, they will watch a video. What they do not always think of is that “Clicking here will take me to their website”.

It is a great way to get more visitors through your newsletters, and possibly guide them to other content on your website, and then possibly a conversion.

A very useful process if done effectively.

**** UPDATE ****

Since writing this article, I have been contacted by an organization named “EyeMail” and they claim they are able to do video in email using a variety of methods, programming and technology to bring streaming video to your inbox. Although I haven’t seen this personally, it sounds promising.  EyeMail can be found here: http://www.eyemailinc.com/

**** UPDATE  #2****

Another company to mention is Goodmail Systems based out of California. They are partnering with Time Warner’s AOL unit. You can read the full article here.