Setting Campaign Dates
4 min read
Smart Cycle Discounts provides flexible scheduling options that let you control exactly when campaigns start and end. This guide covers all date and time configuration options available in Step 4 of the Campaign Wizard.
Schedule Configuration Overview #
The Schedule step (Step 4) allows you to define:
- When the campaign starts — Immediately or at a specific date/time
- When the campaign ends — Specific date/time or runs indefinitely
- Recurring patterns (Pro) — Daily, weekly, or monthly repetition
Quick Duration Presets #
For common campaign durations, use the preset buttons to auto-fill dates:
| Preset | Duration | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Sale | 24 hours | Urgent, limited-time offers |
| Weekend Deal | 3 days (Fri-Sun) | Weekend promotions |
| Weekly Sale | 7 days | Standard promotional periods |
| Monthly Campaign | 30 days | Month-long promotions |
| Custom | Manual entry | Any specific duration |
Clicking a preset automatically sets the end date based on your start date selection.
Start Date Options #
Start Immediately #
The campaign activates as soon as you publish it.
- No start date/time configuration needed
- Campaign becomes active instantly upon clicking “Launch Campaign”
- Best for: Urgent promotions, immediate needs
Scheduled Start #
The campaign activates at a specific date and time in the future.
Date Selection #
- Click the calendar icon to open the date picker
- Select the desired start date
- Dates in the past are disabled
Time Selection #
- Choose the start hour (00-23 in 24-hour format)
- Choose the start minute (00, 15, 30, 45)
- Time is in your WordPress site’s timezone
Example Configurations #
| Scenario | Start Date | Start Time |
|---|---|---|
| Black Friday midnight launch | Nov 29, 2025 | 00:00 |
| Morning business hours | Dec 1, 2025 | 09:00 |
| Weekend start | Saturday | 00:00 |
End Date Options #
Set End Date #
The campaign automatically deactivates at the specified date and time.
Date Selection #
- Click the calendar icon to open the date picker
- Select the desired end date
- Must be after the start date
Time Selection #
- Choose the end hour (00-23)
- Choose the end minute (00, 15, 30, 45)
- Common choices: 23:59 (end of day) or 00:00 (start of next day)
No End Date (Runs Indefinitely) #
Leave the end date empty for campaigns that should run until manually stopped.
- Campaign remains active until you pause or delete it
- Useful for: Evergreen discounts, ongoing member benefits, loyalty programs
- Health system may show reminders to review long-running campaigns
Date/Time Display Format #
Dates and times are displayed in your WordPress site’s configured format:
| Setting Location | What It Affects |
|---|---|
| Settings → General → Date Format | How dates appear (e.g., December 25, 2025 vs 25/12/2025) |
| Settings → General → Time Format | 12-hour vs 24-hour display |
| Settings → General → Timezone | Which timezone dates/times reference |
Campaign Duration Examples #
Flash Sale (24 Hours) #
Start: December 15, 2025 at 09:00 End: December 16, 2025 at 09:00 Duration: Exactly 24 hours
Weekend Sale (Friday-Sunday) #
Start: Friday, December 19, 2025 at 00:00 End: Monday, December 22, 2025 at 00:00 Duration: Full weekend (72 hours)
Holiday Season #
Start: December 1, 2025 at 00:00 End: December 31, 2025 at 23:59 Duration: Entire month of December
Black Friday to Cyber Monday #
Start: November 28, 2025 at 00:00 (Black Friday) End: December 2, 2025 at 00:00 (after Cyber Monday) Duration: 4 days
Validation Rules #
The wizard validates your date selections:
| Rule | Error Message |
|---|---|
| Start date cannot be in the past | “Start date must be in the future” |
| End date must be after start date | “End date must be after start date” |
| Minimum duration check | “Campaign duration too short” (if less than 1 hour) |
Best Practices #
- Plan ahead: Schedule campaigns at least a few hours before start time to allow for review
- Use midnight starts: 00:00 start times are cleaner for marketing messages (“Starting December 1st”)
- End at 23:59: Ending at 23:59 ensures the full last day is included
- Consider timezones: If you have international customers, note that times are in your WordPress timezone
- Review long campaigns: For campaigns without end dates, set calendar reminders to review periodically
- Allow buffer time: Don’t start campaigns exactly when you need them—build in time for last-minute changes
Editing Scheduled Campaigns #
You can modify dates on existing campaigns:
Before Start Date #
- Full flexibility to change start and end dates
- Campaign remains in “Scheduled” status
After Start (Active Campaign) #
- Can extend or shorten end date
- Cannot change start date (already passed)
- Changes take effect immediately
After End (Expired Campaign) #
- Can set new dates to reactivate
- Campaign will return to “Scheduled” or “Active” status
Combining with Recurring Schedules #
For campaigns that repeat on a pattern, see the Recurring Campaigns documentation. Recurring campaigns are a Pro feature and use the start/end dates as the pattern boundaries, with individual occurrences generated automatically.
