---
schema_version: "1"
id: 1c8e8bf9ee847f7425a645668525623aaef306c49d78e154d314c876d2b33315
title: Use the Einstein Send Time Optimization Activity
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/mktg/264-0-0/mc_jb_use_einstein_sto.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_use_einstein_sto.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 2a0e51062eabb1b81ec55a07941a2977f4bb553c9b1fb864e684aaa435fb7d72
description: Add the Einstein Send Time Optimization (STO) activity immediately before an email or push notification activity in a customer journey to maximize the chance that recipients engage with your message. When a contact reaches the activity, Einstein finds the best upcoming hour to send, starting at the beginning of the next hour.
products:
  - Marketing
  - Marketing Cloud Engagement
release: "264"
---
# Use the Einstein Send Time Optimization Activity

Add the Einstein Send Time Optimization (STO) activity immediately before an email or push notification activity in a customer journey to maximize the chance that recipients engage with your message. When a contact reaches the activity, Einstein finds the best upcoming hour to send, starting at the beginning of the next hour.

![Tip](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-mktg-mc_journeys_and_automations-264-0-0-production-enus/e08cdd71-c1c1-4ae5-a5e9-8a6dad583ad4/images/icon_tip.png)

Tip Add an Einstein Send Time Optimization activity before each email or push notification activity.

1. Drag the Einstein STO activity to a position immediately before the email or push notification activity you want to optimize.
2. Click the activity.
3. Select the period that Einstein optimizes send times for.
    
    1. To use a custom time frame, first click **Next 12 hours**, **Next 24 hours**, **Next 48 hours**, **Next 72 hours**, or **Next 7 days**.
    2. Click **Custom**.
    3. Drag the slider to set the custom time frame, which is shown on the right end of the slider.
    
    ![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-mktg-mc_journeys_and_automations-264-0-0-production-enus/e08cdd71-c1c1-4ae5-a5e9-8a6dad583ad4/images/icon_note.png)
    
    Note When a contact reaches the activity, the contact is eligible to be sent your message beginning in the first minute of the next full hour. Messages are sent only at the beginning of the best hour to send, even if a contact reaches the **Einstein Send Time Optimization** activity later during the hour.
4. To include a control path to test your send time optimization against, use the Random Send Option.
5. Click **Done**.

#### See Also

- [Activate Einstein Send Time Optimization](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_activate_einstein_sto.htm&language=en_US)