A guide on the best way to send a video to your patients by uploading it to a service like YouTube or Vimeo and including the link in an individual text, a Bulk Message, or a Campaign.
✨ When You Need This Guide
This guide is your go-to resource when you want to share a video with your patients via text. Use this if:
You want to send a video to a single patient or a group of patients.
You need to know how to include a video in a one-time bulk message.
You're wondering how to add a video to an automated campaign message.
How It Works: Sending a Link, Not a File
To ensure your video gets delivered reliably to all patients on all types of phones, the best practice is to send a link to your video, not the video file itself. You'll first upload your video to a free hosting service, then simply paste the link into your text message in Aloha. Most phones will show a nice thumbnail preview of your video right in the text message thread!
What This Covers (And What It Doesn't)
✅ This article explains how to include a video link in a one-on-one text, a one-time Bulk Message, and an automated Campaign template.
❌ It does not cover how to upload videos to third-party sites like YouTube or Vimeo. Please refer to your chosen platform's instructions for that process.
✅ Step 1: Upload Your Video and Copy the Link
Before you can send your video, it needs to be hosted online.
Choose a Hosting Service. Popular free options include YouTube, Vimeo, or posting it as a public video on your practice's Facebook page.
Upload Your Video. Follow the instructions on your chosen site to upload your video file.
Copy the "Share" Link. Once uploaded, find the "Share" button for your video and copy the unique link (URL) to your clipboard.
✅ Step 2: Add the Link to Your Message
Now that you have your link, you can include it in your message. Choose the option that fits your goal.
Option A: To a Single Patient
In Aloha, go to CONTACTS > Show Contacts.
Find the patient you want to text and click the Send SMS button in their row.
You will be taken to their individual conversation thread. Type your message and paste the video link you copied into the message box.
Click Send Now.
Option B: For a One-Time Bulk Message
In Aloha, go to CONTACTS > Send Bulk Message.
Choose your recipients and type out your message.
Paste the video link you copied directly into the message body.
Click Preview, then Send Now or Send Later.
Option C: For an Automated Campaign Message
First, go to CAMPAIGNS > Show Templates and either create a new template or edit an existing one for your campaign.
Paste the video link you copied directly into the body of the message template.
Click Save.
When you build your campaign, simply select this template for the appropriate step. The video link will be included automatically when the campaign message is sent.
💡 Common Questions
What You Might Notice | Why It's Happening | What to Do |
The video link is very long and looks messy in my text. | Some "share" links from sites like YouTube can be long and contain extra characters. | Most video services offer a shortened version of the link when you click "Share" (for example, YouTube links often start with youtu.be). Using this official short link is the best option. Warning: Do not use third-party URL shortening services. Doing so can cause phone carriers to mark your message as spam, preventing delivery. |
The thumbnail preview for my video isn't showing up in the text message. | This is controlled by the patient's mobile device and carrier (e.g., iPhone vs. Android), not by Aloha. Some phones automatically generate previews for known sites like YouTube, while others may not. | There is no setting to force the thumbnail to appear. The best practice is to use a major hosting service like YouTube or Vimeo, as they are most likely to generate a preview. Also, make sure your link starts with https://. |
Can I just attach the video file from my computer directly? | Aloha's texting platform is optimized for SMS and does not support sending video files directly as MMS attachments. | Sending video files via MMS is highly unreliable and often blocked by phone carriers due to large file sizes. Using a hosted link is the industry standard and ensures everyone can view your video, regardless of their phone or plan. |
🎉 You'll Know It's Working When:
Your patients receive the text message containing the clickable link.
When patients click the link, they are taken to your video on its hosting site (YouTube, etc.).
💬 Need Help? We're Here!
If you have other questions about sending video messages, our support team is ready to help. Contact us at 800-563-0469 or support@getaloha.com.