Using the same countdown timer in an email and on its destination funnel or website gives contacts a consistent experience from the inbox to the landing page.
For example, if an email promotes a limited-time discount, the countdown in the email should match the timer on the offer page. This shows contacts exactly how much time they have left to act.
This article explains how to set up and use a countdown timer across emails and funnels or websites.
What Does Syncing a Countdown Timer Mean?
Syncing a countdown timer means using the same saved timer in your email campaign and on the funnel or website page that contacts visit.
This keeps your timing and messaging consistent throughout the customer journey.
For example:
A contact receives an email with a countdown timer for a limited-time offer.
The contact clicks the call-to-action in the email.
The destination page shows the matching countdown timer.
When the timer expires, the expired-state behaviour you set up applies.
Important: Where you can, use the same saved countdown timer. Don't create separate timers and match their settings by hand. Changes you make to a saved timer also show up wherever that timer is reused.
When Should You Sync Countdown Timers?
Synchronised timers are useful whenever an email sends contacts to a time-sensitive destination.
Common use cases include:
Limited-time sales and promotions
Product launches
Event registrations
Webinar registrations
Early-bird offers
Evergreen promotions
Time-sensitive lead offers
For example, an email promoting a 10% discount can show the same countdown as the funnel page where the contact redeems the offer.
Before You Start
Before syncing your countdown timer:
Create the funnel or website pages that contacts should visit.
Decide where contacts should go while the timer is active.
Decide what should happen after the timer expires.
Create the countdown timer under Marketing > Countdown Timers.
Select the timer type that suits your campaign.
Set up the timer's timing, timezone, links and design.
Save the timer before adding it to your email and funnel or website.
Understanding Countdown Timer Types
ZipLeads supports three countdown timer types: Fixed, Recurring and Dynamic.
Fixed Timer
A Fixed Timer counts down to a specific date and time.
Use a Fixed Timer when everyone should work towards the same campaign deadline, such as:
A sale ending on a specific date
An event registration deadline
A product launch
A holiday promotion
Recurring Timer
A Recurring Timer follows a repeating schedule.
Use it when the countdown should restart on a recurring interval or campaign schedule.
Dynamic Timer
A Dynamic Timer creates a personalised countdown based on a contact's interaction, such as when an email is sent or opened.
Use a Dynamic Timer when:
Each contact should get their own offer window.
The countdown should start based on email activity.
You're running an evergreen campaign.
You want a personalised countdown between an email and its destination page.
How to Sync a Countdown Timer Between an Email and Funnel
Step 1: Create Your Countdown Timer
Go to:
Marketing > Countdown Timers
Click New and select a countdown timer template.
Choose the timer type you need:
Fixed
Recurring
Dynamic
Set up the timing settings for the timer type you selected.
Step 2: Configure Active and Expired Links
Set the timer's Active Link and Expired Link.
Active Link
The Active Link should send contacts to the page where they can take action while the timer is still running.
For example:
Email → Limited-Time Offer Page
Expired Link
The Expired Link should send contacts to the right place after the offer or timer expires.
For example:
Expired Offer → Offer Ended Page
Set both destinations to suit your campaign.
Step 3: Customise and Save the Timer
Customise the timer to match your campaign or brand.
Depending on the timer setup, you can customise things like:
Timer colours
Font
Size
Background
Displayed time units
Expiry image
Give the timer a descriptive name so it's easy to find later.
Click Save.
Step 4: Open the Email Builder
Go to:
Marketing > Emails > Templates
Create a new email template or edit an existing one.
Open the email in the Design Editor.
Step 5: Add the Countdown Timer Element
Add the Countdown Timer element to the email.
Select the countdown timer you created earlier.
Place the timer where you want it to appear in the email.
Adjust its alignment, background, padding and other display settings as needed.
Step 6: Configure Your Email Call-to-Action
Add a button or other call-to-action to the email.
Use the timer's active destination for the CTA, so contacts go to the right funnel or website page while the offer is active.
This makes sure the email's countdown and CTA lead contacts into the same time-sensitive campaign.
Add the Countdown Timer to Your Funnel
Step 7: Open the Funnel Builder
Go to:
Sites > Funnels
Select the funnel and open the funnel step you need.
Click Edit Page.
Step 8: Add the Countdown Timer Element
Click the + icon in the Funnel Builder to open the element panel.
Select the Countdown Timers element.
Choose the countdown timer you created for the campaign and place it in the right section of the page.
Important: Select the matching saved timer. Don't create another timer just for the destination page.
Step 9: Review the Funnel Experience
Position and style the timer on the page.
Make sure:
The correct timer is selected.
The offer or CTA matches the email campaign.
The active and expired destinations are correct.
The timer is clearly visible.
The page is published.
You can also embed a countdown timer using its code if you need a custom setup.
Syncing a Dynamic Countdown Timer
Dynamic Timers are designed for personalised countdowns.
With a Fixed Timer, contacts share one deadline. A Dynamic Timer can instead start based on each contact's own interaction.
For example, if a Dynamic Timer uses an Email Opened trigger and a two-hour duration:
Contact A opens the email at 2:00 PM and gets their own countdown window.
Contact B opens the email later and gets a countdown based on when they opened it.
When you use the Dynamic Timer with the matching funnel or website page, the contact keeps their personalised countdown as they move through the campaign.
Dynamic Timers are especially useful for:
Personalised discounts
Follow-up campaigns
Lead-conversion offers
Individual registration windows
Email Timer Display Considerations
Countdown timers behave differently in emails than on live web pages. In emails, countdown timers are shown as animated images.
When a recipient opens the email, the timer is generated from its settings. However, exactly how it displays can depend on the recipient's email client.
Keep the following in mind:
Email clients can cache timer images.
Some email clients limit how often animated content refreshes.
Apple Mail may show a cached timer image instead of refreshing it continuously.
Because of this, a live funnel or website timer may seem to update differently from the timer image in an email.
This doesn't necessarily mean the timer settings are wrong.
Troubleshooting
The Email and Funnel Appear to Show Different Times
Check the following:
Confirm you're using the intended saved timer.
Check the selected timer type.
Check the timezone setting.
Check whether Adapt to Contact Time Zone is turned on.
Confirm the contact's timezone when testing an email.
Consider whether the email client is caching the timer image.
The Timer in My Email Stops Updating
Countdown timers in emails are shown as animated images. Some email clients cache images or limit how long animated content updates. Depending on the email client, reopening the email may refresh the timer.
Test the email across supported email clients before sending a large campaign.
The Funnel Shows a Different Timezone
If Adapt to Contact Time Zone is turned on, funnels and websites use the visitor's IP-detected timezone when it's available. Emails use the contact's timezone information.
If either timezone can't be worked out, the timer uses its fallback timezone.
The Timer Does Not Appear in the Funnel Builder
Confirm that:
The countdown timer has been saved.
You're selecting the Countdown Timers element.
You're working in the correct account.
The saved timer you expect is available to select.
The Timer Has Expired but the Email Still Shows Time Remaining
The recipient's email client may have cached the timer image. Check the live destination page and the timer settings before assuming the timer itself has failed.
The CTA Opens the Wrong Page
Review the Active and Expired Links set for the timer and confirm the email CTA uses the intended destination. Also check that the destination page has been published.