As I finally reached inbox zero, I grinned from ear to ear. But I realized I had a problem: "I'm addicted to email," I said to myself. I love it... and hate it... and need it... but I wish I didn't...

Do you love and hate email, too?

On the one hand, it's amazing, because it allows you to stay in touch with people from anywhere in the world. On the other hand, it's horrendous, because it steals so much of your time and focus.

If you're anything like me, you spend vast periods each day sending, receiving, reading, and writing emails.

It's one of the primary means we stay in touch, connect with people, and gain future business. But each day it gets harder to make your email matter, because each day more of it flies into recipients inboxes. Whenever you send an email to one of your customers, you become part of the noise.

You don't want your marketing efforts to be part of the bland majority. Which is why I've written this article:

• So you can learn about the power of video email
• So you can understand how easy it is and why you need it
• So I can show you how to do it and how to avoid wasting your time and money

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Video Email

I discovered how powerful video email is while interviewing busy entrepreneurs for my latest book. Trying to connect with people who receive hundreds of emails each day made me realize how small I was and how pointless sending a standard email is.

I needed to stand out. I needed to think differently.

We receive thousands of marketing messages each day, so we don't trust marketers' emails or TV commercials or Internet ads. But people trust people who take the time to share stories and prove they're authentic.

If someone takes the time to record a personal message, you're intrigued about what that person has to say. The moment I sent video emails to the likes of Seth Godin, Lewis Howes, and Andrew Warner, I received replies from them—whereas when I had sent the same people standard emails a few weeks earlier, I'd heard nothing but silence.

So...

• If you have a list of potential customers, send them a video email.
• If you need to touch base with a client, record a personal video email.
• If you need to reply to a customer query, share a video email and catch them by surprise.
• If your email to-do list frightens you, record a bunch of short videos instead.
• And if you find your open rates and click-throughs failing, give video email a try.

How to Send Video Email for Free—and in the Next Five Minutes

When I mention video email to people, the two most common reactions are...

1. Wow, that must be expensive.
2. Oh, that sounds too difficult and technical.

Sending video is not only free but also easy and fast—so fast, it usually takes less time than writing one.

Step 1: Record your message

Fear not: You don't have to produce a high-quality video. Although you can create a nice studio setup with a professional microphone, HD camera, and well-lit area, it isn't necessary. Of course, depending on who you are, why you're sending your video email, and who the other person is, you may need to up the production value at some point.

For most people, the following is fine:

• Record via your laptop's in-built camera, or an affordable option (like the Logitech C920).
  
• So long as you're in a quiet room, your laptop's built-in microphone should be fine.
• Make sure you appear center-screen (a head-and-shoulders shot usually works best).
• Keep your background simple and clean.
• Record in a quiet room.
• Keep your video short (aim for under one minute).

I record my videos emails using QuickTime (Mac), but another option is Screenflow.

I record my short videos using QuickTime and my built-in webcam