Your customers’ phones are almost always within arm’s reach. Push notifications let you reach them there directly, with a timely message that can bring them straight back to your app or website.
Used well, push notifications are one of the most effective ways to remind customers about your business, promote offers and drive sales. Used badly, they’re annoying and quickly get switched off. The difference comes down to sending the right message, to the right people, at the right time.
In this article, we’ll explain what push notifications are, how they work and how businesses in different industries can use them to increase sales.
What Is a Push Notification?
A push notification is a short alert that pops up on someone’s phone, tablet or computer, even when they’re not using your app or visiting your website. It typically appears on the lock screen or at the top of the screen, with your business or app name and logo displayed.
A push notification might say something like: “Half-price sale on all flip-flops! Sale ends tonight at midnight!” Tapping the notification takes the user straight to the relevant page in your app or on your website.
There are two main types:
- App push notifications are sent to people who have downloaded your mobile app.
- Web push notifications are sent through a web browser to people who have agreed to receive them from your website. You don’t need an app for these, which makes them a great option for smaller businesses.
Either way, push notifications put your business back in front of customers who might not have been thinking about you at that moment.
Who Controls Push Notifications?
As a business, you control the push notifications you send. You can send or schedule them from your app or push notification dashboard. Depending on the platform you use, you may be able to target particular groups of users, such as people in a certain location, people who have bought from you before or people who left items in their basket.
Your customers have control too. They have to give permission before they receive any push notifications from you, and they can turn them off at any time. They can also use their device settings to choose how notifications appear, such as a banner, a lock screen alert or just a badge on your app icon.
This is why it’s so important to make every notification worth receiving. If your messages aren’t useful, people will simply switch them off.
Push Notifications for Different Industries
Push notifications work in the same way for every business, but the best approach depends on your industry. There’s no one-size-fits-all message. For example:
- Hospitality and leisure: let users know about room availability, special offers or last-minute deals.
- eCommerce and retail: promote sales and new arrivals, send back-in-stock alerts and remind shoppers about items left in their basket.
- Health and fitness: tell members when a class has spaces, is full or has been rescheduled or cancelled.
- Restaurants and takeaways: share daily specials, promote quiet-night deals or let customers know their order is on its way.
- Events and entertainment: announce ticket releases, remind people about upcoming events and share last-minute availability.
Tips for Push Notifications That Sell
- Keep it short and clear. You only have a few words to grab attention, so get straight to the point.
- Make it timely. Send messages when they’re most relevant, such as a lunch offer in the late morning or a “sale ends tonight” reminder in the afternoon.
- Personalise where you can. Messages based on a customer’s location, interests or past purchases are far more likely to be acted on.
- Include a clear next step. Make sure tapping the notification takes users straight to the relevant product, offer or page.
- Don’t overdo it. Too many notifications is the quickest way to get them switched off or your app deleted.
- Track your results. Keep an eye on how many people open your notifications and go on to buy, and use this to refine your messages over time.
Put Your Business in Your Customers’ Pocket
Push notifications let you reach your customers directly, putting your business on their mind at moments when they might not otherwise have thought of you. Used thoughtfully, they’re a powerful way to drive repeat visits and increase sales.
If you’d like help adding push notifications to your website or making the most of your digital marketing, get in touch] with Whelan Web Design. We’re a Waterford-based web design and digital marketing agency helping businesses across Ireland.
