How to add a countdown timer in Omnisend

Omnisend also has its own timer

Omnisend includes a Countdown timer element on its paid plans, so check that first if you are on one and it does what you need. SnapTimers is useful if you are on Omnisend's free plan, or want a timer style or an evergreen deadline that its element does not offer.

Add the timer with the HTML block

1. 1

   Create your timer

   Make a timer in SnapTimers, set the deadline and timezone, then export it and copy the HTML code.

2. 2

   Add an HTML block

   In Omnisend's Email Builder, open Add Elements and drag the HTML block to where you want the timer.

3. 3

   Paste the code

   Click the block to open the editor in the right-side panel, paste your timer code into the HTML input, then click Save.

4. 4

   Send yourself a real test

   Send the email to a real contact, open it, then open it again a few minutes later. The time should have moved on.

<img src="https://cdn.snaptimers.com/t/YOUR-TIMER-ID.gif"
     alt="Sale ends Friday at midnight"
     width="600"
     style="display:block;max-width:100%;height:auto;" />

Use your exported code, and change the alt text to your real deadline. It is what people see when images are turned off.

Why not use the Image element?

Omnisend can upload an image from a URL, and says uploaded images are stored in your Image library. A timer has to be fetched from SnapTimers each time the email is opened, or it can't show the current time. The HTML block keeps your email pointing directly at the live timer, so it is the safer choice.

Evergreen timers in Omnisend

An evergreen timer gives each subscriber their own deadline. Choose Omnisend as your email provider when you export, and SnapTimers adds the right personalization tag to the link. This tag is the subscriber's email address, because Omnisend's documented tags do not include a contact ID. SnapTimers stores a keyed hash of it, not the address.

Omnisend notes that test emails show the raw tag rather than real data. To check an evergreen timer properly, send it to a real contact rather than using a test send.

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