---
title: Inserting countdown timers into messages
slug: campaign/docs/inserting-countdown-timers-into-messages
createdAt: 2026-07-20T15:45:34.339Z
---
You can insert a countdown timer into a message by itself, or [combine it with a product image/key visual](docId\:QJz-ozNW1Pn6BWj3bJcHo) to make a single graphic.
## Inserting freestanding countdown timers
:::hint{type="info"}
**Tip**
The following instruction shows the procedure using the [Template Kit](docId\:jRJZaVEfgoLqt9ai1hzyD). If you use a custom template, the steps may differ.
:::
1. Select your message and click **Edit…**. The **Edit Content** window opens.
2. Click **New: Content Paragraph** to create a new content paragraph.
3. Click **Text/Image**.
4. Click **Insert field function**  in the **Text** area.
5. Select the field function of the countdown timer you want to insert into your message. Click **OK**.
:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**
If you use an image URL field function, insert it into the source code as follows: `
`.
:::
6. Click **Apply**.
:::hint{type="info"}
**Tip**
The countdown timer does not show in real time in the preview. But, you can send a test message to yourself to preview the countdown timer before mailing the newsletter. To do so, click **Test message** in the upper right of the Template Kit.
:::
## [inserting-countdown-timers-into-messages.mdx](docId\:QJz-ozNW1Pn6BWj3bJcHo)Combining countdown timers with product images/key visuals
If you prepared graphics for the countdown timer (see [Prepare graphics](docId:0TiLVDpX47APsyrR_rwSt)) and created the counter for the countdown timer (see [Create a countdown timer](docId\:bxuYS24lfTyF346ju4Pcj)), you can combine the product image/key visual and the countdown timer into a single graphic.
:::hint{type="info"}
**Tip**
The following instruction shows the procedure using the [Template Kit](docId\:jRJZaVEfgoLqt9ai1hzyD). If you use a custom template, the steps may differ.
:::
The basic procedure places the product image/key visual and the timer separately into two paragraphs positioned one above the other, with no spacing between. For the combining process, create a new grouping paragraph.
1. Select your message and click **Edit…**. The **Edit Content** window opens.
2. Click **New: Paragraph** to create a new grouping paragraph in your message.
3. Click **Grouping Paragraph**.
4. Enter `0` under **Layout**, in the **Space between content paragraphs** box.
:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**
If you forget to enter `0` here, in some cases, your product image/key visual and the countdown timer will not be seamlessly combined.
:::
5. Click **Apply**.
6. To insert a new content paragraph for your product image/key visual into the grouping paragraph, click **New: Content Paragraph** on the left side of the preview, under the new grouping paragraph.
7. Click **Text/Image**.
8. Open the **Image** tab, click **Browse...** and select an image in the file browser to upload your product image/key visual. If your visual is saved externally, enter the URL.
9. Center the product image/key visual by selecting one of the centering options from the list found under **Position**, for example **Centered below the link**.
10. Click **Apply**.
11. To insert another new content paragraph for the countdown timer into your grouping paragraph, click **New: Content Paragraph** on the left side of the preview. On the right, a window for selecting the paragraph type opens.
12. Click **Text/Image**.
13. Click **Insert field function**  in the **Text** area. A window with a list opens. The list contains field functions that were saved in your client.
14. In the list, select the field function for the countdown timer that you want to insert into the content paragraphs and click **OK**.
:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**
If you use an image URL field function, insert it into the source code as follows: ``.
:::
15. Click **Center** to center the inserted field function.
16. To save your changes, click **Apply**.
:::hint{type="info"}
**Tip**
The countdown timer does not show in real time in the preview, but you can send yourself a [test message](https://support.optimizely.com/hc/en-us/articles/4413205642253) to check that the image merge is successful.
:::