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Using Countdown Timers in Emails with Stack

Countdown timers are dynamic elements that can add a sense of urgency to your emails, encouraging recipients to take quick action. They are particularly effective for promotions, limited-time offers, and event reminders.

Why Use a Countdown Timer?​

Enhances Aesthetics:
Incorporating a countdown timer adds a visually appealing and engaging element to your emails, making them more attractive to recipients.

Creates Urgency:
A countdown timer can prompt users to make faster decisions, reducing procrastination and increasing engagement with your offers.

How Do Countdown Timers Work in Emails?​

Countdown timers in emails are typically implemented as GIFs. Here’s how they function:

  • Dynamic Updates:
    The timer updates based on the time when a user opens the email. It checks the current state and continues to count down from that point for up to 60 seconds.

    Example: If your timer is set to end at midnight on December 25th and a user opens the email on December 24th, the timer will show "24 hours left." It will then count down to "23 hours 59 minutes left" and stop updating as long as the email is open. If the email is reopened, the timer refreshes and continues counting down.

  • Why This Approach?
    This method balances email size and ensures that users often close the email before the timer finishes counting down.

Anomaly with Apple Mail​

Apple Mail caches GIFs, which affects how countdown timers are updated. Unlike other email clients where the timer updates each time the email is opened, Apple Mail may display the same GIF repeatedly without refreshing it.

Result:
If a user opens the same email multiple times in Apple Mail, the countdown timer may appear to stop ticking after the first open. This occurs because Apple Mail caches the GIF, so subsequent openings do not update the countdown.

How to Use a Countdown Timer in Emails​

  1. Create a Countdown Timer:
    Navigate to "Marketing" > "Countdown Timer" and set up your timer.

  2. Open Email Template:
    Go to "Email Marketing" and open or create a campaign template.

  3. Add Timer to Email:
    Insert the countdown timer element into your email.

  4. Select Your Timer:
    Choose the desired timer by viewing its design and details.

  5. Adjust Timer Settings:
    Click on settings to align the timer within your email.

  6. Customize Appearance:
    Set the background color and adjust padding as needed.

  7. Configure Redirection:
    Copy the redirection link and use it for your email buttons or calls-to-action.

By following these steps, you can effectively integrate countdown timers into your email campaigns, enhancing engagement and driving action from your audience.