Why Short-Form Video is the #1 Marketing Trend in 2026 (and How to Use it in Email)

The data is officially in: 2026 is the year of the “Bite-Sized Brand.”

According to HubSpot’s 2025 Marketing Trends Report, short-form video has claimed its throne as the leading content format. Nearly 30% of marketers now prioritize it above all else, and for good reason. It delivers the highest ROI of any media type (21.02%).

But as social feeds become increasingly saturated, a new question has emerged for marketing leaders: If video is our most effective tool, why are we only using it on platforms we don’t own?

To truly maximize ROI in 2026, you need to take short-form video out of the “scroll” and put it into the “inbox.” Here is why short-form video is dominating, and how to bring that power into your email strategy using Blings.

The Psychology of the 2026 Consumer

We live in an era of shrinking attention spans and a “hyper-need” for authenticity. HubSpot’s report highlights that marketers who lean into visual storytelling are the ones successfully shaping brand discovery.

Consumers no longer want highly polished, 5-minute brand manifestos. They want 60-second, high-impact stories that feel personal and immediate. Video allows you to build a human connection that static text simply cannot replicate.

Why Email is Video’s Secret Weapon

While TikTok and Reels are great for reach, Email is where relationships are built. The challenge? Standard video in email has historically been a technical nightmare—heavy file sizes, slow load times, and broken “play” buttons that lead to external sites. This friction kills the very engagement you’re trying to build.

To win in 2026, your email video needs to be:

• Instant: No buffering or heavy attachments.
• Interactive: Allowing the user to engage within the frame.

Personalized: Speaking to the recipient as an individual, not a segment.

Beyond the “Play” Button: The Blings Advantage

This is where Blings changes the game. While most platforms try to force “old” video formats (like MP4) into emails, Blings uses patented MP5 technology.

What makes MP5 the future of Email ROI?

• Real-Time Data Integration: Unlike static videos, MP5 videos are “live code.” This means your video can pull data from your CRM (like HubSpot or Salesforce) in real-time. The viewer sees their own name, their specific loyalty points, or a product they recently viewed—rendered instantly.
• 100x Smaller Files: At roughly 60kb, Blings videos load faster than a standard high-res image, ensuring you never trigger spam filters or frustrate mobile users.

Zero-Trust Security: Because the video renders on the user’s device, sensitive customer PII (Personally Identifiable Information) stays secure and never leaves your ecosystem.

3 Ways to Use Short-Form Video in Your Emails Today

Not sure where to start? Use the HubSpot data to fuel these three high-conversion use cases:

1. The “Hyper-Personalized” Welcome: Instead of a generic “Thanks for joining,” send a 15-second video that visually welcomes them by name and shows them the exact next step in their journey.
2. The Dynamic Abandoned Cart: Don’t just show a static photo of the item they left behind. Use Blings to create a short, energetic video “highlight reel” of that specific product.

The Interactive Milestone: Celebrate customer anniversaries with a “Year in Review” video that dynamically updates with their personal stats, proven to increase loyalty signups by up to 47%.

The Bottom Line: Own Your Audience

Social media trends come and go, but the effectiveness of video is here to stay. By moving your short-form video strategy into email, you stop competing with an algorithm and start talking directly to your customers.