How to Share Instagram Videos in MailChimp

You or your client created a great video on Instagram and you’d like to share it with your email newsletter subscribers. But, alas, MailChimp seems to only let you embed videos from YouTube and Video. Don’t worry. Canva to the rescue!

Here is a workaround using a screenshot of your video and Canva, a free graphic design resource I mentioned among tools for freelancers and independent public relations practitioners:

1. Go to the Instagram post and take a screenshot of the video. This doesn’t necessarily have to be the opening image. Go through the video and look for an eye-catching image. Make sure that any people in the image look friendly and that their eyes are open.

2. Find the URL of the video. If you’re using Instagram in a web browser, click on the post with the video, click the “…” in the upper right corner and select “Copy Link” to save the link to your clipboard. You’re going to need this link later when you’re working in MailChimp.

3. Next, go to Canva. You can create a free account if you don’t already have one.

4. Click on the “Create a Design” button and choose “Custom Size.”

5. Create a design in a size that is email friendly, such as 500 x 500 px or 600 x 600 px.

6. Choose “Uploads” in the left sidebar and import your screenshot.

7. Drag the screenshot into the design area and stretch and crop as needed until you are happy with how it looks.

8. Select “Elements” in the left sidebar.

9. Search for “play” and pick a play icon to drag on top of your image. The icon is a visual cue to your subscribers that they can click on the image to watch the video. You can change the icon’s color to suit your design.

10. Download your design as a png or jpg.

11. Log in to MailChimp and create your email campaign.

12. While you are in design edit mode, drag “image” from the right sidebar into your email.

13. Drop the design you downloaded from Canva onto the image block.

14. Remember that URL you saved earlier? Now you’re going to use it to link the image to the video. In the right sidebar, click on “link” and paste the URL into the web address box. Whew, Almost done.

15. Finish creating your email campaign and schedule it to send. When your subscribers receive the email, it will include a way for them to watch your awesome Instagram video.