Send Now and Scheduling Controls

Configuring Send Now and Scheduling Restrictions

Overview

Scheduling Restrictions allow account owners to control whether users can send campaigns immediately, schedule campaigns for later delivery, or both.

When scheduling is enabled, you can also define:

• How far in advance a campaign must be scheduled
• How far into the future a campaign may be scheduled

These settings apply across the SmarterSends account to email, SMS, push, and in-app campaigns.

Accessing Scheduling Restrictions

Only the account owner can change Scheduling Restrictions.

1. Sign in to SmarterSends as the account owner.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Select Restriction Settings.
4. Locate the Scheduling Restrictions section.

Changes are saved automatically when a setting is updated.

Send Now

Enable Send Now to allow users to send campaigns immediately.

When Send Now is disabled:

• The Send Now option is unavailable during campaign creation.
• Users must schedule campaigns for a future date and time.
• The Minimum Schedule Time and Maximum Schedule Days settings apply.

Disabling Send Now is useful when campaigns must be prepared in advance, reviewed before delivery, or coordinated with other communications.

Schedule

Enable Schedule to allow users to select a future delivery date and time.

When Schedule is disabled:

• The scheduling option is unavailable during campaign creation.
• Users must use Send Now.
• Minimum Schedule Time and Maximum Schedule Days are not shown because future scheduling is unavailable.

Disabling scheduling is useful when campaigns must always be sent immediately and users should not create future deployments.

Enabling Both Options

When Send Now and Schedule are both enabled, users can choose whether to send a campaign immediately or schedule it for a future date.

This is the default and most flexible configuration.

Disabling Both Options

If both Send Now and Schedule are disabled, users cannot send or schedule campaigns.

When a user attempts to create a campaign, SmarterSends displays a Sending Disabled message and directs them to contact an administrator.

Disabling both options can be useful when campaign sending must be temporarily paused across the account.

Minimum Schedule Time

Minimum Schedule Time defines how many minutes in advance a campaign must be scheduled.

For example:

• A value of 0 adds no additional lead-time requirement.
• A value of 30 requires campaigns to be scheduled at least 30 minutes in advance.
• A value of 1,440 requires campaigns to be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.

If a user selects a delivery time that is too soon, SmarterSends displays a message similar to:

Campaigns must be scheduled at least 30 minutes in the future.

The user must select a later delivery time before continuing.

Minimum Schedule Time applies only to scheduled campaigns. It does not prevent Send Now when Send Now is enabled.

Maximum Schedule Days

Maximum Schedule Days defines how many days into the future a campaign may be scheduled.

For example:

• A value of 7 allows campaigns to be scheduled up to seven days in advance.
• A value of 30 allows campaigns to be scheduled up to 30 days in advance.
• A value of 90 allows campaigns to be scheduled up to 90 days in advance.

The value must be at least one day.

Dates beyond the configured maximum are unavailable in the scheduling calendar. If a campaign’s delivery time exceeds the maximum, SmarterSends displays a message similar to:

Campaigns cannot be scheduled more than 30 days in the future.

The user must select an earlier delivery date before continuing.

Example Configurations

Require Advance Scheduling

Send Now: Disabled

Schedule: Enabled

Minimum Schedule Time: 60 minutes

Maximum Schedule Days: 30 days

Users must schedule every campaign at least one hour in advance and no more than 30 days into the future.

Allow Immediate or Scheduled Sending

Send Now: Enabled

Schedule: Enabled

Minimum Schedule Time: 15 minutes

Maximum Schedule Days: 90 days

Users can send immediately or schedule a campaign between 15 minutes and 90 days in advance.

Immediate Sending Only

Send Now: Enabled

Schedule: Disabled

Users can send campaigns immediately but cannot schedule future delivery.

Temporarily Pause All Sending

Send Now: Disabled

Schedule: Disabled

Users cannot send or schedule campaigns until one or both options are enabled again.

What Users See

The campaign creation screen reflects the available sending options:

• Disabled options are shown as unavailable.
• When Send Now is disabled, the campaign is placed in scheduling mode.
• When Schedule is disabled, the campaign remains in Send Now mode.
• The scheduling calendar prevents users from selecting dates beyond the maximum scheduling horizon.
• The campaign summary displays an explanation when the selected time violates the minimum or maximum setting.

Scheduling and Approval Workflows

Scheduling Restrictions apply whether a user can send campaigns directly or must submit them for review or approval.

A campaign submitted into an approval workflow must still use a delivery time that satisfies the Minimum Schedule Time and Maximum Schedule Days settings.

Approvers should confirm that sufficient time remains to complete the approval process before the scheduled delivery time.

Interaction With Other Restrictions

Scheduling Restrictions work together with Blackout Dates and Send Limits.

Blackout Dates

Campaigns cannot be sent or scheduled on an applicable Blackout Date. If today is a Blackout Date, Send Now is unavailable even when it is normally enabled.

Send Limits

A campaign that satisfies the scheduling rules may still be blocked if it exceeds an applicable message or recipient limit.

A campaign must satisfy every applicable restriction before it can be sent or scheduled.

Important Notes

• Scheduling Restrictions apply across the account and are not assigned to individual groups.
• Minimum Schedule Time is measured from the current time.
• Maximum Schedule Days is measured from the current date.
• Campaign dates and times are displayed using the user’s configured timezone.
• Updating these settings does not automatically cancel or reschedule campaigns that were previously scheduled.
• Blackout Dates may reduce the dates available within the permitted scheduling window.