Recurring Campaigns
3 min read
Recurring campaigns automatically repeat on a defined schedule, eliminating the need to manually recreate promotions. Set up a pattern once, and Smart Cycle Discounts handles the rest. This is a Pro feature.
How Recurring Campaigns Work #
When you enable recurring, the campaign creates multiple occurrences based on your pattern:
- Pattern: How often the campaign repeats (daily, weekly, monthly)
- Occurrence: Each individual run of the campaign
- Duration: How long each occurrence lasts
Example #
Pattern: Weekly on Saturday and Sunday Duration: 2 days per occurrence Result: Every weekend, the campaign automatically activates Saturday 00:00 and ends Monday 00:00
Enabling Recurring Schedule #
- In Step 4 (Schedule), look for the “Recurring Schedule” section
- Toggle “Enable Recurring” to on
- Configure the pattern options that appear
Recurring Patterns #
Daily Recurring #
Campaign runs every X days.
| Setting | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Interval | Every X days | Every 1 day = daily, Every 2 days = alternate days |
| Duration | How long each occurrence runs | 24 hours, 12 hours, etc. |
Use Cases #
- Daily deal: New featured product every day
- Happy hour: 2-hour discount every afternoon
- Alternate day sale: Discount every other day
Weekly Recurring #
Campaign runs on specific days of the week.
| Setting | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Days of Week | Which days to run | Saturday, Sunday (weekend sale) |
| Interval | Every X weeks | Every 1 week, Every 2 weeks (bi-weekly) |
Day Selection #
Click to select one or more days:
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Multiple days create a continuous occurrence (Sat + Sun = weekend)
Use Cases #
- Weekend sale: Every Saturday and Sunday
- Mid-week deal: Every Wednesday
- Bi-weekly paycheck sale: Every other Friday
Monthly Recurring #
Campaign runs on specific dates each month.
| Setting | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Day of Month | Which date(s) to run | 1st, 15th, Last day |
| Interval | Every X months | Every 1 month, Every 3 months (quarterly) |
Special Date Options #
- First day: 1st of each month
- Last day: Automatically adjusts for month length (28, 29, 30, or 31)
- Specific date: e.g., 15th of each month
Use Cases #
- Monthly clearance: Last weekend of each month
- First-of-month sale: 1st through 3rd of each month
- Quarterly event: Every 3 months
Occurrence Duration #
Each occurrence has its own duration:
| Pattern | Duration Options |
|---|---|
| Daily | Hours within the day (e.g., 09:00-17:00) |
| Weekly | Full days selected (e.g., Sat 00:00 to Mon 00:00) |
| Monthly | Date range within the month (e.g., 1st-3rd) |
Recurrence End Options #
Control when the recurring pattern stops:
Never (Indefinite) #
- Campaign recurs forever until manually stopped
- Best for: Evergreen promotions, ongoing weekly deals
After X Occurrences #
- Campaign runs a specific number of times then stops
- Example: Run for 12 weekends (3 months of weekly sales)
On Specific Date #
- Campaign recurs until a specific end date
- Example: Weekly sale through the holiday season (ends Dec 31)
Occurrence Preview #
The wizard shows a preview of upcoming occurrences:
Upcoming Occurrences: 1. Dec 21-22, 2025 (Sat-Sun) 2. Dec 28-29, 2025 (Sat-Sun) 3. Jan 4-5, 2026 (Sat-Sun) 4. Jan 11-12, 2026 (Sat-Sun) ... and more
This helps you verify the pattern is correct before launching.
Configuration Examples #
Weekend Flash Sale #
Pattern: Weekly Days: Saturday, Sunday Interval: Every 1 week Ends: Never Result: Every weekend, automatically
Happy Hour Daily #
Pattern: Daily Interval: Every 1 day Time: 16:00 - 18:00 Ends: Never Result: 2-hour discount every day from 4-6 PM
Monthly Clearance #
Pattern: Monthly Day: Last day of month Duration: 3 days (last day through 2nd of next month) Interval: Every 1 month Ends: After 12 occurrences Result: Year of monthly clearance sales
Bi-Weekly Payday Sale #
Pattern: Weekly Day: Friday Interval: Every 2 weeks Ends: On December 31, 2025 Result: Every other Friday through year-end
Editing Recurring Campaigns #
Changing the Pattern #
When you edit a recurring campaign’s pattern:
- Future occurrences regenerate based on the new pattern
- Past occurrences remain unchanged (historical record)
- Currently active occurrence completes as scheduled
Pausing Recurring Campaigns #
- Pausing stops the current occurrence immediately
- Future occurrences are suspended
- Resuming reactivates the pattern from the current date
Health Score for Recurring Campaigns #
The health system provides specific feedback for recurring campaigns:
| Check | Warning | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Very frequent recurrence | Daily for long periods | Consider if this should be an always-on campaign instead |
| Overlapping occurrences | Pattern creates overlap | Adjust duration or frequency |
| Long running indefinite | No end date set | Reminder to periodically review |
Best Practices #
- Start simple: Begin with weekly patterns before complex monthly setups
- Use preview: Always verify the occurrence preview matches your intent
- Set end conditions: Even if far in the future, having an end date prompts review
- Consider overlap: Ensure occurrences don’t conflict with other campaigns
- Document patterns: Use the description field to note the recurring intent
- Review periodically: Check recurring campaigns quarterly to ensure they’re still relevant
Common Questions #
Can I have multiple recurring campaigns? #
Yes. Each campaign has its own pattern. Use priorities to control which applies when they overlap.
What if I miss an occurrence? #
If the site was down during a scheduled occurrence, that occurrence is skipped. The next scheduled occurrence proceeds normally.
Can I skip one occurrence? #
Not directly. Options:
- Pause the campaign and resume after the occurrence would have passed
- Create a higher-priority campaign that overrides during that period
How are random products handled in recurring? #
If using “Random Products” selection, new random products are selected for each occurrence—different products each time the campaign runs.