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Deliverability Letter

Wait Step

Also known as: Delay, Pause Step, Time Delay

A wait step is a delay in an email automation that holds the next action for a set amount of time. It keeps messages spaced out so subscribers are not hit with too much at once.

A wait step is a pause in an email workflow. It tells your system to hold the next email or action for a certain amount of time. That might be a few hours, a couple of days, or until a set date. It is the breathing room between messages so people are not flooded with email.

Wait steps control the rhythm of a sequence. They help you choose when a welcome email is followed by tips, offers, or reminders. With the right gaps, people have time to open, read, and act before the next touch. This makes your automation feel steady instead of pushy.

A simple way to start is to use shorter waits at the beginning of a journey and longer waits later on. For example, send a welcome email, wait two days, then send a getting started guide. After that, you might wait five to seven days before the next message. Review performance and adjust the timing to match how your audience behaves.