Who This Is For / When to Use
This article is for users who want to increase email engagement by adding short-form YouTube video content to email campaigns or templates.
Use this when:
You want to feature a YouTube Short inside an email.
You want a visual video thumbnail with a play button inside your email.
You are creating or editing an Email Campaign or Email Template.
Access Email Marketing Campaigns
Navigate to Email Marketing.
Select the Campaigns tab.
Choose Email Campaigns from the left menu.
Click + New to create a campaign, or open an existing campaign to edit.
Create or Edit an Email Campaign
You can add YouTube Shorts to:
A new email campaign, or
An existing email template.
Steps:
Click + New to start a new campaign, or
Open an existing campaign or template from the list.
This opens the Email Builder.
Add a Video Element to the Email
In the Email Builder, drag the Video element into your email layout.
Click the video element to open the Edit Video panel on the left.
Select YouTube as the Video Source
In the Edit Video panel, locate Video Type.
Select YouTube from the dropdown.
This enables YouTube video URL support, including YouTube Shorts.
Add the YouTube Shorts URL
Paste the full YouTube Shorts link into the Video URL field.
Example format:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VIDEO_IDKyrios automatically generates a clickable thumbnail preview.
Customize the Video Thumbnail
You can control how the video appears inside the email.
Available options:
Replace the Video Thumbnail image.
Adjust Width and Height.
Change Play Button Size.
Adjust Play Button Opacity.
Enable or disable Padding.
You can also paste a custom image URL into Video Thumbnail URL if needed.
Preview and Send the Email
Click Preview to test how the email renders.
Confirm the thumbnail displays correctly.
Click Save.
Click Send or Schedule to deliver the campaign.
How YouTube Shorts Appear to Recipients
The video does not autoplay inside the email.
Recipients see a video thumbnail with a play icon.
Clicking the thumbnail opens the YouTube Short in the browser or YouTube app.
This ensures compatibility across all email clients.
Common Issues and Fixes
Video thumbnail does not appear
Confirm the Video Type is set to YouTube.
Verify the YouTube Shorts URL is valid and public.
Video does not open when clicked
Ensure the URL uses the
/shorts/format.Test the link directly in a browser.
Email client does not support video playback
This is expected behavior.
Kyrios emails use thumbnails with links for full compatibility.
FAQ
Can I embed any YouTube video, or only YouTube Shorts?
You can embed any YouTube video using the Video element. YouTube Shorts are fully supported and recommended for short, high-engagement content.
Will the YouTube Short play directly inside the email?
No. Email clients do not support embedded video playback. The video displays as a clickable thumbnail that opens on YouTube.
Can I change the thumbnail image?
Yes. You can upload a custom thumbnail or use a thumbnail image URL in the Video settings.
How do I test the video before sending?
Use the Preview button in the Email Builder to confirm the thumbnail and link behavior before sending.
Can I use YouTube Shorts in existing templates?
Yes. You can edit any existing Email Campaign or Template and add a Video element with a YouTube Shorts link.
How can I track engagement?
Use:
Click tracking in Email Campaign analytics.
UTM parameters added to the YouTube URL.
YouTube analytics for video performance.