The Message Editor includes a Video zone that you can use to add a video thumbnail that links to a video hosted on Vimeo or YouTube.

Watch the video

Watch a short video that highlights the redesigned Zones iconography and the new, pre-configured Layouts options.

Why use a Video zone?

Video is one of the most effective ways to engage your audience. And including a link to a video is one of the most reliable ways to ensure that engagement.

The Video zone gives you the ability to insert video links into your templates and messages. The links can then be customized with an image.

NOTE: The "play" button that gets super-imposed on your image will be either gray (Vimeo) or red (YouTube).

To learn more about the Message Editor and the other Zones types, see Message Editor Zones.

Add a Video zone

Open a template or message via the Message Editor, and drag and drop the Video zone to where you want it on the "canvas."
On the Preview tab, specify or paste the URL of the video.
Below, you'll see two radio buttons that "dress up" the link to have it display as an image. You can either:

Use an image that is automatically generated, or
Upload your own image (via the Browse button).

NOTE: The width limit for an image is 650 pixels. You will be alerted if your image is wider than this, along with a recommendation to edit the image.

(Optional) Click Properties to customize the image's properties. Refer to Optional video properties, below, to learn more.
When finished, click Insert to add the video link at the specified location in your template or message.

Optional video properties

The options described below are optional. Access them by clicking the Properties tab of the "Insert..." dialog.

Click the Alignment dropdown to select the horizontal alignment of the image.
Specify numeric values in the HSpace and VSpace fields.

HSpace - Use this to create spacing to the left and right of the image.
VSpace - Use this to create spacing above and below the image.

Specify alternative text in the Alt Text field; refer to Alternative text in your messages, below, for information.
The URL of the video displays in the Link URL or Email Address field; click Edit Link to change it.
Click Advanced - Edit CSS to expand two additional options (these options are meant for users experienced in CSS):

Class - Here, you can provide a predefined CSS class to apply to the image.
Style - In this field, you can enter the exact CSS values with which you'd like to style the image.

Edit your video image

After you've inserted the image, the Edit as Copy button displays below it. Click this to make changes to it.

NOTE: Updating an image results in it being saved as a copy of the original, and you will have an opportunity to give it a unique name.

Alternative text in your messages

Alternative text is a "supporting feature" of web-based images and a basic tenet of good accessible web design.

When you use alternative text in your messages, the text that you specify:

displays in place of the image if the inserted image fails to load and
is read by screen-reading tools to describe the image to the visually impaired.

Because your image is actually a decorative link to a video, make sure that it's alternative text clearly describes its purpose.

EXAMPLE: For this video-link image:

"Rider leaning motorcycle around turn with fans in background"

accurately describes the image but is not helpful as alternative text. Whereas:

"Link to motorcycle racing highlights video"

is a much better indicator of the image's purpose: it links to a video about motorcycle racing.

To learn about the features and functions that you can use while working in Message Editor, see Message Editor Overview.
Message Editor Zones and Layouts offers a high-level look at the various "purpose-built" Zones and links to the dedicated articles that provide instructions for configuring and customizing the Zones.
To learn about Message Editor Layouts, which have pre-configured designs for quicker message- and template-building, see Message Editor Layouts.

Message Editor Zone - Video