Send messages at the optimal time in each contact's local timezone to maximize engagement and ensure compliance with business hours.
Overview
Heymarket automatically detects and stores each contact's timezone based on their phone number's area code. This enables you to:
- Send messages at the same time of day across different timezones
- Respect local business hours and quiet hour policies
- Improve message engagement by timing sends for optimal local times
How Timezone Assignment Works
When a contact is created, Heymarket automatically assigns a timezone based on the first three digits of their phone number (area code):
Example: Area code 415 > America/Los_Angeles (Pacific Time)
If a contact moves or changes their number, you can manually override their timezone at any time.
Managing Contact Timezones
View and edit timezone on individual contact records:
Steps:
- Open a contact record
- Locate the Timezone field on the right sidebar
- Click Select Timezone to view available options
- Choose the correct timezone for the contact
Using Timezones in Campaigns
When creating or scheduling a campaign, you have two options:
Option 1: Specific Timezone
All messages in the campaign send at the selected time in that single timezone.
- Use case: Your inbox operates in one timezone and you want to send all messages at the same time
- Example: Send all campaign messages at 9 AM Pacific Time
Option 2: Each Contact's Timezone
Messages send at the selected time in each recipient's local timezone, maximizing engagement across geographies.
- Timezone source: Determined by contact's phone area code
- Fallback: Contacts without a timezone assignment use the inbox's default timezone
- Example: Schedule a campaign to send at 9 AM each contact's local time. Contacts on the East Coast receive it at 9 AM ET, contacts on the West Coast at 9 AM PT.
Quiet Hours & Business Hours
When using Each contact's timezone, Heymarket respects both the contact's and your inbox's business hours:
- If the scheduled send time falls outside either timezone's business hours, the message is held
- The message sends automatically at the next available time that overlaps both business hour windows
- If no overlap exists within 3 days, the message will not be sent
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How is timezone determined?
A: Timezone is automatically assigned based on the first three digits (area code) of the contact's phone number using a static U.S. area code mapping. Example: 415, 510, 650 → America/Los_Angeles
Q: Can I manually override a contact's timezone?
A: Yes. Open the contact record and select a different timezone from the dropdown. This override persists and is not affected by future edits to the contact.
Q: What happens if a contact has no timezone?
A: In campaigns using "Each contact's timezone," contacts without a timezone default to your inbox's timezone setting.
Q: Does timezone support international numbers?
A: Currently, timezone detection is limited to U.S. area codes. International support is on the roadmap.
Q: What if I schedule a message outside of business hours?
A: When using "Each contact's timezone," messages scheduled during quiet hours are automatically queued and sent during the next available business hours overlap. If no overlap exists within 3 days, the message is not sent.
Best Practices
- Use "Each contact's timezone" for national campaigns to maximize engagement
- Verify timezone accuracy for contacts who have relocated or changed phone numbers
- Set your inbox business hours to ensure messages respect your team's availability across timezones
- Monitor send timing in campaign reports to optimize send windows