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How Can I Set Up an Email Countdown Timer That Expires Depending on Timing of Opt-in?

This guide will show you how to add a countdown timer to your emails to create a sense of urgency for a special offer in Ivorey™

Shelby from Ivorey™ avatar
Written by Shelby from Ivorey™
Updated this week

When you’re done, you will have...

  • A fully functional countdown timer embedded in an email, designed for a time-sensitive offer.

  • An understanding of how to use a Dynamic timer to make the offer unique to each contact.

  • A strategy for redirecting clients to a different page once the offer has expired.

Prerequisites

  • An active Ivorey™ account with access to the email builder and workflows

  • Two products, one with a discounted price, one with the full price.

  • Two checkout pages are set up, one for each product or pricing offer.

  • You've set up at least one email template, ready to use

Please follow the steps below to learn how to add a countdown timer to your email, and how to edit the settings to the client experience you want to create:

  1. Go to [Marketing] > [Emails] > [Templates] > and click on the email template you want to add your countdown timer to
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  2. Click the [+] icon located along the top right of your screen and drag and drop the countdown element into your email

  3. Click on the countdown element you pulled into your email template > then click [Get Started] on the left hand side
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  4. Click the [+ New] button > then select the timer template you want to use from the left hand menu > and click [Continue with this template] at the bottom of your screen
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  5. Under the [General] tab > 'Timer Type' you can choose:

    1. 'Fixed' which means the countdown timer will start and finish at the same time for everyone

    2. 'Recurring' which means the countdown timer will continue to 'loop' or recur as many times as you set the loop number to

    3. 'Dynamic' which means the countdown timer will automatically refresh the countdown for each contact depending on when they opt-in/receive the email
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  6. Once you select which timer setting you need, fill in the relevant date settings that display underneath
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  7. At the bottom of your countdown settings you will see two fields:
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    1. 'Active timer leads to link' which is the link your countdown will direct your contacts too while the countdown is still active > use your discount offer page.
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    2. 'Expired timer leads to link' which is the link your countdown will direct your contacts too once the countdown has ended > use your full price offer page.
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      This is a great way to ensure that your contacts can't access an discounted link after the countdown has ended, or gives you the ability to re-direct them to a landing page if they have missed the cut off time, but you them to submit a form to be notified for the next round for example
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  8. Once you have added your timer settings, you can then toggle over to the [Styling] tab and customise the branding of your countdown timer.
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  9. When you have finished customising your countdown timer, click [Save] at the top right of your screen to update these changes
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  10. Now go back to your email template, click [Save] at the top right of your screen > then refresh your page so your countdown settings update inside the email template.
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  11. The countdown timer you just created will now display on the left hand side of your email template, you will need to click on the countdown timer for it to populate into the countdown timer element you pulled into your email template
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​Troubleshooting and Testing

To ensure your countdown timer works correctly, always test it before publishing your email. Learn how to test and troubleshoot in Ivorey™

How do I test my timer?

After setting up your timer, send a test email to yourself. Double-check that the timer is counting down, the links work as expected, and the correct page appears when the timer expires. Click here to learn more about sending a test email in Ivorey.

My timer isn't starting, what's wrong?

This is often caused by an incorrect trigger in your workflow. Ensure the workflow is set up to start at the exact moment the email is intended to be sent. Click here to learn more about workflow triggers, and here to test your workflow correctly [coming soon]

The timer is working, but it’s sending people to the wrong page.

Check the Active timer leads to link and Expired timer leads to link settings. Make sure you have entered the correct URLs for your discounted and full-price pages. Click here to learn more about countdown timers [coming soon]

The timer is automatically redirecting to the expired page

This usually happens when the start time is in the past, or not set to dynamic, and the page redirects. Click here to learn more about countdown timer settings [coming soon]

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a Fixed and Dynamic timer?

A Fixed timer has a universal end date for all recipients, while a Dynamic timer has an end date that is unique to each person based on when they entered the workflow or received the email. Click here to learn more about countdown timers [coming soon]

Why should I use two different links for an offer?

Using a discounted link for the active timer and a full-price URL for the expired timer is a great way to ensure that your contacts can't access a discounted price after the offer has ended. Click here to learn more about the ways to create expiring offers [coming soon]

Does this work with my workflows?

Yes, you can use dynamic timers in evergreen workflows to create automated, time-sensitive offers for your leads. Click here to learn more about using countdown timers for expiring offers in workflows [coming soon]

Does this work for calendars as well as opt-in pages?

Yes! You can use this for a paid appointment, strategy session or other bookings-based discounted offer without needing a coupon code. Just create two calendars, instead of two sales pages, and use the calendar links instead. Click here to learn more about expiring offers [coming soon]

Need Help?

Hit the support chat widget inside Ivorey™ - we can:

  • Help you troubleshoot a timer that isn't working.

  • Help you get set up with your two offers

  • Assist with linking the timer to your specific funnels and offers.

We’re here and ready to help via the chat widget in the bottom right of your Ivorey™ account. Or if you are looking for done-for-you support, you can browse our current services here

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