If you're tired of blasting out generic emails and hoping for the best, you're not alone. Sending the right video at the right moment actually can move leads along, but only if the tech doesn't become more work than it's worth. This guide is for marketers, salespeople, or founders who want to use Hippovideo's video drip campaigns to nurture leads—without losing hours to confusing setups or clunky automation.
Why Use Video Drip Campaigns, Anyway?
Here’s the honest pitch: video is more personal than text, and a drip campaign keeps you from forgetting to follow up. Combine them and you get something a little more human, a little less “I’m just a line in your CRM.”
But don’t expect magic. A sloppy or irrelevant video campaign is just as easy to ignore as any other email. Use this only if you have something worth watching (and you’re willing to spend an hour setting it up right).
Step 1: Get Your Hippovideo Account Ready
First off, you’ll need a Hippovideo account. Any paid plan will do if it has automation features. Here’s what you should check before you start building:
- Contacts are imported. Pull in your leads from CSV, your CRM, or wherever they live. Clean data saves headaches later.
- Your email domain is verified. This step matters if you want emails to land in inboxes, not spam folders.
- You have your videos ready (or at least scripted). Don’t wait until the campaign is halfway built to realize you still need to record five intros.
Pro tip: Don’t overthink your first campaign. You can always update videos later. Start with something simple and personal.
Step 2: Map Out Your Drip Sequence (Before Touching the Software)
This is where most people mess up—jumping straight into settings without knowing what to send or when. Resist the urge.
- How many emails? Three to five is a good start. More than that, you’re probably annoying people.
- What’s the goal? Do you want them to book a call, download something, or just remember you exist?
- What’s the timing? One every few days is usually enough. Daily is overkill unless your sales cycle is lightning fast.
- Do you need branching? If you want to get fancy, you can set up if/then triggers (e.g., “If they watch video 1, send video 2. If not, try a different angle.”) But if this is your first run, skip the branching.
Example sequence: 1. Intro video — Quick, personal hello. Show your face. 2. Value/How-to video — Teach them something useful. 3. Case study video — Social proof, but not braggy. 4. Call-to-action video — Ask for a reply, meeting, or next step.
Write a one-line summary for each email so you don’t lose the thread.
Step 3: Record and Upload Your Videos
The good news: Hippovideo makes recording easy. The bad news: People tune out if your video feels canned or rambles.
Recording tips: - Keep each video under 90 seconds. Two minutes max. - Look at the camera. Smile, but don’t force it. - Use the recipient’s name if you can (personalization matters). - Good lighting and sound are more important than fancy editing.
Once recorded, upload each video to your Hippovideo library. Name them clearly (e.g., “Drip - Step 1 - Intro”) so you don’t mix them up later.
Step 4: Build Your Campaign in Hippovideo
Here’s where you finally get to click around. Hippovideo calls this feature “Video Email Campaigns” or sometimes “Drip Campaigns.” The interface isn’t perfect, but it does the job.
To create your campaign: 1. Go to Campaigns > Create Drip Campaign. 2. Name your campaign. Be specific—“Q2 Demo Drip” beats “Video Test.” 3. Choose your audience. Select your contact list or segment. 4. Set up each step: - Add your video. - Write a short, clear subject line (avoid spammy words). - Keep email copy tight: one idea, one call to action. - Pick your send time and delay (e.g., “Send 3 days after last step”). 5. (Optional) Add branching logic. Only if you’re ready for it. Otherwise, keep it linear.
What to ignore: Hippovideo offers lots of templates and “advanced” features. Don’t get sucked in. Simple campaigns generally perform better.
Step 5: Personalize (But Don’t Get Stuck)
Personalization tokens (like {FirstName}) help, but only if your data is clean. Use them in the subject line or video intro if you can.
- Avoid over-customizing. If you start writing unique scripts for every lead, you’ll never finish.
- Test your merge fields. Send a test to yourself to make sure “Hi {FirstName}” doesn’t turn into “Hi ,”.
Pro tip: Even just adding a plain “Hi, [Name]” and referencing their company is enough for most people. Don’t worry about sending a Hollywood-level production.
Step 6: Set Up Automation and Sending Times
Hippovideo lets you schedule each step—so you don’t have to babysit the campaign.
- Pick reasonable intervals. Two to four days between videos is a safe bet.
- Set sending windows. Avoid weekends or late-night sends. Hippovideo lets you choose time zones and hours.
- Turn on tracking. Make sure you’re tracking opens, clicks, and video views. This will help you figure out what actually lands.
Step 7: Test Everything
Before you hit “launch,” run a full test. Send the campaign to yourself (or a patient coworker).
- Check for typos and broken links.
- Make sure videos play on mobile and desktop.
- Double-check personalization and timing.
If anything feels clunky, fix it now. There’s nothing worse than realizing your “personalized” video went out with the wrong name.
Step 8: Launch, Watch, and Adjust
It’s tempting to “set it and forget it,” but don’t. The first week is where you spot most mistakes.
- Track open rates and video views. If no one’s watching, tweak your subject lines.
- Watch for replies or unsubscribes. If people are annoyed, adjust your timing or tone.
- Edit steps on the fly. Hippovideo lets you pause, swap videos, or change delays.
What works: Clear, concise videos that respect people’s time. What doesn’t: Overly scripted or generic content. And don’t count on automation to save a weak message.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
Don’t try to build the perfect drip campaign on your first go. Simpler is better. Start with three videos, see what lands, and tweak from there. Real results come from honest messages, not software wizardry.
If you hit a wall, ask yourself: “Is this something I’d actually want to watch?” If not, back up and try again. You’ll get better with each round.