When you send a BombBomb video, your recipient sees an animated gif from the first 3 seconds of your video. This helps grab their attention and interest.
Your video and gif are hosted on our servers to ensure your email or message size isn't too big. But not all applications or email clients display outside images properly. This comes down to each platform's settings. These platforms have put settings in place to protect their users from malicious content — and it's not possible for BombBomb to override them.
Here's a quick overview to help you understand why the gif won't always display — and a few tips when this happens.
Email Platforms
Many email platforms block images by default, which can impact the display of your videos. Here’s what you should know:
Common Causes for Image Blocking:
- Externally Hosted Images: Email clients may block images hosted outside their own servers.
- Recipient Settings: Individual email settings might block images from loading.
- Firewall Restrictions: Firewalls may prevent access to the servers where images are stored.
Platform-Specific Behaviors:
- Gmail: Blocks images by default.
- Outlook 365: Plays animated GIFs up to three times before showing a Play button.
Additional Resources:
- You can view a helpful guide of what different email clients block here.
Fallback Text for GIFs:
If your GIF doesn’t display, BombBomb uses alt tags with the text: "Click to play video," which informs recipients about the content.
Tips for Email Videos:
- Include Supporting Text: Describe the video’s value and encourage clicks to prevent your email from being marked as spam.
- Add a Video Link: If issues persist, include the video link in the email text as a backup.
Text Messaging
Video display in text messages varies depending on several factors:
Factors Affecting Display:
- Phone Type: Different phones may handle video links differently.
- Messaging App: The app’s settings and preferences impact how videos are shown.
- Sender-Recipient Relationship: Established relationships may prevent links from being treated as spam, whereas unknown senders might face restrictions.
Advantages of Using Links:
- Longer Videos: Links allow you to send longer videos without quality loss from compression.
- Tracking: You can monitor if the video was played through the link.
Text Messaging Tips:
- Add Context: Always include text explaining the video’s content and personalize it with details to increase engagement.
Social Media
Video display behavior varies across social media platforms:
Twitter and Facebook:
- Thumbnail Display: Videos will show a static thumbnail rather than playing an animated GIF. A Play button will be visible to prompt clicks.
LinkedIn:
- Animated Preview: Shows if there’s only one link in your message or post.
- Sales Navigator: Animated previews are available only if you’re connected with the recipient.
Social Media Tips:
- Enticing Text: Create engaging supporting text to encourage users to click the Play icon. Use creative approaches to capture attention.
By understanding these platform-specific behaviors and incorporating these tips, you can improve how your videos are presented and increase engagement across various channels.