Email guide

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 recipient key and label language become per-user values resolved at send time; the deadline is stored on the link.

Create your free countdown Jump to steps

  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. Get the code

    Click Get code, choose “In an email”, pick how the countdown works — until a date, a personal timer per subscriber, or repeating on a schedule — and copy the code. The link stores the timer, so you can change the deadline any time, even after sending: emails already sent pick it up within minutes.

    URL 
    https://t.tikio.io/e/a1b2.gif

  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.

    HTML 
    <img src="https://t.tikio.io/e/a1b2.gif" alt="Offer ends soon" width="480" style="border:0;max-width:100%;height:auto;" />

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.

HTML 
<img src="https://t.tikio.io/e/a1b2.gif?uid={{userId}}" alt="Offer ends soon" width="480" style="border:0;max-width:100%;height:auto;" />

FAQ

Questions, answered

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

Yes, through the REST API: create the link with a deadline that comes from the recipient. Merge parameters resolve inside URLs, so any user-profile or event field that holds an ISO date with a timezone offset or unix seconds can then go 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.

Other email platforms

Your first countdown is minutes away

Free during early access — no credit card required. Design once, paste one snippet, and the timer ticks on every open.

Create your free countdown