Dynamic Countdown Timer

We’ve introduced a Dynamic Countdown Timer that personalizes the countdown for each contact based on when they receive or open your email. You can now create unique timers for each recipient, making your campaigns feel more personal and time-sensitive.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is a Dynamic Timer?

A Dynamic Countdown Timer is a personalized countdown that adjusts based on each contact's interaction with your email. Unlike static timers that show the same countdown for all recipients, a dynamic timer starts counting down from the moment a contact opens or receives the email, making it unique for each person.

For example:

  • Contact A opens the email at 2 PM, and their timer counts down from 2 PM to 12 AM.
  • Contact B opens the email at 5 PM, and their timer counts down from 5 PM to 12 AM.

This feature allows you to set personalized, time-sensitive experiences for each recipient, increasing engagement and driving immediate action based on their specific interaction with your campaign.

Benefits

  • Personalization: Unique timers for each contact.
  • Urgency: Drives immediate action with time-sensitive offers.
  • Flexibility: Set custom durations and triggers.

How to Set Up a Dynamic Countdown Timer


Start Timer When Email is Sent


Start Timer When User Opens the Email


How to Use It?

  1. Access the Countdown Timer Section
    • Click on the Marketing tab on the left side menu.

    • Click on "Countdown Timers" at the top of the page.

  1. Create a New Timer
    • Click on the "+ New" button on the right side of the screen.

    • Choose a timer template from the options displayed and click "Continue with this template."

  1. Configure Timer Settings
    • Select the dynamic timer type.

    • Set the countdown duration (minimum time for access) in hours, minutes, and seconds ( For example, set to 1 day and the rest to 0 ).

    • Set the "Countdown timer ends at.." field to your preferred time of day.
      • For example you could set it to 11:59 PM.
      • Scroll down to adjust the time zone if necessary.

  1. Set Email Trigger
    • You can choose "Start timer when...
      • "Email is sent" (which is the default setting).
      • Or you can change it to "User opens the email."
      • Review the examples below the "Start timer when" field, to cross check the timer behavior.

  1. Define Access Links
    • Enter the URL for the active timer leads to link (the page contacts will access when the countdown timer is active).
    • Enter the URL for the expired timer leads to link (the page contacts will access after the countdown expires).

  1. Name Your Timer
    • Assign a descriptive name to the timer for easy identification (e.g., "Special Birthday Sale Offer").

  1. Customize Design
    • Adjust the look of the timer to match your email style.

  1. Save the Timer
    • Click the "Save" button to finalize the setup


Tips for Efficiency

  • When you add a dynamic countdown timer to an email, let the contact know that they have until the timer expires to access the special offer page.
  • Test the timer setup with a test email to verify that the countdown functions as intended before sending it to actual contacts.
  • Keep a document or spreadsheet to track the timers you have set up, including their purpose and associated links for quick reference.

1. Birthday Offer (Email Sent Trigger)

Scenario: Send a birthday discount to customers, valid until midnight on their birthday.

  • How it works:
    • Email Sent at 11:59 PM the previous day.
    • Timer Duration: 24 hours.
    • Timer Ends at 12:00 AM (midnight).
  • Outcome: Each recipient has a full day from receiving the email to redeem their offer.

2. Black Friday Sale (Email Opened Trigger)

Scenario: Offer a minimum 2-hour discount window after the email is opened.

  • How it works:
    • Email Opened triggers the countdown.
    • Duration: 2 hours minimum.
    • Timer Ends at 11 PM the same day.
  • Outcome:
    • Contact A opens at 6 PM—timer ends at 11 PM.
    • Contact B opens at 10 PM—timer ends at 11 PM next day.
    • Each user has a unique window to claim the offer.

What is the "Countdown Timer Ends at Time" Field for?

The "Countdown Timer Ends at Time" feature ensures that the timer ends at a fixed, specific time, rather than ending after a set duration from when the email is opened. This creates a more authentic and realistic time-sensitive experience for your contacts.


Why is it Useful?

The "Ends at Time" setting is important because it avoids situations where the timer seems unrealistic or like a marketing gimmick. For example:

  • Scenario: If a user opens an email at 11:07 PM with a 2-hour duration, the timer would normally end at 1:07 AM. However, this could feel like an unrealistic extension just for that contact, as the offer may seem tailored only for them.
  • With "Ends at Time": Instead, you can set the timer to end at a specific time, like 12 AM, making the timer consistent and authentic for all recipients, regardless of when they open the email. This ensures the urgency feels real and not artificially manipulated for each individual.

In short, "Ends at Time" helps keep the timer aligned with real-world timeframes, providing a more genuine, believable experience.