How Do You Set a Time for an Email to Be Sent? A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you tired of hitting “send” on important emails in the middle of the night, only to regret it when your recipient thinks you have no work-life boundaries? Or do you want to ensure your message lands at the top of their inbox at the start of the workday, rather than getting lost in the sea of overnight notifications? Well, the good news is that setting a specific time for your emails to be sent is not only possible, but it’s also easy to do. With a few simple steps, you can schedule your messages to be delivered at a time that suits you and your recipients, whether you’re working remotely or on the go. And the best part? You can find plenty of examples and customize them to your needs. So, let’s dive into the world of email scheduling and make sure your messages always land, exactly when you want them to.

The Best Structure for Setting a Time for Your Email to be Sent

If you’re like most people in the fast-paced business world, you’re probably always looking for ways to save time and boost productivity. And one great way to do that is by using your email more efficiently. One key aspect of that is setting a time for your email to be sent – because timing is everything when it comes to getting the attention of your recipients.

So what’s the best structure for setting a time for your email to be sent? Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Consider the Time Zones of Your Recipients

One important factor to consider when sending emails is the time zones of your recipients. If you’re in the United States and your recipient is in Europe, for example, there could be a significant time difference that affects the best time to send your email. To ensure that your email arrives when your recipient is most likely to be checking their inbox, do some research to determine what time it is in their location when you plan to send your message.

Think About the Day of the Week

Another key consideration when setting a time for your email to be sent is the day of the week. If it’s Monday morning and your recipient has a full inbox from the weekend, for instance, your email might get lost in the shuffle. Similarly, Fridays are often busy times when people are trying to wrap up work before the weekend. So, it’s better to avoid sending important emails on Monday or Friday, and instead, aim to send them mid-week, like Tuesdays or Wednesdays when people may have more breathing room.

Try to Avoid Sending Emails Early in the Morning or Late at Night

Perhaps you’re thinking about sending your email at 6:00am so that it’s the first thing your recipient sees when they wake up – or, alternatively, you’re considering sending it at 10:00pm after your recipient has finished their workday. However, it’s wise to avoid these early morning and late-night timeframes, as you don’t want to be perceived as someone who is working around the clock and not respecting their work-life balance. There is also the risk that your email will be buried and missed amid the slew of others that land in their inbox at that time of day.

Set a Goal for Your Email and Align the Timing Accordingly

Finally, the best structure for setting a time for your email to be sent depends on your personal goals for the message. For instance, if your email is designed to follow up on a proposal you’ve sent, you’ll want to make sure it arrives when your recipient has had a few days to review the materials (but not so long that they’ve forgotten about you). Alternatively, if it’s a reminder related to an upcoming meeting, you might want to send it the day before to give the recipient plenty of time to prepare.

In conclusion, setting a time for your email to be sent is an important strategy for maximizing its impact. By taking into consideration factors, such as time zones, days of the week, timing of other emails, and the goals of your email, you can ensure that your message arrives at a time that is most likely to be effective and help you achieve your desired response.

7 Sample Emails with Scheduled Delivery Time

Setting a Reminder for a Meeting

Dear [Recipient],

I hope this email finds you well. I just wanted to follow up on our meeting scheduled for tomorrow at 2 PM. As a little reminder, we will be discussing the budget for the upcoming marketing campaign.

As we have a lot to cover, I suggest moving the meeting from 2 PM to 3 PM. This will give us a little more time to prepare and make sure we don’t rush through anything.

If this time works for you, please let me know, and I will send through an updated calendar invite. I look forward to seeing you then.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Sending Season’s Greetings

Dear [Recipient],

As the holiday season is fast approaching, I wanted to take a moment to send you warm wishes for a happy and healthy festive period.

I hope that you will be surrounded by loved ones and have a chance to unwind and relax. It has been a pleasure working with you this year and I look forward to our continued collaboration in the new year.

Please note that I have scheduled this email to be sent on December 23rd at noon, so it arrives just in time for the holidays. Happy holidays, and have a fantastic new year.

Warm regards,
[Your Name]

Following up after a Job Interview

Dear [Recipient],

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me earlier this week and for introducing me to your team. I appreciate the insights you shared about [company name] and the role of [position] within the organization.

It was lovely to learn more about your vision for the company and the exciting projects you have in the pipeline. I am excited about the possibility of being a part of your team and contributing to [company name] goals.

I wanted to follow up on a timeline for the next steps in the recruitment process. Could you please let me know when you plan on making a decision? I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Reminding Payment Due

Dear [Recipient],

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to follow up on your account with us. As per the terms and conditions of the agreement, the payment for the service provided was due on [insert date].

I understand that sometimes there can be unforeseen circumstances, so if there are any problems, please let me know, and we can discuss it further.

However, if there are no issues, please arrange the payment at your earliest convenience. We value our customers’ business and always strive to provide the best possible service.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Booking an Appointment

Dear [Recipient],

I hope this email finds you in good health. I am writing to request an appointment with you to discuss [insert topic].

If it’s possible, I would appreciate it if we could set the meeting for next week, on [insert date]. I am flexible with the time, so please let me know what suits you.

As this meeting is very important for me, I will send a reminder one day before, and I look forward to meeting you in person.

Thank you for your attention.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Sending a Thank You Note

Dear [Recipient],

I wanted to express my gratitude for your recent help with [insert topic]. Your professional advice and generosity have been invaluable, and I appreciate the time and effort you have invested in supporting me.

Please know that your assistance has been significant in helping me to [insert goal], and I look forward to continuing to work with you.

I wanted to send this email to schedule for tomorrow, at 4 PM, to say thank you for all you’ve done. I hope you will get a chance to read it then.

Thank you again for everything.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Sending a Proposal

Dear [Recipient],

I am writing to present a proposal for [insert project] and the opportunity to help your company achieve its objectives. As an expert in [insert field], I believe I can offer you a unique strategy that will help your company succeed.

The proposal is attached to this email, and I’m happy to arrange a call with you to discuss it further. Please let me know your date and time preferences in the next few days.

Please note that I have scheduled this email to be sent at 1 PM on [insert date] to minimize the risk of going unnoticed in your inbox.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Mastering Email Timing: Tips for Setting the Perfect Time for Your Emails

Email is the lifeline of communication in today’s digital world. However, timing is everything when it comes to sending emails. The timing of your email can have a significant impact on its success. A well-timed email can boost engagement rates, drive conversions, and improve the overall effectiveness of your email marketing strategy. In this article, we’ve compiled some tips and strategies to help you set the perfect time for your email campaigns.

1. Know Your Audience

The first step in setting the perfect timing for your emails is to know your audience. Your audience’s demographics, behaviors, and preferences will play a crucial role in determining the best time to send your emails. For instance, if your target audience consists of late-night owls, you might want to send your emails during after-work hours. On the other hand, if your target audience is mostly early birds, you might want to send your emails during the early morning hours. Understanding your audience’s behavior and preferences is key to setting the right timing for your emails.

2. Consider the Purpose of Your Email

The purpose of your email will also play a decisive role in determining its timing. For example, if your email is promoting a time-sensitive offer or event, you might want to send it a few days or weeks before the deadline. Similarly, if your email is simply informative content that your audience can read at their leisure, you might send it during non-work hours. Considering the purpose of your email will help you identify the best time to send it for maximum impact and engagement.

3. Test Your Timing

While knowing your audience and understanding the purpose of your email is essential, testing your timing is equally important. Not all audiences are the same, and what works for one audience may not work for another. Experiment with the timing of your emails. Analyze the open and click-through rates of your emails at different times of the day and on different days of the week. This will help you identify the best time for your emails based on your audience’s preferences and behaviors.

4. Leverage Automation

Finally, one of the best ways to set the perfect time for your emails is to leverage automation. With automation tools like autoresponders and drip campaigns, you can send your emails at precisely the right time without any manual effort. You can schedule your emails to send at different times and on different days based on your audience’s behavior and preferences. By automating your email timing, you can ensure that your emails always reach your audience at the optimal time.

In conclusion, timing is a critical element of any successful email marketing campaign. By knowing your audience, understanding the purpose of your email, testing your timing, and leveraging automation, you can set the perfect time for your emails and maximize their impact and engagement.

FAQs: Setting a Time for Sending Emails


How can I schedule an email to be sent at a specific time?

To schedule an email to be sent at a specific time, click on the down arrow next to the ‘Send’ button in your compose window, and select ‘Schedule send’. Then, choose the date and time you want the email to be sent.

Can I schedule an email to be sent on a recurring basis?

Yes, you can schedule emails to be sent on a recurring basis such as daily, weekly or monthly. To do this, select the ‘Schedule send’ option and click on the ‘Recurring’ tab. Choose the frequency and time as per your requirement.

What happens if I scheduled an email, but then I need to cancel or change it?

You can easily cancel or modify a scheduled email. Select ‘Scheduled’ from the left sidebar of your Gmail inbox. Find the email you want to cancel or modify, and click on it. Then, click on the ‘Cancel send’ or the ‘Edit message’ button and make the necessary changes.

Can I schedule an email to be sent while I am offline?

Yes, you can schedule an email to be sent while you are offline as well. All you need to do is enable the ‘offline access’ feature in your Gmail settings and schedule the email as usual.

Is scheduling emails only possible in Gmail?

No, scheduling emails is not just limited to Gmail. Many other email services and clients offer this feature as well, such as Outlook, Apple Mail, and Thunderbird.

Can I schedule an email to be sent to multiple recipients?

Yes, you can schedule an email to be sent to multiple recipients. Simply add the email addresses of all the recipients in the ‘to’ field as usual, and click on the ‘Schedule send’ option to select the date and time.

Is there any limit on the number of scheduled emails?

No, there is no limit on the number of scheduled emails. You can schedule as many emails as you want, and they will be sent at the designated time.

That’s all folks!

Now that you know how to schedule your emails to be sent at a specific time, you can say goodbye to forgetting to send them out or waking up in the middle of the night to hit ‘send’. Thanks for taking the time to read this article, I hope you found it helpful. Don’t forget to come back and check out our other useful tips and tricks. Until then, happy emailing!