# Use podcast clips in newsletters with a clear viewing destination > Connect a short podcast excerpt to an email newsletter with useful context, an accurate preview and a tested link to the viewing destination. By CastCuts · Updated 2026-10-25 A newsletter podcast clip should extend the issue's subject and lead to a page where readers can watch it. Explain the takeaway, use an accurate preview and test the destination. Do not depend on an MP4 attachment or video embed behaving identically in every inbox. ## Choose an excerpt that adds to the newsletter's idea Start with the question the issue answers, then choose a clip that demonstrates, challenges or illustrates it. Avoid adding video merely because a new episode exists. Explain why the excerpt belongs beside the written content. Keep enough context for viewers arriving from another source, and identify the guest or episode accurately in the newsletter. ## Choose and test a durable viewing destination Publish the approved clip to a destination you control or a suitable public video post, then use that page's working link in the email. Confirm that a reader can watch without entering your creator account. A private CastCuts episode or clip URL is not a public newsletter player, and temporary media storage is not a durable campaign destination. Keep the downloaded file in your own archive before sending the issue. ## Make the email preview accurate and understandable Use a representative still or text link that identifies what the reader will see after clicking. Write helpful image alternative text in your email tool and include a visible text link when appropriate. Avoid a preview that looks like an interactive player unless the destination and email template support that experience. Test the actual email on the clients you use for review rather than assuming an editor preview matches every recipient's inbox. ## Keep email clicks and video outcomes separate A newsletter click shows a visit toward the destination; it does not prove a video play or a completed view. Review each system's available measurements using its own definitions. Make the next step clear on the destination page, such as watching the complete episode. If you use campaign links in your own publishing process, check that they resolve correctly and avoid placing personal subscriber details in public URLs. ## A short demonstration inside a written issue Illustrative example. The people, recordings and results described here are fictional. A fictional craft newsletter explains how to prepare for a pottery class. It introduces a 44-second podcast excerpt in which a teacher demonstrates organizing three basic tools. The email uses a representative still with the text link 'Watch the tool setup'. That link opens the approved public video page; a second sentence identifies the full interview. The editor sends a test email and checks both the image link and text link before the issue is released. The email explains the value, and the destination supplies the actual viewing experience. ## Check before you finish - The clip supports a specific question in the newsletter issue. - The reader's viewing destination is public, working and durable. - The preview, alternative text and text link describe the actual excerpt. - A test email verifies links, and click reports are kept separate from plays. ## Practical questions ### Can I use a CastCuts clip URL as my newsletter video link? Use a public destination outside the private editing workspace. Download the MP4 and publish it where your intended readers can watch; CastCuts media access and expiry make it unsuitable as a lasting public newsletter link. ### Should I attach the whole video to the email? A link to a tested viewing page is usually easier to review and maintain. If considering an attachment or embedded player, verify the actual behavior and limits in your email tool before relying on it. ### Do newsletter clicks count as video views? No. Treat clicks, destination visits and video plays as separate observations. A reader can click a link without playing the clip, and the destination may define a view differently from your email system. ## Use this workflow in CastCuts [Prepare a captioned excerpt for a newsletter destination](https://castcuts.co/podcast-clips-with-captions) CastCuts selects continuous 1–90 second excerpts and exports 9:16, 720 × 1280 H.264/AAC MP4 files. Automatic transcription and transcript-based suggestions support English and require review. Free exports include CastCuts branding; Pro removes it from new renders for $9 USD/month, with the same processing and storage limits. Episode media is retained for 24 hours. Keep your originals and download finished clips before expiry. Publishing is manual. ## Explore this topic [Podcast clip distribution: publish, hand off and measure useful videos](https://castcuts.co/guides/topics/podcast-distribution) ## Keep creating [How to link a YouTube Short to your full podcast](https://castcuts.co/guides/link-shorts-to-full-podcast) [Podcast clip calls to action that fit the excerpt](https://castcuts.co/guides/podcast-clip-calls-to-action) [B2B podcast clips: turn expert conversations into useful short videos](https://castcuts.co/guides/b2b-podcast-clips) [All creator guides](https://castcuts.co/guides) [Create a clip](https://castcuts.co/account)