Countdown Timer is a live updating timer you can add in your email. A countdown timer for emails uses features that make it easy for marketers to create a sense of urgency for limited time offers. Also, it let subscribers know exactly how long they have to take action.

It’s simple to use, super-fast and doesn’t require any coding on your part. Add the content block like any other within the drag-and-drop email builder, set the expiration date and time, you’re ready to go.

What is Email Countdown Timer?

An email timer is technically an animated GIF that counts down a specific time in the future. In simple terms, we can say that it is the use of a timer in email for an upcoming event.

The ultimate goal of the countdown clock is to make email readers act on the spot so that it doesn’t let them postpone for taking action. To create urgency among customers at a time when there is a product launch, deadline for booking your spot, or end day of sale.

You can use this kind of timer in email as you can see the above image.

Countdown Timer for Emails

Best Practices using Countdown Timer for emails

1. Drive urgency with care

Don’t use a countdown timer in every email. If you do that, your subscribers will grow weary and will come to think that your email marketing as gimmicky. Instead, only use urgency tactics if you have a deadline– or decide to share those deadlines sparingly.

Remember, urgency marketing is not at all marketing.

2. Be Clear

Anytime you have a marketing campaign, clarity is always a goal–but it’s even more important when using Countdown. You’ll want to be sure you are crystal clear about what event or deadline you’re counting down to.

If not, you’ll just frustrate your subscribers so you’ll not able to see results you are looking for.

3. Keep it above the fold.

If you use Countdown below the fold, you’ll send a mixed message. If the deadline isn’t important enough to be the very first thing in your email, what is it doing there at all? It goes back to the first point: You only want to emphasize the urgency. If you really mean it, and if you really mean it then you’ll want the countdown timer to being the first thing in your email.

The main message is urgency, so keep your timer above the fold to attract the most attention and focus from your subscribers.

4. Keep your CTA close by and make it strong.

Emails that drive urgency typically have an increased click-through rate, so you’ll want to have a strong call to action and in close proximity to the timer.

Because you want to make it as easy as possible for your subscribers to visit your site and convert. Don’t make them go searching for the CTA button. Instead, keep a clear, actionable CTA right by the countdown timer to increase your click-through rate even more.

5. Don’t mix your messages.

You don’t want to overwhelm your subscribers. So when you add a dynamic element like Countdown to your emails, make sure it’s the prime focus of the entire message. In order to avoid giving your subscribers motion sickness, minimize the moment in your emails. And don’t include any other animated GIFs.

6. Test, test, test.

Testing is key when it comes to optimizing your emails. Use A/B testing feature to test two variations of your email to see which one works best: one version of your email with Countdown, and one without.

This will help you see which version works best and prove the value of implementing Countdown in your emails along with these practices.