Add a Countdown Timer to Omnisend Emails and Automations
Adding countdown timers in email is a highly effective approach to create urgency and motivate subscribers to act at the same instant. It combines two psychological triggers – loss aversion and fear of missing out (FOMO), to accelerate the decision making process of your subscribers.
Countdown Timers now available in the Omnisend email builder
You can add a Countdown timer directly in the Omnisend Email Builder. Set the end date and time, choose a display format, customize the timer’s appearance, and show a fallback image after the countdown expires.
The Countdown timer is available on the Standard and Pro plans. If you’re on a Free or legacy plan, you’ll need to upgrade your plan to use the Omnisend Countdown timer. Alternatively you can use a third party countdown timer, the options for which we cover in our post on Countdown Timer Applications for Omnisend.
Our A/B split tests of countdown timers indicate that they are effective at driving engagement and increasing conversion rates, most specifically where the countdown period is associated with an offer, which is fast approaching its expiry time.
In this post we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to add a countdown timer into your Omnisend emails using a third party application.
Contents
Add the countdown timer block to your Omnisend email
Configure your Countdown Timer
Add context to your Countdown Timer
When to use Countdown Timers
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Add the countdown timer block to your Omnisend email
When creating your email template within the Omnisend email builder identify a position within the template where you wish the countdown timer to be featured.
In our example below we are going to add the countdown timer beneath the “Make Theirs” button
To add the countdown timer to your template simply drag the “Countdown Timer” block into your desired position within the template. You can see the block highlighted with a “New” label at the foot of the “Element” options.
On dragging the Countdown Timer block into position the Timer will appear in your template. You can now move onto customising the design of your countdown timer and also configure the end time for your countdown timer.
2. Configure your Countdown Timer
In the right hand column of the email builder you can now see the details of your countdown timer which you are able to configure.
- Date: Select the date and time when the countdown should end.
- Format: Choose how you wish the timer to appear in your template DD:HH:MM:SS, HH:MM:SS, or MM:SS. The timer uses the timezone configured in your Store settings → Store information.
- Font: Select a font from the available font list or use a custom font.
- Countdown color: Choose a color or enter a color value.
- Alt text: Add a short description of the Countdown timer.
- Fallback image: Click Replace to upload your fall back image. The default fallback image reads “THIS OFFER HAS ENDED”.
- Padding: Adjust the space around the timer block to fit your template design.
3. Add context to your Countdown Timer
To provide context for the countdown timer we have added a headline above the timer “Your 20% Discount expires in” this makes it clear to the recipient what they are going to miss out on if they don’t act before the countdown timer ends. Other contexts include “Sale starts in”, “Black Friday Ends in” or “Our Summer Promotion ends in.”
4. When to use Countdown Timers
Countdown timers are a effective device at creating urgency and fear of missing out (FOMO), here are some specific use cases of where a Countdown Timer might enhance your email campaign or Automation.
- Limited-Time Offers – Inform recipients how much time remains before an offer ends. A visible countdown is an effective approach to highlighting the end time of the offer.
- Promotional Email Campaigns – Add a Countdown timer to an Email Campaign to add urgency by highlighting the deadline for the promotion.
- Automated Promotions – Use a Countdown timer in an Automation workflow when an automated email features a time-sensitive offer or message.
5. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which time zone does the Omnisend Countdown timer use?
A: The Countdown timer uses the timezone that is configured in your Store settings → Store information.
Q: Can I customize the Countdown timer?
A: Yes. You can select the end date and time, choose the format, select a font, set the countdown color, and add alt text.
Q: What happens when the countdown expires?
A: When the Countdown timer reaches the selected end date and time the fall back image is shown. If you don’t add any custom fallback image, Omnisend uses a default image stating “THIS OFFER HAS ENDED”.
Q: Do I need a third-party app to use a Countdown timer on Omnisend?
A: For all paid plans the Countdown timer is available directly in the Omnisend Email Builder
Q: Can I use the Countdown timer on a legacy plan?
A: No. If you’re on a legacy plan, upgrade to a current paid plan to use the Countdown timer.
