Add the Countdown Timer Widget to a Post

🎯 Who this article is for: This article is for anyone who creates posts or articles in Happeo channels.

💼 Package requirements: The Countdown Timer channel widget is available to all packages.

🔒 Permissions: Adding the Countdown Timer widget to a post is available to anyone with permission to post in the channel.

🗒️ Note: The Countdown Timer widget must be installed by an admin before it appears in the Apps menu when posting. 

🔎 To add the Countdown Timer widget to a page instead, see Add the Countdown Timer Widget to a Page.

1. Overview

The Countdown Timer Widget lets you place a live, ticking countdown directly in any channel post or article, so the post and the timeline are always in the same place. Whether a team is working toward a submission deadline, a product launch, or a significant organizational change, the widget keeps every reader accurately oriented in time, without anyone needing to maintain it as the date approaches.

Once the countdown reaches zero, a configurable expired state lets you replace the timer with a message and a next-step link, so the post stays relevant and useful long after the moment has passed.

🗒️ Note: Throughout this article, "post" is used as the umbrella term for both posts and articles.

2. Use cases

• Drive completion on enrollment and submission deadlines: Whether it is benefits enrollment, a training sign-up, or a colleague nomination, a countdown embedded alongside the post gives every reader the full picture at a glance: what they need to do, and exactly how much time they have to do it.
• Signal that something significant is changing, and how soon: Before a system migration, a new policy going live, or a major process change, the post holding all the context also shows how far away the change is. Every time someone reads the post, the timeline is accurate, without anyone needing to edit the post as the date approaches.
• Give a company-wide moment a shared reference point that updates itself: An all-hands, a product launch, a company-wide initiative with a known start date. The post describes what is coming and the countdown shows how close it is, giving anyone who reads it an accurate picture of where things stand, from the moment you publish through to the day it arrives.

3. How to install and uninstall the Countdown Timer widget

Only admins can install or uninstall widgets from the Apps Marketplace.

How to install

1. Click your avatar in the navigation.
2. Go to Admin Settings → Apps.
3. Search for Countdown Timer.
4. Click the Install button at the top-right.
5. Accept the terms and conditions to complete installation.

The Countdown Timer channel widget will now appear in the apps menu whenever you are writing a post.

How to uninstall

1. Click your avatar in the navigation.
2. Go to Admin Settings → Apps.
3. Search for Countdown Timer.
4. Click the Uninstall button at the top-right.
5. Confirm the uninstallation.

⚠️ Important: When you uninstall the Countdown Timer widget, any instances already placed on published posts will remain visible but display an error message in place of the timer. 

4. How to add and configure the widget

1. Open the channel where you want to post and start writing a new post or article.
2. Click the Apps button at the bottom of the editor.
3. Select Countdown Timer from the Apps menu. If it is not listed, click More apps to find it.
4. The Countdown timer settings panel opens. The panel is divided into four sections described below. Configure each section, then click Save settings.

Content

These optional fields add text that appears alongside the countdown:

• Eyebrow label: A small label above the main heading, useful for context such as "Deadline" or "Coming soon."
• Main heading: The primary title displayed on the widget.
• Body text: Supporting text below the main heading.
• Footer note: A small note displayed beneath the countdown.

Date and time

• YYYY-MM-DD (required): Enter the target date in year-month-day format, for example 2026-12-31.
• HH:MM:SS (required): Enter the target time in 24-hour format, in your local time zone, for example 17:00:00.

Add a button

Toggle on Add a button to display a CTA alongside the countdown. Use this when you want viewers to take a specific action before the deadline, such as registering for an event, completing a survey, or accessing a linked resource.

• Button label: Enter the text that appears on the button, for example "Register now" or "Submit your response."
• Button color: Choose a color to match your branding or draw attention to the action.
• Button URL: Add the URL the button will direct users to when clicked.

Customize expired state

Toggle on Customize expired state to control what viewers see once the timer reaches zero. To preview it before the event, set a past date and time.

• Expired heading text: Enter a short message that replaces the timer when it ends, for example "Registration is now closed" or "The event has started."
• Add a button: Toggle on to include a button in the expired state, with a label and a link to direct people to the recording, a post-event summary, or the next relevant action.

After you’ve configured the widget:

1. Click Save settings.
2. Choose how the widget appears in your post. See section 5 for guidance on which option to choose.
3. Publish your post to make the widget visible to channel participants.

5. Embed or attach: which to choose

After clicking Save settings, you choose how the widget appears in your post.

Embed in post

When you embed the widget, the live countdown appears directly within the post content. Viewers see the timer ticking down without any additional clicks.

Choose this option when:

• The countdown is the central point of the post, for example a deadline announcement or event post.
• You want the countdown to be immediately visible, with no extra clicks between the reader and the deadline.
• The post is short and focused, so the widget does not compete with a lot of surrounding content.

Attach as link

When you attach the widget, it appears as a clickable link at the bottom of the post. The live countdown is not visible in the post itself. Viewers click the link to open the timer in a separate view.

Choose this option when:

• The countdown is supplementary context rather than the main message of a longer, detailed post.
• You want the written content to read cleanly without an embedded visual element.
• You are adding the widget to a post where the timer is one resource among several, and a clean layout matters more than immediate visibility.

🗒️ Note: Both options deliver the same countdown experience when viewed. The difference is where and how prominently the timer appears to viewers in the channel.

6. Best practices

The Countdown Timer widget works best when it is set up with the full journey in mind: from the moment of publication through to what happens after the deadline. These tips help you get the most out of it.

• Set the expired state before you publish: A countdown that reaches zero with no message leaves viewers with a silent zero and nowhere to go. A brief expired message with a next-step link takes under a minute to set up and keeps the post useful for everyone who finds it after the event.
• Use the CTA button for deadlines that require action: A countdown shows readers exactly how much time remains. Pairing it with a button pointing directly to the relevant resource removes every step between seeing the deadline and taking action. Link it to the form, page, or resource so there is nothing standing between the reader and what they need to do.

7. Frequently asked questions

Does the countdown update in real time for viewers?

Yes. The timer updates in real time. Viewers do not need to refresh the page for the countdown to advance.

Can I edit the widget before and after the post has been published?

Yes. Before publishing, click the three-dot menu next to the widget, select Edit, make your changes, and save. 

After publishing, click the three-dot menu on the post, select Edit, then click the three-dot menu next to the widget, select Edit, make your changes, save, and re-publish the post.

What does the attached version look like to viewers?

When attached, the widget appears as a clickable link at the bottom of the post. Clicking it opens a separate view where the live countdown is visible. The timer itself is not shown in the channel.

Can I add the widget to an existing published post?

Yes. Click the three-dot menu on the post, select Edit, add the widget via the Apps menu, configure it, save your changes, and re-publish the post.

What happens if I do not configure the expired state?

If the expired state is not configured, the widget displays a zero countdown once the deadline passes, with no message or next step for viewers. Setting it before publishing ensures the post stays informative after the timer has run out.