Date and Time conditions

```wiki Navigation: Main_Page > Automations > Date and Time conditions

Date and Time Conditions in Automations

Date and Time conditions in ActiveCampaign are essential for fine-tuning automations to perform actions at precise moments in time. This feature allows users to enhance their marketing automation strategies by ensuring that certain tasks are triggered based on specific date and time criteria. Understanding how to implement these conditions is crucial for maximizing the impact of automated campaigns, whether sending emails, updating contacts, or managing workflows.

How to Access This Feature

To access the Date and Time conditions feature within ActiveCampaign, follow these steps:

1. Click on Automations from the left menu. 2. Click Edit for the automation you wish to update or create a new automation. 3. Click on the (+) node where you want to add the automation action.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Once you've accessed the desired automation, you can incorporate Date and Time conditions by following these detailed steps:

1. On the right pane, click on Workflow. 2. Choose either Jump To, Wait, or If/Else action to add to your automation. 3. In the modal window:

  * For Wait actions:
    - Click Wait until specific conditions are met, then select the Date & Time option from the Condition dropdown. The dropdown will expand.
  * For If/Else and Jump To actions:
    - Select the Date & Time option from the Condition dropdown. The dropdown will expand.

4. In the Date & Time dropdown, select the Current date or the Current day of the week condition you wish to use with your action. 5. Select the desired timezone, operator, and value(s) to complete the segment. If you do not want to use one of the values, simply leave it blank. 6. Complete any remaining fields in your action if applicable. 7. Click Save when finished.

For detailed guidance on configuring the Wait automation action, please refer to the relevant documentation.

Configuration Options and Settings

When setting up Date and Time conditions, it's essential to understand the various configuration options available:

- **Wait Actions**: You can configure the wait conditions, including:

 - Wait until a specific day and/or time
 - Wait until custom date field matches
 - Conditions may include segments like Has a tag or Is active on a list.

- **Current Date Conditions**: When you set conditions based on the current date, the timing is specific. For instance, selecting a wait time of "8 AM" means that the action will not activate until the time is 8:00:00 AM to 8:59:59 AM.

- **Current Day of the Week**: Use this condition to restrict actions based on specific days. This is useful for ensuring communications only happen on business days or during weekends, following your campaign goals.

- **Combining Conditions**: You can add multiple conditions to further refine when actions should occur. Click on the + Add another condition option to include more criteria as needed.

Best Practices and Tips

1. **Utilize Specific Time Frames**: When using the Wait action, it’s advisable to choose the most explicit options such as wait until a specific day and/or time to avoid confusion about time frames.

2. **Check Time Settings**: If your segment condition includes "Time" with an operator like "Is after," be aware that 12 AM is considered before 11 PM. This can affect the flow of your automation, leading to unintended consequences.

3. **Plan for Multiple Conditions**: If your workflow involves complex requirements, consider using more than one condition to ensure that actions are triggered exactly as intended.

4. **Testing is Essential**: Prior to activating your automation, test it to confirm that the Date and Time conditions work correctly as you anticipated.

5. **Document Changes**: Keep a record of any Date and Time conditions you add, as this will help in troubleshooting later if your automations do not perform as expected.

Common Use Cases with Examples

1. **Sending Birthday Emails**: Use the current date condition to send automated birthday messages. Set the automation to trigger precisely on the contact's birthday.

2. **Weekly Promotions**: Schedule emails for promotions that recur every Monday at 10 AM, using the current day of the week and specific time conditions.

3. **End-of-Month Reports**: Automate the generation of reports every month by setting conditions based on the last day of the month.

4. **Reactivate Dormant Contacts**: Identify contacts that have become inactive after a specified date and automate a re-engagement campaign to win them back.

Troubleshooting Section

If you encounter issues while implementing Date and Time conditions in your automations, consider the following troubleshooting tips:

- **Verify Time Zones**: Ensure that all time settings correspond correctly. If you are sending time-sensitive messages, mismatches in time zone settings can lead to delays.

- **Check Condition Logic**: Review the logic you implemented in your conditions to confirm they aren’t conflicting. Misconfigured operators may lead to unexpected paths in your automation.

- **Review Automation Flow**: If the desired actions are not firing, follow the path to ensure that all preceding actions lead to your Date and Time condition accurately.

FAQ

1. **What plans support Date and Time conditions?**

  All ActiveCampaign plans, including Starter, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise, support this feature.

2. **Can conditions be combined with other triggers?**

  Yes, Date and Time conditions can be combined with other actions such as tags or subscription status.

3. **What happens if I select a time condition of 'Is after 11 PM'?**

  If you set a condition to 'Is after 11 PM', contacts with a timestamp of 12 AM will not meet this condition as they are before the 11 PM cutoff.

4. **How can I check if my automation is working correctly with Date and Time conditions?**

  Test the automation by simulating conditions with test contacts. Check if they proceed through the automation as expected.

5. **Is there a way to delay actions based on Day of the Week?**

  Yes, by selecting specific days of the week in the conditions, you can control when actions occur.

6. **Can I use the Date and Time conditions for SMS campaigns?**

  Yes, you can use these conditions in automations that include SMS messages to ensure timely delivery based on recipient availability.

7. **What should I do if the action does not trigger as expected?**

  Check your time zone settings, review the conditions for any conflicts, and verify the flow structure of your automation to ensure everything is correctly linked.

By effectively utilizing Date and Time conditions within your automations, you can optimize your marketing strategies, enhance the customer experience, and achieve better results for your campaigns. ```