Creating Your First Timer
This guide walks you through the complete process of creating, customizing, and exporting your first countdown timer.
Timer Editor Overview
The SnapTimers editor uses a split-screen layout:
Left Panel (40%)
Configuration, design, and export options
Right Panel (60%)
Live preview that updates in real-time
Changes you make on the left are instantly reflected in the preview on the right, so you always see exactly what your timer will look like.
Step 1: Configuration
The Config tab is where you set up the core timer settings:
Timer Name
Give your timer a descriptive name that helps you identify it later. This is only visible in your dashboard, not to end users.
Timer Type
Choose how your timer behaves:
- Fixed Date: Counts down to a specific date/time. Same for everyone.
- Evergreen: Starts fresh for each recipient. Great for "24 hours left" offers.
- Recurring: Automatically restarts daily, weekly, or monthly.
Target Date & Timezone
Set when the countdown ends. The timezone determines how the target date is interpreted.
Tip: Use "Viewer's timezone" if your audience is global, or set a specific timezone for location-specific events.
Language
Choose the language for timer labels (Days, Hours, Minutes, Seconds). We support English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, and Japanese.
Step 2: Design
Switch to the Design tab to customize how your timer looks:
Templates
Start with one of our 12+ professionally designed templates. Each template comes with pre-configured colors, fonts, and spacing that you can further customize.
Colors
Background, text, labels, accent
Typography
Font family, size, weight
Spacing
Padding, gaps, border radius
Display
Show/hide units, label position
Step 3: Save & Export
Once you're happy with your timer, click Save Timer in the top right corner.
After Saving
Click the Export button to get your embed code. You'll have several options:
- • HTML: Standard img tag for any email or website
- • URL: Direct link to the GIF image
- • Email Provider: Pre-formatted for Mailchimp, Klaviyo, etc.