A picture is worth a thousand words, and images in emails are also great at getting subscribers to take action!
Imagine you're selling airline tickets to Hawaii. Sure, you'll mention flight details and ticket prices… but you'll convince people by embedding images in your email of beautiful sunsets and sandy beaches! The images in that news will make everyone excited to pack their bags and hit the road.
This has been scientifically proven! The human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text, and 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual.
Images in newsletters enhance your message and motivate readers to feel or act, which makes them an important part of your email marketing strategy.
Let's look at the 10 best ways to use embedded images in emails!
1. Use images to illustrate products/services
You can explain in detail how your product or service works, or just show it off with a single embedded image. In many cases, images help make the message clearer and easier to understand. Especially in this meme-influenced generation, our brains are trained to grasp the context of email images immediately.
In this newsletter image from Manta Sleep, readers immediately see what their new line of sleep eye covers will look like (featuring fun stickers that can be placed anywhere on the cover)!
2. Use images to share good news
Are you about to launch a website redesign, a new collection, reach 100,000 social media followers or celebrate the fact that your company has been on the market for 10 years?
Celebrate your victory with pictures! On special occasions, you can even decorate your photos by adding festive elements like glitter or balloons. Or use eye-catching GIFs to show excitement. Whatever shows off your happy mood best!
In the email design below, MarkUp announces their new feature with a beautifully illustrated screenshot to highlight the good news.
3. Use images as animated GIFs
Using GIFs in email newsletters can be another great way to add some visual flair and personality to your message. They add some movement and life to still images and help convey tones or emotions that might be difficult to express with words.
They also allow you to share multiple images while only taking up the space of one image. Like in this newsletter design from MeUndies. Using animated GIFs, they were able to showcase 11 products while keeping the CTA button at the top.
GIFs tell a story quickly. If you're releasing a new product or feature, GIFs in emails are the perfect way to share information quickly.
4. Use email images to set the mood
Email marketing images are great for instantly setting the mood, like the example below from VSCO. When they announced their new range of infrared filters, the high-resolution email image immediately set the mood and showed how you can transform your own photos.
5. Use seasonal images to celebrate
Christmas? Summer? Halloween? Seasons and festivals are great reasons to embed images in your emails.
Pulp&Press celebrates Valentine's Day by giving their email newsletter a romantic touch, with product images in the shape of a heart ❤️. A seasonal email sent at the right time will resonate with subscribers and increase engagement in the process.
6. Use images to attract readers
For your next event or competition, why not add images to your newsletter to explain the rules instead of listing them in text? This is a fresh alternative and attracts the reader's attention.
Cosmetics brand Tarte encourages readers to take on their skin care challenge. High-quality images engage readers and show exactly the steps subscribers expect.
7. Use images to appeal to the reader's senses
Quotes are powerful and widely shared. Quote on email image? This is a perfect combination! Especially when they can be shared on social platforms #motivationalmonday.
You can use text on embedded images to appeal to the reader's senses. Winc combines their clever header with a commemorative image, which serves as a great title for their email message.
8. Use images to reinforce the message
Drawings and short animations are another good way to easily convey your message. That's also how children start learning about things very early.
In the example below, Think Clearly embeds handwritten notes and doodles to convey its message. This is much more engaging than using text. Subscribers will be surprised to see this in your image email newsletter.
9. Use images to build brand authenticity
Additionally, you can visually communicate your brand identity by including high-quality images that align with your brand values.
For example, using images of real people, such as employees or customers, can add a personal touch and make your brand more relatable and trustworthy.
10. Use images to ask questions
Do you have an important question you want to ask and need it to stand out from the rest of the email? By asking your question in a larger font over the background image, your question will stand out.
You can combine this strategy with a survey block in your image newsletter. Using MailerLite, you can easily deploy surveys in emails and get your questions answered without your subscribers having to leave your email. In your reports, you'll see exactly which email subscribers responded.
