How to Create a Recurring Countdown Timer in Sparkforge

A recurring countdown timer counts down for a fixed duration, hits zero, and restarts automatically for a set number of cycles. Every visitor sees the same deadline within a cycle, which keeps urgency consistent without manual resets.

What is a recurring timer?

Unlike one-time timers that expire permanently, recurring timers cycle through three states:

• Wait: before the active countdown begins.
• Active: the countdown is visible and running.
• Expired: the countdown has ended and traffic redirects (or the timer hides).

Why use one

• Automation: resets itself on schedule — no rebuilding or cloning timers.
• Consistent urgency: every visit lands on an active countdown.
• Multi-channel reuse: same timer in funnels, emails, and third-party embeds.
• Loop control: pick exactly how many cycles to run.
• Branded styling: fonts and colors to match your brand.

When to use a recurring timer

• Weekly sales or promotions: highlight an offer that runs every week.
• Monthly subscriptions or renewals: remind users of a recurring billing date.
• Regular webinars or classes: count down to the next session.
• Daily flash deals: create urgency around a recurring offer.

Loop events

Loop Events controls how many times the timer resets after the first countdown. A value of 3 means the timer counts down, then resets twice — three cycles total. To run a four-week recurring weekly sale: set the start date to next Monday at 8:00 AM, the duration to 7 days, and Loop Events to 4. The loop only refreshes after a full duration completes — it does not reset daily unless your duration is one day.

Create a recurring timer

1. Open Marketing > Countdown Timers.
2. Click the blue New button (or click the pencil to edit an existing timer).
3. Under the General tab, set Timer Type to Recurring.
4. Configure the details:
   • Start Date/Time: when the first cycle begins.
   • Loop Events: total number of cycles.
   • Countdown Duration: length of each cycle (for example, 7 days).
   • Countdown Timer Waits For: sites won't auto-redirect to expired if the wait state follows active.
   • Hide Timer on Site in Wait State: if disabled, the timer renders zero during waits.
5. Set the Active Link and Expired Link.
6. Customize colors, fonts, expiry image, and time format. Rename the timer.
7. Click Save.

Wait time behavior

Wait time is an optional pause between cycles. Behavior differs by channel:

Emails

• Timer shows zero state.
• Clicking the email's link redirects to the expiry page.

Funnels

• Timer can be hidden during wait if you enable that option.
• If a session sees the timer transition Active → Wait, the user stays on the page (no auto-redirect).
• On page refresh during a wait state, the user is redirected to the expiry page.