How to change the delay time in an automation?
Change the delay time in a SendFox automation to control how long contacts wait between emails—set any step to minutes-of-joining speed or space it out by months.
How delays work
Every email in an automation has its own delay—the wait time before that email goes out, counted from the previous step (or from the trigger for the first email). New emails are added with a 24-hour delay by default, and you can set anything from 0 (send immediately) up to the equivalent of 5,000 hours.
Change the delay time
- Go to Automations in the top navigation bar and open your automation.
- Find the delivery row on the step you want to change (for example, Deliver: Wait for 1 day) and click Change delivery time.
- In the Delivery Time window, set Wait for: a number and pick a unit—hours, days, weeks, or months.
- Click Save in the window. (Click Remove instead to clear the delay entirely, so the email sends immediately after the previous step.)
- Click Save changes at the top of the automation to keep your edits.
Troubleshooting
The new delay doesn't seem to apply
- Make sure you clicked Save changes on the automation after closing the Delivery Time window—the delay isn't stored until the automation is saved.
- Emails that were already scheduled for a contact keep their original send time; the new delay applies to contacts who reach that step from now on.
I can't set a very long delay
- Delays are capped at 5,000 hours (about 7 months). For longer gaps, split your sequence into two automations and use a list action to move contacts from one to the other—see creating an automation.
- Need a hand? Visit the SendFox Help Center at help.sendfox.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make an email send instantly?
Set Wait for: to 0, or click Remove in the Delivery Time window. The email then goes out as soon as the contact reaches that step.
Can I change delays while the automation is running?
Yes. The change affects contacts who haven't reached that step yet; already-scheduled emails aren't rescheduled. See what happens when you make changes in an automation.
Does the first email have a delay too?
Yes—its delay counts from the moment the contact triggers the automation (joining your list). Set it to 0 for an instant welcome email.