Push notifications are one of the easiest (and most effective) ways to connect with your customers and drive sales - but there’s a bit of an art to getting them just right.

In this guide, we’ll break down what push notifications are, why they’re so valuable for your Shopify store, and how to use them in a way that boosts engagement and grows your business – all without overwhelming your customers.

Let’s jump in and see how push notifications can really work for your unique business… 

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What are push notifications and their purpose?

Push notifications are short, clickable messages that pop up right on a user’s mobile device from an app. For Shopify SMEs, they’re a powerful way to engage customers, drive traffic, and boost sales by sending timely updates and personalised offers straight to your customers’ screens.

To send push notifications, you’ll need to have a dedicated mobile app for your Shopify store. Think of it as the bridge that connects your products straight to your customers’ phones. With an app, you can easily ping them about promotions, order updates, and exciting new arrivals. 

Shopify mobile app builders make it straightforward to turn your store into a fully functional app, allowing you to really take full advantage of push notification marketing.

With just a few clicks, you can create and schedule notifications, segment your audience, and personalise messages. Plus, you can automate campaigns based on customer behaviour, all from one central place. 

All you need to do is get customers to opt in, and on average, around 60% of people agree to receive them. So don’t worry – people actually like getting push notifications, and it won’t be too hard to get them on board.

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Why are push notifications so important?

Push notifications are becoming more important than ever because mobile shopping is the go-to way for consumers to research, shop, and engage with brands. In fact, a huge 79% of Shopify sales happen on mobile. 

With smartphones glued to our hands pretty much all day, people are constantly using mobile apps to check out products, shop and connect with brands. And as shoppers shift to spending more time on their phones rather than desktop, push notifications offer an efficient, immediate way to communicate with them.

Push notifications land right on a customer’s home screen, so they’re pretty hard to miss – meaning your messages actually get noticed. It’s the perfect way to catch their eye and give them a little nudge about what you’ve got going on.

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What are the different types of push notifications?

Push notifications typically fall into four main categories – Transactional, Marketing, Informational, and Reminders – and each one plays a key role in improving the customer experience and driving sales.

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1 - Transactional

Transactional push notifications are automated messages triggered by a customer's interaction with your Shopify store, like customers placing an order.

They keep your customers updated with important info, like confirming their purchase, sharing order numbers, and sending tracking links once their item ships.

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2 - Marketing

Marketing push notifications are designed to engage customers, promote products, and drive sales directly through your Shopify mobile app. They’re perfect for highlighting special offers, product launches, or personalised recommendations to entice people back to your store.

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3 - Informational

Informational push notifications keep your customers updated on important, non-promotional messages related to your Shopify mobile app.

That could be notifying users about holiday delivery times, announcing app maintenance, sharing policy updates, or updating them on new blog posts and style guides, they help keep everyone in the know.

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4 - Reminders

Reminder push notifications are a great way to bring customers back by encouraging them to take action based on their activity in your Shopify store.

You can remind them about items they’ve left in their cart, alert them when a time-sensitive discount is about to expire, or even prompt them to reorder a product they’ve bought before.

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Benefits of sending push notifications

Push notifications offer a range of benefits that can help grow your Shopify store. Whether it’s boosting engagement or driving more sales, they give you a direct, personalised way to reach your audience and keep your brand top of mind.

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Cost & time-effective marketing tool 

Compared to marketing channels like paid ads or email campaigns, push notifications are incredibly effective in both time and cost. They’re super low-investment, yet deliver instant reach and results – no ongoing ad spend or time spent writing new emails. 

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Better communication & instant access to customers

Unlike emails that can easily get buried in inboxes, push notifications are seen right away, so you can communicate quickly and directly. This makes them perfect for things like flash sales, limited-time offers, or urgent updates. 

In fact, stats show that emails usually have a click-through rate of just 1-2%, while push notifications get an average click-through rate of 28% - pretty impressive. 

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Increased customer engagement & loyalty

Push notifications keep your audience hooked by sending timely updates, personalised offers, and little reminders to come back to your store. By consistently sharing relevant content, you’ll build stronger connections with your customers and create long-term loyalty.

For example, sending out birthday discounts or exclusive, app-only, VIP offers through push notifications makes customers feel special and more likely to keep shopping with you.

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Valuable data & insights 

​​Every time you send a push notification, you’re collecting valuable data about your customer’s behavior and preferences.

By looking at open rates, click-through rates, and which notifications actually get people to act, you can fine-tune your messages and make sure future campaigns match your audience’s interests.

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Enhanced user experience 

Push notifications make the whole shopping experience smoother by sending helpful updates straight to your customers’ devices.

Whether it's an order confirmation, a shipping update, or a back-in-stock alert, these notifications keep everything in the loop and save customers the hassle of searching for information manually.

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Boost sales through upsell and cross-sell

Push notifications are a great way to boost your revenue with upselling and cross-selling. By suggesting complementary products or showcasing popular items, you can encourage customers to check out more of what you offer and add a little extra to their cart.

For example, if you let a customer know about complementary accessories that go perfectly with a product they just bought, you're more likely to make an extra sale. It’s a simple way to boost your store’s average order value (AOV).

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How push notifications can be used to drive in-app purchases 

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Creating urgency

Creating a sense of urgency is a super effective way to boost in-app purchases with push notifications. Sending out limited-time offers or countdowns taps right into your customers' FOMO (fear of missing out), making them feel like they need to act fast before it’s too late.

For example, you can send a push notification saying, “Hurry! 24 hours left to get 30% off your favourite items!”.

It’s especially effective during peak shopping events like Shopify Black Friday Cyber Monday when shoppers are on the lookout for the best deals and discounts. 

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Sending timely notifications 

Sending notifications at just the right time is crucial for driving in-app purchases. By knowing when your customers are most likely to make purchases - such as during peak shopping hours, lunch breaks, or just before bed - you can send messages at those perfect moments to grab their attention.

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Personalising messages

Personalising your messages is one of the best ways to boost in-app purchases and strengthen your relationship with customers. When you tailor notifications based on their past purchases, browsing habits, and preferences, it makes the offers feel more personal and relevant, instead of just another generic message.

For example, if a customer frequently buys skincare products, you can let them know when a new moisturiser or exclusive serum launches, or even when a skincare item they’ve bought previously is back in stock. 

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Using social proof 

Using social proof in push notifications helps build trust and can really boost in-app purchases. It’s all about showing that others love and trust your products - whether it’s highlighting that people are already taking advantage of an offer, or sharing quick testimonials from happy customers.

By showcasing what other customers are doing and saying, social proof helps ease any hesitation and creates a sense of urgency, encouraging more people to hit "buy".

And it’s not just a feeling - 93% of shoppers say social proof, such as reviews, plays a big role in their buying decisions. 

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Re-engagement messages 

Re-engagement messages are a great way to bring back customers who haven’t been active in a while, sparking their interest and getting them to check out your store again. These notifications can highlight new arrivals, special offers, or even remind them about loyalty points waiting to be redeemed.

For example, you could send a message like, “We miss you! Here’s 10% off your next order – come see what’s new!” 

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Providing incentives

Everyone loves a good incentive.

And providing incentives through push notifications is a proven way to drive in-app purchases by giving customers that extra reason to buy. This can include offering limited-time discounts, free shipping, loyalty points, or exclusive early access to new products. 

This gives customers that feeling of getting a great deal and motivates them to grab it while they can. 81% of consumers say they’re more likely to engage with a brand that offers an incentive. Plus, offering incentives helps build long-term loyalty and keeps your brand fresh in their minds!

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Send cart abandonment reminders

Cart abandonment reminders are a great way to win back lost sales and drive in-app purchases. Sending a gentle push notification about the items they’ve left behind can nudge customers to come back and complete their purchase.

These reminders act as helpful prompts, often paired with incentives like free shipping or limited-time discounts to sweeten the deal. 

Since cart abandonment is one of the biggest pain points for Shopify store owners, timely and well-crafted reminders can really help to reduce & recover those lost sales. 

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Introducing new products & collections

Introducing new products and collections through push notifications is a great way to generate excitement and interest. By letting customers know as soon as new items drop, you create a sense of exclusivity and keep your audience engaged with the latest from your store.

This approach works especially well for limited-edition releases or seasonal collections. For example, you could send notifications like, “Just in! Our summer collection has arrived - shop the latest trends now!’

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What makes good push notification content?

When creating push notifications for your Shopify app, keep content fun, valuable, and straight to the point. The best push notifications are the ones that catch your customer’s eye without being too overwhelming.

Remember, mobile screens are small, so there’s no room for lengthy paragraphs or complicated sentences. Keep it short, clear, and straight to the point so your customers get the message (and the offer) in just a few seconds.

Timing is everything when it comes to push notifications. Sending messages at just the right moment can significantly boost the chances of your customers taking action. It also helps your notifications stand out when they’re most likely to engage. Pay attention to when your customers are active – and definitely avoid pinging them at inconvenient hours.

Making your push notifications relevant is super important if you want them to be as effective as possible. Customers are way more likely to engage when the message actually speaks to their interests or needs. When you tailor your messages to what your customers care about, it makes every notification feel more personal and meaningful.

Finally, don’t overdo it with push notifications! They’re a great way to engage customers, but sending too many can get annoying fast – and nobody wants that. Make each notification count by focusing on quality over quantity, really putting thought into the content, and sending notifications that offer real value to your customers. 

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If you’d like to learn more about how sending push notifications from your own Shopify mobile app can grow your business, get in touch with one of our friendly experts at StoreLab.