Push Notifications for Ecommerce & Retail Brands (A-Z Guide)

Push notifications are the #1 reason for ecommerce brands to build a mobile app.

They're fast, direct, personal, effective, and basically zero-cost. They're versatile: you can use push notifications to drive serious revenue (we've had worked with brands that made $200-$300k per month from push), or you can use them just to build awareness.

Yet they're still criminally underutilized.

In this guide, we'll give DTC and retail ecommerce brands everything they need to know to start using push notifications to their full potential.

From a high-level overview of push notifications, to different use cases for ecommerce push notifications, the best push notification examples (real pushes from real brands), and best practices to follow, this article is a complete guide to help you increase retention, customer loyalty and LTV in a big way.

If that sounds good, keep reading.

MobiLoud helps you leverage the full power of push notifications, by converting your website into native mobile apps. Want to see how easy it is? Get a free preview now.

What are Push Notifications?

Push notifications are short, clickable messages that appear directly on a user’s device - either their smartphone or desktop/laptop.

There are two different types of push notifications that ecommerce brands should know about:

• Mobile push notifications: Sent through a mobile app to a user’s phone or tablet. These appear on the lock screen, notification center, or even as banners while the device is in use. (they don't require the app to be open, like an in-app message).
• Web push notifications: Delivered through browsers like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox, even when a user isn’t actively on your website. These can reach users on desktop or Android devices, but have more limitations (especially on iOS).

Note that we'll be focusing on mobile app push notifications, as these are the most prevalent and effective type of push notifications.

(Check out a deeper breakdown of web vs mobile app push notifications)

Why Are Push Notifications So Effective for Online Stores?

When it comes to engaging mobile shoppers, it's tough to match the ROI of push notifications.

Here’s why push notifications work so well for ecommerce:

• They're immediate: Messages land directly on a user’s screen, often drawing instant visibility and prompting action within seconds.
• They're low-noise: Unlike email or social media, push doesn’t compete in a crowded feed or inbox.
• They're cost-effective: Push notifications are free to send; there's no cost per message like SMS.
• They're high-converting: High visibility, high engagement rates, and low friction (users can get straight into the app with one tap) leads to impressive conversion rates.
• You're in full control: Push is an owned channel. No deliverability issues like email, no throttling your reach like social. No ad spend. Just a direct line to your best customers.

Push notifications are a powerful part of your retention toolkit. They're more direct than email, more cost-effective and versatile than SMS (but work perfectly in concert with your other retention channels - not in competition).

Use Cases & Types of Push Notifications for Ecommerce

One of the best things about push notifications is how versatile they are for ecommerce & retail brands.

There are many ways to use push. You can use them as a direct response channel (for promotions, launches or product recommendations), an engagement channel (quick prompts to stimulate action), or simply an awareness play (like a tiny billboard on the user's phone).

Here are some specific use cases for push notifications in ecommerce:

• Welcome and onboarding flows
• Abandoned cart reminders
• Order and delivery updates
• Price drops and back-in-stock alerts
• Flash sales or limited-time promotions
• Loyalty and reward program updates
• App-exclusive deals
• Post-purchase follow-ups

Best Practices for Effective Push Notifications in Retail & Ecom

Like any marketing channel, push notifications don't deliver results on their own. They need to be done right.

It's especially important to handle push correctly, because there's a thin margin for error, where push notifications go from being a welcome update to an annoyance.

Once they start to become annoying, the user's going to to turn off notifications - and you lose access to them forever.

To make sure that doesn't happen, AND you get the most return from your push notifications, here are some best practices to follow.

1. Segment and personalize

Personalized push notifications have been shown to achieve 10% higher open rates, according to CleverTap.

Don’t send the same message to everyone. Use data like browsing behavior, past purchases, location, and engagement history to tailor notifications to the individual, and ensure a great user experience.

2. Be concise, clear, and actionable

Push messages should be short and direct. You've got a limited amount of space to work with, so make it count.

For promotional push notifications, focus on one clear action per notification, and lead with the value.

Use strong calls-to-action like “Shop Now,” “Claim Your Reward,” or “View Your Order” to increase conversions.

3. Create urgency and exclusivity

Push works great when paired with urgency and scarcity. To get more conversions, urge the customer to act quick.

Phrases like “Ends today,” “Back in stock,” or “App-only deal” work brilliantly. Limited-time offers paired with push are especially powerful for flash sales and promotions.

4. Get the timing right

Avoid sending messages too early, too late, or too often. You'll get the best results if you catch the user right when they're free and in the mood to take action.

If not, there's a chance they'll come back to your notification later; but also a chance your notification get swiped to the side and forgotten.

Analyze your audience's time zones and behavior to determine ideal delivery windows. A few well-placed messages per week often outperform daily blasts.

Read more: What’s the Best Time To Send Push Notifications?

5. Use automated flows

Trigger messages based on user behavior, like cart abandonment, post-purchase milestones, or app browsing activity.

These flows run in the background and deliver consistent results with no manual effort. Automated push notifications also tend to perform the best, because they're inherently personalized (tied to user actions, rather than wide, generic blasts).

Read more: 12 Automated Push Notifications that Drive Revenue on Autopilot

6. A/B test and iterate

There's no one-size fits all playbook. Test different messages, send times, CTAs, and formats to see what performs best for your brand.

Even small optimizations can lead to significantly higher click-through and conversion rates.

14 Push Notification Examples for Ecommerce Brands

Want inspiration? We collected a ton of examples of push notifications from major ecommerce brands, to show you how the big players are using push.

Here are 14 different types of push notifications, with the best examples of each, from brands like True Classic, Sephora, H&M, Mango and more.

1. Promotions and Deals

Notify users of site-wide sales, limited-time discounts, or exclusive offers to drive immediate traffic and purchases.

Tips for Writing:

• Use action-oriented language to prompt immediate responses.
• Highlight the urgency by including phrases like "limited time" or "today only."
• Be clear and concise, focusing on the main benefit to the user.

Examples:

1. Rainbow Shops: "FROM $4.99. Nothing short of fabulous!"
2. True Classic: "Make This Your Hottest Summer Ever With 40% Off Sitewide Using Code: HOT."
3. H&M: "Summer sale starts NOW. Up to 50% off in stores and online."

2. Abandoned Cart Recovery

Abandoned cart push notifications remind users about items left in their cart with a compelling message or discount to encourage them to complete the purchase.

These notifications significantly reduce cart abandonment rates and deliver major revenue boosts.

Some of our users have recovered six figures ($200,000+) in just thirty days using abandoned cart notifications alone.

We built cart abandonment push notification sequences into the MobiLoud platform. Each time a customer activates abandoned cart notifications, they see a near-immediate ROI, and literally tens of thousands of dollars generated in days, simply by reminding people about the items left in their cart.

‍Book a free demo now to learn how to do the same for your brand.

Tips for Writing:

• Offer an incentive, like a discount code, to encourage completion.
• Create a sense of urgency to prompt quick action.
• Don’t stop at the first message, we find a sequence of 3 is ideal.

Examples:

1. Chubbies Shorts: "So you're just gonna leave this cart unattended? Use code BACK15 to get 15% off the world’s best weekend-wear."
2. Hobbiesville: "You left something in your cart! Tap here to start your checkout."

3. Product Announcements

Launch new products or collections with excitement. Push lets you reach your audience instantly when something fresh drops.

Over time, you'll train your customer to expect exclusive product drops and opportunities coming just by keeping the app active and push notifications active (improving long-term engagement and retention rates).

Tips for Writing:

• Highlight the exclusivity or novelty of the product.
• Use engaging visuals if possible to showcase the product.
• Include a call-to-action to drive users to the app or website to view the product.

Examples:

1. Kith: "Hey, promise to keep a secret? You're getting a super exclusive first look at our new arrivals way before the rest of the public."
2. H&M: "NEW ARRIVALS. Summer resort style in focus."

4. Seasonal and Holiday Campaigns

Capitalize on seasonal shopping peaks with timely messages around holidays, gift guides, and time-limited themes, and drive sales for low cost (while bypassing crowded inboxes and social feeds).

Tips for Writing:

• Align your message with the holiday or season to make it relevant.
• Use festive language and visuals to capture the holiday spirit.
• Include specific dates and times to create urgency.

Examples:

1. True Classic: "Happy Father's Day from True Classic! Here’s to every shoelace tied, every set of training wheels retired, and every little league game reffed. Dads, we couldn't do it without you."
2. True Classic: "Order TONIGHT to get your gifts in time for Father's Day!"
3. Rainbow Shops: "It's a Summer Sale! Get it online and in-store."

Learn more about running push notification campaigns for the holiday season in this guide.

5. Special Events

Promote live sales, influencer takeovers, or in-person activations. Push notifications create buzz and boost attendance or engagement.

Push notifications create a sense of urgency and exclusivity, which are great tactics for boosting conversion rates.

Tips for Writing:

• Clearly state the event and its benefits.
• Use countdowns or time-limited language to emphasize urgency.
• Encourage immediate action with phrases like "shop now" or "don’t miss out."

Examples:

1. Kith: "End of Season Event. Shop our selection of apparel, footwear, and lifestyle products—now at exclusive prices."
2. Farfetch: "Trending pieces in sale. Tap to shop the most-wanted pieces from our global network of brands in the sale, now with up to 60% off selected styles."

6. Personalized Recommendations

Suggest products based on browsing or purchase history. Personalization increases relevance and conversion rates, and enhances the shopping experience for the customer.

Some studies find as much as 4x higher open rates from personalized notifications.

Tips for Writing:

• Use the user's name to make the message feel personal.
• Recommend products that align with the user’s browsing or purchase history.
• Provide a direct link to the recommended products.

Examples:

1. Rainbow Shops: "HEY GRILL MASTER, Take a little shopping break to cool off. 25% off Mens Styles."
2. Chubbies Shorts: "The fellas on the golf course won't know what hit 'em. Turn heads with our summer golf collection."

7. Loyalty and Rewards

Notify users when they’ve earned points, unlocked perks, or are close to a reward threshold, motivating continued engagement and purchases.

Tips for Writing:

• Clearly communicate the user’s current points or rewards status.
• Encourage further engagement by highlighting the benefits of accumulating more points.
• Offer exclusive rewards or early access to sales for loyalty members.

Examples:

1. True Classic: "You've earned 500 points! Redeem them on your next purchase."
2. Farfetch: "Welcome Reward +50 Points. Completing Your Shopping Preferences +50 Points."
3. Kith: "Achievement Completed. Welcome Reward +50 Points."

8. Order and Shipping Updates

Keep customers informed post-purchase with shipping confirmations, tracking info, and delivery alerts to build trust, reduce support requests, and improve the overall customer experience.

Tips for Writing:

• Be clear and concise about the order status.
• Include tracking information or expected delivery dates.
• Reassure customers with friendly and professional language.

Examples:

1. "Your order has shipped! Track it now."
2. “Your order is out for delivery today."

9. Engagement Messages

Keep users engaged with non-transactional nudges like “Check out what’s trending” or “People are loving these picks.”

This keeps users active and engaged, and helps your brand (and app) stay top-of-mind.

Tips for Writing:

• Use engaging language to capture the user’s interest.
• Highlight the benefits of exploring new content or participating in interactive activities.
• Provide clear calls-to-action to drive engagement.

Examples:

1. Kith: "Check out our best-sellers, new arrivals & more."
2. Mango: "Shop the most-wanted items now!"
3. H&M: "Top jeans picks for summer. These jeans go with everything."

10. Urgency and Scarcity

Highlight low-stock alerts, expiring offers, or flash deals to drive FOMO and prompt faster decisions.

Tips for Writing:

• Use time-sensitive language to emphasize urgency.
• Highlight the limited availability of products.
• Encourage immediate action with clear calls-to-action.

Examples:

1. Fashion Nova: "LAST CHANCE Styles at $3, $5, $7 and $9! Shop These Major Deals B4 They're GONE!."
2. Mango: "An extra 15% off on your faves for a short time more. Online code: EXTRA15."
3. True Classic: "LAST CALL. $40 ALL BOTTOMS expires in JUST A FEW HOURS! Shop now or forever hold your peace."

11. App-Specific Promotions

Reward your app users with exclusive deals, early access, or app-only product drops and promos, reinforcing app value and retention, and giving clear incentives for customers to regularly shop on the app.

Tips for Writing:

• Clearly state the benefits of using the app.
• Offer exclusive discounts or perks for app users.
• Encourage app downloads with compelling calls-to-action.

Examples:

1. Sephora: "Download our app and get a free gift with your first order."
2. Farfetch: "Enjoy 15% off you first app order. Shop the new season on the FARFETCH app."

12. Event Reminders

Send a timely reminder before a sale starts, a product restock, or a loyalty deadline. Great for maximizing campaign impact.

Tips for Writing:

• Provide clear information about the event and its benefits.
• Use engaging language to build excitement.
• Include specific dates and times to ensure users don’t miss out.

Examples:

1. Kith: "End of Season Event. Shop our selection of apparel, footwear, and lifestyle products - now at exclusive prices."
2. Sephora: "Beauty Pass Sale Coming Soon! Get up to 15% off from 9pm, 26 Jun."

13. Feedback Requests

Prompt customers to leave a review, rate a product, or answer a quick survey post-purchase to generate UGC and insights.

Tips for Writing:

• Be direct and courteous in your request.
• Highlight the importance of their feedback.
• Offer incentives for completing surveys or leaving reviews.

Examples:

1. True Classic: "Love your new shirts? Leave a review and let us know what you think!"
2. Sephora: "Help us improve! Take our quick survey and get a chance to win a $50 gift card."

14. Re-engagement

Target inactive users with personalized win-back messages, offering incentives or highlighting new features or products that might interest the customer.

Tips for Writing:

• Personalize the message to make it more compelling.
• Offer exclusive incentives to encourage return visits.
• Highlight what’s new or improved to spark interest.

Examples:

1. Mango: "We miss you! Come back and enjoy 20% off your next purchase."
2. Rainbow Shops: "It's been a while! Check out our new arrivals and get an exclusive 10% discount."
3. Sephora: "Caught you browsing! Continue your journey and add this item to your cart."

Push Notification Opt-Ins: (The Crucial Step Most Brands Overlook)

Before you can send a single push notification, users need to say “yes.” You could be getting 100% click-through rates on all your push messages, but it'll mean little if you're only reaching 10% of your app users.

That’s what makes the opt-in moment one of the most critical elements of your entire push notification strategy.

Opt-in rates can vary widely. Mobile apps push averages ~60% average (81% on Android, 51% on iOS).

Even small improvements in this number will dramatically increase your campaign reach and ROI.

How to Optimize for Push Opt-Ins

Here are some tips on maximizing the percentage of app users who opt-in (and stay opted in) to push.

1. Time the ask strategically

Most apps show an opt-in prompt as soon as the user installs the app.

This could be a mistake. The user doesn't know what they're opting in to, and the default action is often to say "no".

Instead, consider waiting until they’ve completed a meaningful action, like browsing a product, making a purchase, or engaging with your brand. Ask when value is clear and engagement is high.

2. Get ahead of the default prompt

Most brands rely on the default system prompt with no context. That’s a mistake.

Use a pre-permission screen (also called a “soft ask”) to explain what users will get (exclusive deals, order updates, back-in-stock alerts, etc).

3. Make the value clear

Clearly explain to the user why it benefits them to enable push notifications.

“Enable notifications to stay up to date on your orders and get early access to sales” is far more effective than “We’d like to send you notifications.”

Speak to the customer’s interest, not your own.

“Turn on notifications for early access to our Black Friday sale” or “Be the first to know when your favorites are back in stock” are some

4. Test opt-in placement and format

Use A/B testing to compare timing, design, and messaging.

Even small changes to when and how you ask can significantly improve opt-in rates.

5. Make opting in feel like part of onboarding

Rather than treating it as a system-level interruption, embed it into your onboarding flow or post-purchase experience. Position it as a feature, not a request.

6. Make it easy to re-enable push notifications

You can only show the default opt-in popup once. However, you can constantly communicate inside your app the benefits of having push enabled, and make it easy for customers to re-enable push if they previously opted out (like how Shein and Temu do it below).

It's up to you how aggressively you try to re-engage users; but at the very least, you should make this option easily visible in their account page.

Key Push Notification Tools

What tools do you need to send ecommerce push notifications?

Not much. If you're not sending push notifications at all, here's what you need to start tapping into this powerful tool for customer engagement.

1. A Push Notification Service

Like with email or SMS, you'll need a software provider that handles sending and all the technical bits and pieces under the hood.

Like an email service provider, a good push service lets you:

• Automate flows like abandoned cart, post-purchase, and back-in-stock
• Segment audiences for more targeted messages
• Track open rates, CTRs, and revenue impact
• Integrate your email, SMS and push in one place

Some popular push notification services include:

OneSignal

• Highly flexible and cost-effective. Great for both web and mobile push, with strong automation, segmentation, and analytics. Developer-friendly and widely used across ecommerce stacks.

Klaviyo

• Best for brands already using Klaviyo for email and SMS. Supports mobile push on all plans, and allows unified flows across channels. Strong automation and personalization features.

PushWoosh

• Does mobile push, as well as web push, email, SMS, WhatsApp, and more. May require more technical setup than the other platforms.

2. A Mobile App

The other crucial element (to send mobile app push notifications) is a mobile app.

Mobile apps deliver a ton of benefits for ecommerce brands, above and beyond push. But if nothing else convinces you, the ability to reach out customers with a direct, personal, real-time communication channel should.

If you don't have an app yet, the good news is it's easy to launch one. As long as your mobile website is fast and works well, you're already 90% of the way there.

MobiLoud will turn your website into Android & iOS apps in under 30 days, for a low cost, while retaining all the important features from your website.

Your apps integrate with OneSignal or Klaviyo, with push notifications set up and ready to go, out of the box.

Everything about the app (build, technical maintenance, updates, App Store submission) is done for you, and you've also got the option to have us take care of your push notification strategy too.

For less than a day's sales, you could have your very own branded shopping app, live, in the App Stores and on your customers' mobile phones, ready to drive revenue with push notifications.

Want to see how your website will look as a native app? Get a free app preview now - all you need is your website's URL!

Build a Direct Line to Your Best Customers with Push Notifications

Push notifications are one of the most overlooked growth tools in ecommerce today.

They give brands a direct, high-converting way to reach customers, right on their mobile device, in real time (without the noise of crowded inboxes or the cost of paid ads).

Now, more than ever, brands need low-cost, dependable ways to connect with their customers.

Push notifications are the best way to do it. Especially because they specifically reach app users - who are most likely to be your most engaged, highest value customer segment.

That means the marketing dollars you put into push notifications will typically draw a higher return, because you're communicating with high-intent, engaged, loyal customers.

If you want to start integrating push into your marketing strategy, here are the action steps to take:

• If you don't have one already, launch your mobile app (see MobiLoud for the easiest way to do it).
• Start out with one high-impact use case, like abandoned cart recovery.
• In time, start adding special offers and personalized messages into the mix.
• Track performance, learn what resonates with your audience, and build from there.

Ready to add 5-6 figures in monthly revenue, for little to no incremental cost? Start sending more push notifications.

If you want to learn how other brands like yours are using push notifications to boost engagement and retention (and how you can replicate their success), get in touch now.