Use Time Delay Rules

Marketing automation flow time delay rules determine a contact's pace and path through your flow. Without a time delay, contacts will instantly move from step to step. Adding a time delay rule between steps will hold a contact at that step until the end of the delay, at which time they will resume moving through the flow. This is useful to allow the contact time to react to an email or SMS before continuing the flow, or to hold contacts until a specific date to send a reminder before an event or the end of a sale.

In this article, you’ll learn how to use a time delay rule.

Before you start

Here are some things to know before you begin this process.

• To learn more about automation flows, how they work, and what you can do with your plan, check out About Marketing Automation Flows.

Add a time delay rule

To add a time delay rule to an automation flow, follow these steps.

1. Click and drag the Time delay rule into your flow from the side panel. Or, use the plus icon (+), then select the Time delay rule.
2. Set the delay in the Time delay settings.
   • Use Length of Time to configure a set amount of time. This will count down from the time the individual contact begins the step until the end of the configured time, at which time the individual will move on. The shortest delay is 15 minutes, and the maximum delay is 730 days.
   • Use Date and Time to wait until a a custom date and time. This will hold all contacts who reach this delay step in a queue until the specified date and time, when all the contacts will move on together. If a contact starts this time delay after the custom date and time has passed, they will automatically move past this delay and move on to the next step.
3. When you're done, select Save.

Well done! Repeat these steps to add additional time delay rules to your flow as needed.