Landing Page Countdown

Overview

Landing Page Countdown lets you create one or more branded countdown screens that temporarily block a selected page, post, or URL path until a launch date.

Setup

1. Go to Countdown Pages in the WordPress admin.
2. Select Add New.
3. Add a title for internal reference.
4. Choose whether the countdown blocks a page/post or a custom URL path.
5. Set the countdown date and time.
6. Add any optional message, lead capture form, logo/photo, background image, and countdown styling.
7. Choose what happens when the countdown reaches zero.
8. Publish the Countdown Page.

Only published Countdown Pages affect front-end visitors.

Target Options

Use Page or Post when the blocked content already exists as WordPress content.

Use URL Path when you need to block a path directly, such as /launch/. Full URLs are accepted, but only the path portion is matched. The plugin compares site-relative paths, so WordPress subdirectory installs are handled.

Countdown Date

The countdown date and time use the site’s configured WordPress timezone. If the countdown date is empty, the Countdown Page will not block the target.

Message

The optional message appears above or below the countdown. It uses the WordPress rich text editor and supports shortcodes, so you can include formatted launch copy, forms, buttons, or other shortcode-powered content.

Lead Capture

Lead Capture adds a built-in email signup form to the countdown page. You can customize:

• Whether the form is enabled
• Whether it appears above the countdown, below the countdown, or below the message
• Email field placeholder text
• Button text
• Success message

Subscriber records are stored with the Countdown Page. Duplicate email addresses are ignored so exports stay clean. To export subscribers, open the Countdown Page editor and use Export Subscribers CSV in the Launch Tools box.

Reviewer Bypass

Reviewer Bypass creates a private URL parameter that lets trusted people see the original target before launch. Enable the bypass option, save the Countdown Page, and copy the generated URL from the Launch Tools box.

Disable the bypass option when you no longer need pre-launch review access.

Launch Insights

The Countdown Pages list includes target, status, countdown date, lead count, view count, and end action columns. The Launch Tools box also shows total views, subscriber count, and the last viewed time for the individual Countdown Page.

Logo/Photo

The optional logo/photo can appear:

• Above the message
• Below the message
• Above the countdown
• Below the countdown

Countdown Styling

Countdown styling includes:

• Font family
• Minimum font size
• Maximum font size
• Countdown color
• Message color
• Background color

The plugin calculates a CSS clamp() value from the minimum and maximum font sizes so the countdown scales across mobile and desktop screens without requiring a separate responsive size setting.

Background Image

The optional background image fills the countdown screen. A dark overlay is added automatically so the countdown remains readable. If no image is selected, the configured background color fills the page.

End Behavior

Each Countdown Page can choose one of two behaviors after the countdown expires:

• Show original page: visitors see the blocked page, post, or path normally.
• Keep showing countdown at 00:00:00: visitors continue to see the countdown page with all timer values held at zero.

Uninstall Cleanup

Uninstalling the plugin permanently deletes all Countdown Pages and their stored settings, stats, bypass tokens, and subscriber records.

Changelog

1.0.0 – 2026-05-01

• Add Edit and View hover actions for targets in the Countdown Pages admin list.
• Add target links in the Countdown Pages admin list.
• Fix below-message lead capture placement when the message is shown below the countdown.
• Fix expired countdowns so the original page is shown immediately when Show original page is selected.
• Add Countdown Pages for blocking selected pages, posts, or URL paths until a configured launch time.
• Add lead capture forms with customizable text, subscriber storage, deduplication, and CSV export.
• Add reviewer bypass links for trusted pre-launch access to blocked targets.
• Add countdown insights for status, views, last viewed time, and subscriber totals.
• Add inline field instructions, top-aligned admin fields, rich text message editing, and improved media upload spacing.
• Add shortcode-enabled rich text message content with above or below countdown placement.
• Add logo/photo and background image uploads with configurable logo/photo placement.
• Add automatic responsive countdown clamp sizing from minimum and maximum font sizes, plus countdown, message, and background color controls.
• Add end behavior for showing original content or holding the countdown at 00:00:00.
• Add plugin listing Settings link, uninstall cleanup, compatibility guards, updater integration, and translation files.