Configure Wait Times
Space out your follow-ups naturally. Too fast feels aggressive, too slow loses momentum. Wait times control the cadence of your outreach.
How wait times work
Each step (except the first) has a wait days setting. This is the number of days WorkOnward Reach waits after sending the previous step before sending the current one.
Step 1: Sent immediately when contact is enrolled
Step 2: Sent 3 days after Step 1
Step 3: Sent 5 days after Step 2Setting wait times
- Open your sequence
- Click on a step
- Set the Wait days value
- Save
The first step in a sequence has no wait time — it sends as soon as the contact is enrolled (according to the campaign’s send window).
How timing interacts with campaigns
Wait times work in conjunction with your campaign’s send settings:
- Send window — Emails only go out during your configured hours (e.g., 9 AM - 5 PM)
- Send days — Emails only send on selected days (e.g., Monday-Friday)
- Daily send cap — Only a limited number of emails per day
If a step is “due” on a Saturday but your campaign only sends Monday-Friday, the email sends on Monday instead.
Recommended cadences
| Sequence type | Step 1 → 2 | Step 2 → 3 | Step 3 → 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggressive (event follow-up) | 1 day | 2 days | 3 days |
| Standard (cold outreach) | 3 days | 4 days | 5 days |
| Gentle (executive outreach) | 5 days | 7 days | 10 days |
Tips
- Don’t wait too long between Step 1 and 2 — Your first follow-up should arrive while you’re still top of mind
- Increase gaps gradually — Each subsequent step can wait a bit longer
- Match your audience — Busy executives need more breathing room than startup founders
- Account for weekends — A 3-day wait set on Thursday means the email goes out on Sunday (unless you restrict send days)
Next step: Use templates in your steps