How to Use a Countdown Timer in Email [+ Inspirational Examples] (2023)

I imagine a good onecountdown timer on emails? So, 3, 2, 1… let’s get this post started!

A ticking clock is sure to grab your attention wherever you see it. Not to mention it creates a sense of urgency! No one wants to end a limited sale before they buy or miss out on a long-awaited product launch.

That's exactly what FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) is. A countdown timer can speed up your customers' decision-making process and prompt them to take action. Neglecting to use them means that yourThe business is losing potential revenue.

While any decent email campaign can bring conversions, a countdown timer can entice even the most "resilient" consumer and maximize the effectiveness of your campaign.

If you want to stimulateemail marketing campaigns;with countdown timers, try Campaign Editor's Timer now! Just click and select a "Full Width Container" and then under "Elements" in the sidebar select the "Timer" option:

Try it now

So without further ado, let's explore countdown timers more thoroughly and learn how to use them effectively.

What is the email countdown timer?

Simply put, an email countdown timer is avisual representation of a countdown clockthat is embedded in your email, with the goal of getting consumers to act on the spot.

Generally, there are 2 types of timers you can embed in your emails, HTML code timers and GIF countdown timers. HTML ones are better as they offer more customization options, while animated GIF timers are more basic and have limited functionality.

However, with Moosend you don't have to worry about that as the feature is built in and works flawlessly every time.

You get onereal time countdown timerwhich shows itreal numberof days, hours, minutes or seconds remaining until the end of the offer.

So every time your subscribers open their email to see how much time they have left, they'll get areal update for the rest of the year.

Once the offer ends, subscribers who open this email will see 00.00.00 on the countdown timer.

Why do you need a countdown timer?

Let's start by saying that in marketing and sales you need to be able to get your prospects to take action. If you leave them "unattended", they may not reach the desired action and convert.

Here are some tangible benefits you can get from using timers.

#1 Create urgency

Email countdown timers help digital marketerscreate a sense of urgency,which is proven to lead to conversions.

According to acase study, a properly placed countdown timer can boost e-commerce store salesby a staggering 400%.

#2 Tap into human psychology

Countdown timers also encourage people tothey act on a whim. This is Social Psychology 101.

With his leveragePrinciple of scarcity, companies incite in consumers the need to own something that sells out quickly or something that is in limited supply.

Completing youemail marketing campaigns;with timers is a great way to build urgency and encourage users to take immediate action.

#3 Allow consumers to schedule

In addition, the countdown canhelp consumers plan. If you have an e-commerce store and send onedrip campaignwith countdown timers well in advance, you give your subscribers a chance to plan their budget, schedule, etc.

Thus, they are more ready for the coming bargain.

#4 Create hype

By counting down to your new product launch, big event or secret sale, you can create a sense of anticipation in your audience.

This anticipation will promote sharing, thus making the revelation even greater!

#5 Convince and convert

Convince your subscribers that your offer will not be valid after the expiration date. The fear of loss will begin immediately!

Keep your copy short and remove any distractions from youemail newsletter. With high-converting design and stunning graphics, you've won half the game before it even starts.

Pro tip:You can break through almost any consumer defense by leveraging its powersegmentationalong with countdown timers in your campaigns. How? By sending relevant campaigns to the right audience and setting a time limit within which consumers can act and benefit from it.

With Moosend this becomes almost effortless. Segment your email list by gender, market and on-site behavior, lifestyle, etc. and createautomated workflowsthat reach those subscribers while the clock is ticking.

Sign up now for a free Moosend accountand skyrocket the effectiveness of your next flash sale!

Now it's time to get some useful inspiration.

12 Successful Countdown to Email Examples

The possibilities are endless when it comes to how you can use countdown timers in your email campaigns. However, as the ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle said, "everything in moderation."

So, this great tactic should not be overused without a proper strategy in mind.

We have collected the most essential of them and present them to you, to "fire" your imagination and creativity.

1. Lenovo – Countdown to Presidents Day

Subject line:“Hourly deals drop tomorrow at 9am. ET 🕘”

In this example,Lenovohas upped their email marketing game for Presidents Day by incorporating a countdown timer into their email campaign.

Instead of a 'boring' sale, they have all the tech lovers waiting for the huge sales to come.

As you can see, theemail copyit's minimal and the email itself is easy to read. Also, the color palette used is in line with the brand.

The extra magic of this particular campaign lies in the fact thatit maximizes the volume with a sneak peekfrom the sale's top deals. There's no better way to tell customers what's to come without giving everything away.

This could easily be part of a carefully planned drip campaign that follows when the sale starts, with each hourly offer counting down to the next one!

Create your first countdown timer for free by following Lenovo's lead.

Register now!

2. Register Moosend – Webinar

Subject line: "Only a few seats left!"

When you're hosting an event or webinar, you definitely want to attract as many people as possible.

Using a countdown clock for your special event adds urgency to save a spot andcreates a buzzaround your event.

In addition, it is also a reminder for people about your online meeting.

So adding a countdown timer to your email serves multiple purposes.

This email is designed by usMoosend Newsletter Writer.

3. MOO – Offer ends soon

Subject line: "HURRY! Offer ends tonight!"

In this example,Moocombines the countdown timer at the top with an animated GIF of an hourglass. This is a nice combination as it adds an extra visual element that shows the customer needs to act before the end time.

As for the email copy, it mentions only the bare essentials and takes the viewer straight to the CTA.

4. Harry's – Holidays

Subject line: "You better hurry..."

This email is part of itHarry'sholiday email marketing campaigns.

Countdown timers are oneabsolute must in such campaignsbecause customers face the stress of having their gifts arrive on time.

As you can see, the background color of the email is aligned with the brand colors, while the email copy is smart and functional. The reader is taken to the CTA that prompts them to “shop now”.

5. Rayban – Early access for subscribers

Subject line: “Last Hours // Black Friday Early Access”

by RaybanThe email has exclusive early access to the Black Friday Sale for members of the rewards program. As you can see, the countdown timer is huge, so it's hard to miss.

Email definitely feels like it belongs to an exclusive group, and that's what makes it powerful.

The use of the countdown timer here is to emphasize the urgency of using the promo code provided in the email and enjoy a discount that others won't be able to get after the countdown ends.

6. Farfetch – Free shipping limited time offer

Subject line: “Free shipping on your saved items!”

Free shipping is in the top 3 of converting tactics.

Combine it with a countdown timer andincrease conversion rate fastersince when!

farfetchmakes good use of the countdown timer to encourage consumers to close the deal. This means more revenue for the company, which might otherwise be lost.

7. MAC – Loyalty Program with exclusive rewards

Subject line:"Are you a fan of M·A·C? Hurry, register before March 9th!”

This email fromMAC Cosmeticsit is a masterpiece in its entirety. From email design to colors and copy, everything is on point.

The countdown timer is placed in a visible position surrounded by a striking pink stripe.

The best thing about this email is the wording and how muchprompts you to act on the spot! By the time you hit the CTA, you already know you're in for a treat.

Okay… I lied! There is another best thing here. And that's itsubconscious emphasis on quick action, which is achieved through the background clock. Would you resist the urge?

8. Burberry – Limited release/new product launch

Subject line: “B Series 17 February Is Now Live”

When you're announcing a new product or doing a limited release, you want itI'm making a statement. Therefore, you need an impressive email template to support your message.

In this example fromBurberry, the email design is elegant and purposeful. At the center of the email is the countdown clock, while the accompanying email copy is there to state the exclusivity of the product.

We all know that consumers can go "crazy" to participate in such limited runs, so a countdown timer cannot be missing.

9. Leesa – Weekend Flash Sale

Subject line: “Only this weekend…”

Flash sales are the perfect opportunity to take advantage of countdown timers, as they don't last long by nature. And that's the point!

Create extra excitement and urgency by putting a countdown clock in a visible spot. FOMO will kick in and do the work for you.

That's exactly what it isLeesadid in the easy-to-create email campaign that featured a beautiful gif image in the center to grab attention.

10. Bonobos – Everything is for sale

Subject line: "Ends 🔜 25% Off Everything | 30% off $200+”

As you can see in the example above,Bonoboswas 25% off sitewide. For large orders, the benefit was even greater.

They kept the email design simple, emphasizing the particular benefits of taking action before the due date. The use of the promotional code is necessary to monitor and measure the effectiveness of the campaign.

11. Forever 21 – Abandoned Cart

Subject line: "Yes! Good news about your order…”

An interesting alternative to the classiccart abandonment email campaignis the above thanForever 21. Instead of just reminding their customers to complete their purchase, they added a countdown timer for psychological reasons.

You have a subconscious urge to act before the clock strikes zero. This is what you need to leverage to improve your conversions.

12. MVMT – Extended Selling

Subject line:“⚠️ Prices go up tomorrow ⚠️”

MVMTdecided to extend their Cyber ​​Monday sale, so it would be remiss not to include a countdown timer to entice those hesitant customers to buy before the end date.

The huge countdown clock along with the great email subject line will make even the toughest consumer "crack".

GIFT:Get more email countdown timer examples and ideas

How to create a countdown timer for your email marketing campaigns?

Creating a countdown timer in your email campaign is easier than you might think. Follow the steps below and you'll be set up in no time!

Tired of texts? Watch itvideo version!

1. Choose the tool to use

The first step in the process is to choose the tool that will help you create your countdown timer.

As we said before, with Moosend you don't have to worry about this as this is oneinherent characteristicof the platform. You can access it directly when you sign up for a free account.

Sign up now (no credit card required!)

2. Start creating your campaign

Now login to your Moosend account, hover over the plugin icon and click on 'New Campaign'. From the available options select "Regular Campaign" and click "Create".

Now you will be able to set basic settings. First, set your campaign type to "HTML" as this is the option that enables the countdown timers to work. Next, you'll need to give your campaign a name, subject line and preview text, then fill in the rest of the details. Then click Next.

After that, you will be asked to select a mailing list. You can either create one now or leave it for later by clicking Next.

3. Go to the Editor and select a template

Now it's time to enter the Campaign Editor and start designing your email. To do this, click "Start Design"

Once inside the editor, click on "Template Library" and select the email template you want to add a countdown timer to.

4. Add a Timer component

Now click on the "Details" button, located on the left side of the Editor page. Next, drag and drop the Timer component into an empty container inside your template.

Note:Make sure the container is of the "Full Width" variety, as this is the only container size that can accommodate a Timer element!

Your email will look like this after this step:

5. Adjust your timer

Now click on Timer and its settings will appear on your right. You should see this:

You can change all kinds of things like background color, font, label color, time color and timer theme. For the theme, you have 2 options, plain or boxes. If you select "boxes", you can change the shape of the box by increasing the "box radius". Increasing the radius to "60" will make your box a circle, for example.

Note:Don't forget topress the "Create timer" button if you want to see the changesyou do on your timer in real time. Otherwise, you won't see them until you click this button.

6. Set the due date

The next step is to set the date and time when your timer will reach zero.

To do this, click on the "Date" setting in the list of timer settings. A calendar will appear allowing you to set the exact day and time (on the other tab) that your timer will expire.

Note:Note that the time you set the timer is based on your time zone and will expire at the same time for all users.

7. Create your timer

Any changes you have made so far to any of the available settings will take effect once you click the "Create Timer" button. If you hit that button along the way, you've already seen every single change happen in real time.

And there you have it! If you want to see what your campaign looks like,click "Preview"on the top bar. Your new creation will look like this:

Take away

Now you know! Countdown timers are a really unique feature that you can use in your email campaigns to make your plan stand out from your competition and instill a sense of urgency in your subscribers.

Although customer behavior and preferences are changing dynamically, this particular customer "drive" will always be the same, namely the fear of missing out.

The clock is ticking!Sign up with Moosendand leverage this powerful feature to engage your audience and boost your conversions today!