A Field Timer is a "Then" in the automation builder that let you automatically send messages on dates that matter to your clients, like birthdays, anniversaries, or any custom date you've saved in a contact record. There are two default date fields in every contact record: Anniversary Date and Birthday Date. You can also create your own custom date or date/time field.
Why Automate Messages Around Important Client Dates
Staying in touch with clients on birthdays, anniversaries, and other meaningful dates builds loyalty and keeps your business top of mind without requiring you to remember every date manually. A Field Timer in the automation builder lets you set this up once and let it run, so the right message reaches the right client at the right time, every time. Businesses that reach out on personal milestones see stronger client retention and more repeat business, and with Field Timers, that outreach happens automatically in the background while you focus on running your business.
How to Add a Field Timer to an Automation
- Click on the blue + icon to add a Then. Use the search bar or scroll to find Field Timer in the drop-down.
- In the Wait Until section, select the amount of time to delay before or after the custom date using the days/weeks/months drop-down and the before/after drop-down. If you'd like the timer to run on the exact date in the custom field, select the 'No Delay' option.
- In the Contact Field section, select the desired date field. By default, Birthday and Anniversary will always show in the drop down. Any new custom date or date/time fields that you've added to your CRM will show here too.
NOTE for Next Occurrence and Use Year from Field: These two options control how often the Field Timer triggers for a given contact. Select Next Occurrence if you want the automation to repeat every year on the same date. For example, sending a birthday message annually. Select Use Year from Field if you only want the automation to trigger once, on the specific year stored in the contact's date field. For example, sending a one-time message tied to a contract start date or a specific event year. If you are using Field Timers for birthdays or anniversaries, Next Occurrence is almost always the right choice.
Pro-Tip! You can override the default time zone with the time zone of the contact record so that your emails send at the most appropriate time for their time zone.
4. Choose what time of day you would like to send your message or trigger the next stage and click Save. If you are using a date/time field from the contact record, the time will automatically say "The time specified in the contact field." It will send based on the time set in the contacts custom field.
- Once you're finished, click on Publish in the top-right corner to save your changes
FAQ
Can I use a Field Timer and a Delay Timer in the same automation sequence?
No. Only one type of timer can be used per Start button in the automation builder. For example, you cannot build a sequence that combines a Delay Timer and a Field Timer under the same Start. If you need both, create a separate automation with its own Start button for the Field Timer.
Does a Field Timer work with custom date fields I've created in my CRM?
Yes. Any custom date or date/time field you've added to a contact record will appear in the Contact Field drop-down when setting up a Field Timer, alongside the default Birthday and Anniversary fields.
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