How to add a countdown timer to Iterable

Iterable merges Handlebars parameters into URLs, not just into body copy — which is exactly the hook a countdown needs. Drop one image tag into the template and the deadline, recipient key and label language all become per-user values resolved at send time.

  1. Design your countdown in tikio

    Create a timer in the tikio editor: pick colors, fonts, labels and the languages you need. What you see in the editor is exactly what lands in the inbox — the timer is delivered as a regular animated image.

  2. Publish and copy the image URL

    Hit Publish and copy the public image URL. The deadline lives in the URL as a parameter, so the same link works for every campaign — change the date, not the link.

    https://tikio.io/e/a1b2.gif?target=2026-08-01T20:00

  3. Insert the timer into your Iterable template

    In the Iterable template editor, paste the snippet below into the HTML. Merge parameters wrapped in double curly braces are substituted inside the URL when the message is sent.

    <img src="https://tikio.io/e/a1b2.gif?target=2026-08-01T20:00" alt="Offer ends soon" width="480" style="max-width:100%;" />

Per-recipient evergreen deadlines

Use {{userId}} as the recipient key in userId-based projects — it is stable and non-personal. In email-based projects use {{email}}. Either way each user’s countdown starts at their first open.

<img src="https://tikio.io/e/a1b2.gif?duration=86400&uid={{userId}}" alt="Offer ends soon" width="480" style="max-width:100%;" />

FAQ

Can I use event data as the deadline in a journey?

Yes. Merge parameters resolve inside URLs, so any user-profile or event field that holds an ISO date or unix seconds can go straight into target=.

What if a field name exists on both the profile and the event?

Iterable gives event data precedence. Reference {{profile.fieldName}} explicitly when you specifically want the profile value.

Does this work for every channel?

For email, yes. Push and in-app carry different payloads — the countdown is an image and belongs in the email template.

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