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Guide: 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…

3 min read751 words2 explained imagesUpdated Tue, 24 Jun, 2025 at 8:22 PM
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On this page
  1. What is a dynamic timer?
  2. Popular Use Cases for Dynamic Countdown Timer
  3. What is "Countdown Timer Ends at Time"?
  4. Why is it Useful?
  5. Benefits
  6. How to Use It?

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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:
1. If the duration is set to 2hours and trigger is "Email Opened" for a case with no end time - 

  • Contact A opens the email at 2 PM, and their timer counts down from 2 PM to 4 PM.
  • Contact B opens the email at 5 PM, and their timer counts down from 5 PM to 7 PM.

2. If the duration is set to 2hours and trigger is "Email Opened" for a case with end time as 12AM - 

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

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.

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)./ Not present
  • 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 "Countdown Timer Ends at Time"?

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.

Benefits

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

How to Use It?

  1. Create a Timer: Go to the Timer section and click "Create New Timer".
  2. Select Dynamic Timer: Choose the Dynamic Timer option.
  3. Set Duration & End Time: Choose a duration (e.g., 2 hours) and an exact end time (e.g., 12 PM). Check the dynamic helper text to cross check the timer behaviour. 
    Step 3 of 6: Set Duration & End Time: Choose a duration (e.g., 2 hours) and an… What this shows Step 3 of 6: Set Duration & End Time: Choose a duration (e.g., 2 hours) and an exact end time (e.g., 12 PM). What this shows Shows what to choose for step 3 of 6 in the "How to Use It?" section of "Guide: Dynamic Countdown Timer". This screenshot accompanies step 3 of 6 in the "How to Use It?" section of "Guide: Dynamic Countdown Timer". At this point in the walkthrough you set Duration & End Time: Choose a duration (e.g., 2 hours) and an exact end time (e.g., 12 PM). Check the dynamic helper text to cross check the timer behaviour. This part of the guide covers 2 fields, listed below. The next step is to customize Design: Adjust the look of the timer to match your email style. Step 3 of 6Image 1 of 2 What to chooseSet Duration & End Time: Choose a duration (e.g., 2 hours) and an exact end time (e.g., 12 PM). Check the dynamic helper text to cross check the timer behaviour.
    Fields in this part of the guide How it works:Outcome:
    Buttons and menus referenced Set Duration & End TimeScenario2-hourHow it worksEmail OpenedDurationTimer EndsOutcomeContact AContact B"Countdown Timer Ends at Time"ends at a fixed, specific time
    Next stepCustomize Design: Adjust the look of the timer to match your email style.
    All 6 steps in this procedure
    1. Create a Timer: Go to the Timer section and click "Create New Timer".
    2. Select Dynamic Timer: Choose the Dynamic Timer option.
    3. Set Duration & End Time: Choose a duration (e.g., 2 hours) and an exact end time (e.g., 12 PM). Check the dynamic helper text to cross check the timer behaviour. this image
    4. Customize Design: Adjust the look of the timer to match your email style.
    5. Add Active/Expired Links: Define what happens when the timer is active and expired.
    6. Save & Use: Save your timer and use it in emails or funnels, or copy the code for custom templates.
    Step 3 of 6: Set Duration & End Time: Choose a duration (e.g., 2 hours) and an… What this shows Step 3 of 6: Set Duration & End Time: Choose a duration (e.g., 2 hours) and an exact end time (e.g., 12 PM). What this shows Shows what to choose for step 3 of 6 in the "How to Use It?" section of "Guide: Dynamic Countdown Timer". This screenshot accompanies step 3 of 6 in the "How to Use It?" section of "Guide: Dynamic Countdown Timer". At this point in the walkthrough you set Duration & End Time: Choose a duration (e.g., 2 hours) and an exact end time (e.g., 12 PM). Check the dynamic helper text to cross check the timer behaviour. This part of the guide covers 2 fields, listed below. The next step is to customize Design: Adjust the look of the timer to match your email style. Step 3 of 6Image 2 of 2 What to chooseSet Duration & End Time: Choose a duration (e.g., 2 hours) and an exact end time (e.g., 12 PM). Check the dynamic helper text to cross check the timer behaviour.
    Fields in this part of the guide How it works:Outcome:
    Buttons and menus referenced Set Duration & End TimeScenario2-hourHow it worksEmail OpenedDurationTimer EndsOutcomeContact AContact B"Countdown Timer Ends at Time"ends at a fixed, specific time
    Next stepCustomize Design: Adjust the look of the timer to match your email style.
    All 6 steps in this procedure
    1. Create a Timer: Go to the Timer section and click "Create New Timer".
    2. Select Dynamic Timer: Choose the Dynamic Timer option.
    3. Set Duration & End Time: Choose a duration (e.g., 2 hours) and an exact end time (e.g., 12 PM). Check the dynamic helper text to cross check the timer behaviour. this image
    4. Customize Design: Adjust the look of the timer to match your email style.
    5. Add Active/Expired Links: Define what happens when the timer is active and expired.
    6. Save & Use: Save your timer and use it in emails or funnels, or copy the code for custom templates.
  4. Customize Design: Adjust the look of the timer to match your email style.
  5. Add Active/Expired Links: Define what happens when the timer is active and expired.
  6. Save & Use: Save your timer and use it in emails or funnels, or copy the code for custom templates.

Frequently asked questions

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: 1. If the duration is set to 2hours and trigger is "Email Opened" for a case with no end time - Contact A opens the email at 2 PM, and their timer counts down from 2 PM to 4 PM. Contact B opens the email at 5 PM, and their timer counts down from 5 PM to 7 PM. 2. If the duration is set to 2hours and trigger is "Email Opened" for a case with end time as 12AM - Contact A opens the email at 2 PM, and their timer counts down from 2 PM to 12AM Contact B opens the email at 5 PM, and their timer counts down from 5 PM to 12AM. This feature allows you to set personalized…
What is "Countdown Timer Ends at Time"?
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.
How to Use It?
Create a Timer : Go to the Timer section and click "Create New Timer" . Select Dynamic Timer : Choose the Dynamic Timer option. Set Duration & End Time : Choose a duration (e.g., 2 hours) and an exact end time (e.g., 12 PM). Check the dynamic helper text to cross check the timer behaviour. Customize Design : Adjust the look of the timer to match your email style. Add Active/Expired Links : Define what happens when the timer is active and expired. Save & Use : Save your timer and use it in emails or funnels, or copy the code for custom templates.

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