Wondering why customers ignore your campaigns despite all the effort you put in? ๐ค
Traditional advertising loses its bite over time. A push notification from your store app reaches your customer at the moment that matters and opens a door to real engagement. The difference between a notification that gets tapped and one that gets swiped away is rarely the offer, it is the wording and the timing. In this guide, you'll learn which app notifications to send, when to send them, and how to write ones that make a customer act immediately.
A notification works when it reaches the right person at the right moment with words worth tapping. Keep it short, lead with the benefit rather than the feature, add a personal detail such as the customer's name, give a reason to act now, and match the timing to what the customer just did.
๐ Article overview
- Why marketing notifications work
- The types of notification you can send
- Six ways to write a notification that stands out
- Frequently asked questions
โ Why do marketing notifications work?
โ People do not ignore notifications on their phone as easily as other messages.
โ Notifications arrive at the right time and in the right place.
โ Open rates for notifications are higher than for email or traditional advertising.
In short: a good notification = smart presence + perfect timing + persuasive words.
๐ The types of notification you can send
Notifications can reach a customer in the app from several different triggers:
Notification type |
Practical examples |
Best timing |
Marketing goal |
Tips to make it work harder |
Welcome notifications |
"Welcome to our store! Explore our new arrivals and take 10% off your first order." |
Immediately after signup |
Start the relationship and spark curiosity |
Add a personal touch such as the customer's name, and put a time limit on the offer to encourage a quick decision. |
Order confirmation notifications |
"We've received your order. We'll start preparing it right away." |
As soon as the order is placed |
Reassure the customer and build trust |
Keep the tone positive, and include the order number and the tracking link. |
Shipping and delivery status notifications |
"Your order is on its way ๐" |
When the order status changes |
Keep the customer informed throughout |
Keep the message short and clear, and do not repeat it more often than the customer needs. |
Abandoned cart notifications |
"Your items are still waiting. Finish your order before they sell out." |
30 to 60 minutes after the cart is left |
Recover lost sales |
Use a friendly tone, and try adding an incentive such as a short-lived discount. |
Re-engagement notifications (inactive customers) |
"We've missed you! Try our new products and get free shipping." |
Two weeks to a month after the last interaction |
Win customers back |
Use appealing images, or genuine updates about products that are actually new. |
Loyalty and rewards notifications |
"You've earned 500 points. Redeem them for SAR 25 off." |
When the customer hits a points milestone |
Encourage repeat purchases |
Link the notification to your loyalty program, and spell out what the points are actually worth in money. |
Sale and offer notifications |
"The weekend sale is live! Up to 50% off skincare." |
When the offer launches, or a few hours before it ends |
Drive quick sales |
Use urgency wording such as "for a limited time" or "while stocks last". |
Personalized recommendation notifications |
"Based on what you've bought before, we think you'll love this." |
After a purchase, or after repeated browsing |
Increase average order value |
Use AI or the customer's preferred categories to tailor the recommendation. |
Review reminder notifications |
"Rate your experience with our product and help us get better." |
Three days after the order arrives |
Build credibility and collect more reviews |
Offer a small discount in return for a review, or entry into a token prize draw. |
Personal occasion notifications |
"Happy birthday! Our gift to you is 15% off anything you buy today ๐" |
On the day itself |
Build a strong personal relationship |
Check that the customer's details are accurate, and make the gift feel special and simple to use. |
Seasonal event notifications |
"Ramadan is nearly here. Get your store ready with standout offers!" |
A few days before the season starts |
Prepare for the season and lift demand |
Tie the message to the season, and pair it with visuals that suit the occasion. |
Subscription renewal and expiry notifications |
"Your free delivery subscription expires in three days. Renew it now!" |
Three days before the subscription expires |
Reduce the loss of repeat customers |
Put renewal one tap away with a direct button inside the message. |
Back-in-stock notifications |
"Your favorite product is back in stock. Be quick before it goes again." |
When the stock status is updated |
Recover an order you had already lost |
Include a direct link to buy, and write it with energy. |
New content notifications |
"Read our new guide to setting up your store like a professional." |
When you publish an article or a useful update |
Increase engagement with your content |
Lead with the benefit in the headline, along the lines of "Find out how..." or "How to get...". |
Technical update and new feature notifications |
"We've added automatic price scheduling. Turn it on now." |
Straight after the feature launches |
Raise awareness so the feature gets used |
Explain the practical benefit in plain language instead of listing technical detail. |
Emergency and outage notifications |
"We're running temporary maintenance and will be back in a few minutes." |
While the outage is happening |
Protect trust and reduce anxiety |
Be transparent and specific about how long it will take, and apologize politely. |
Post-support notifications |
"Your ticket has been resolved. Is there anything else we can help with?" |
After the ticket is closed |
Raise satisfaction and improve the experience |
Add a link to rate the service, which strengthens the customer's confidence in your support. |
Referral notifications |
"Share our store with your friends and earn SAR 20 credit for every successful referral!" |
After the customer's first purchase |
Increase organic word of mouth |
Use action words such as "earn", "invite", and "share" to prompt participation. |
Newsletter signup reminders |
"Follow us and be first to hear about our offers." |
After the customer browses without subscribing |
Build your email list |
Use a clear call to action such as "Subscribe now and get 10% off". |
We also recommend going deeper with writing ads that drive direct response and capture your target audience's attention.
๐ฏ Six ways to write a notification that stands out
1. Tailor the offer to what you actually sell
Put the spotlight on real value the customer gets from your product.
๐ก Example: "Take SAR 50 off when you spend SAR 250 or more in the app, because the fun starts with the first tap!"
2. Write lines that create curiosity
Make the customer feel they will miss something if they do not open the notification.
๐ก Example: "Be the first to wear the new Sumou abaya, before anyone else. Plus a free scarf when you buy in the app ๐ซ"
3. Speak to feeling before logic
Tie the message to a real emotion: comfort, saving money, happiness.
๐ก Example: "A desert trip isn't the same without your favorite kit. 10% off hunting gear in our app, today only."
4. Lead with the benefit, not the feature
Customers buy the result, not the description.
๐ก Example: "Get the affiliate marketing course and start earning within a week, straight from the app."
5. Show what sets you apart
Let the notification carry your store's own identity.
๐ก Example: "Buy a 24-bottle water pack in the app and get another one free, because thirst doesn't wait."
6. Give loyal customers their own notifications
Send exclusive messages by name, or based on what the customer has bought before.
๐ก Example: "Just for you, Mohammed! A free signed copy of the new novel when you buy from the app today ๐"
๐ Important notes
- Timing is part of the message. The same words land differently 30 minutes after an abandoned cart and three days later.
- Send too many notifications and customers turn them off entirely. Every notification you send should be worth the interruption.
Read more:
- How to make customers aware your store has an app
- Encourage customers to buy from your store app again
- Tools that help you understand how your store app is performing
โ Frequently asked questions
How long should a notification be?
Short enough to read at a glance. One clear idea, one reason to act, and a link that takes the customer straight to it.
When should I send an abandoned cart notification?
Between 30 and 60 minutes after the customer leaves the cart, while the intent to buy is still fresh. Keep the tone friendly, and consider adding a short-lived discount.
How often can I send notifications without annoying customers?
There is no fixed number, but repetition is what pushes people to switch notifications off. Send when you have something genuinely worth their attention, and avoid repeating the same status update.
Should every notification include a discount?
No. A discount helps where you are recovering a sale or asking for something, such as an abandoned cart, a review, or a referral. Order confirmations, delivery updates, and outage notices work on clarity, not incentives.
What makes a notification worth opening?
A benefit the customer recognizes, a hint of curiosity, and something personal, whether that is their name, their loyalty points, or a product they already looked at.
A short notification can be the shortest route to a purchase, if it is written intelligently.
Treat every notification as a chance to build a relationship, not just to run a campaign.