Engagement client

How retailers can use push notifications to drive more foot traffic and sales

23 juin 20254 min

Customers ignore newsletters. SMS is expensive. Social media throttles your reach. So how do you stay top of mind and bring people into your store without spending a fortune?

👉 The answer: push notifications, straight to your customers' smartphones.

📈 More store visits
🔄 More repeat purchases
💎 More loyalty to your brand

In this article, we cover:

🔔 Why push notifications are so effective
💡 The different kinds of push you can send
🚀 How to trigger the right message at the right time
📱 The right tool to send them, with no app and no huge budget

🔔 Why push notifications (really) work

Push notifications show up right on the lock screen, while an email often gets buried in the promotions tab. And unlike SMS, you don't pay per message, and they stay unobtrusive.

They let you:

Win back an inactive customer effortlessly
Drive real-time traffic for a promotion or an event
Build loyalty by staying present in your customers' pockets

👉 Example: a hair salon sends a "20% off this Thursday only" push to fill up a quiet day.

💡 Which push notifications should you send?

There are several ways to use push, depending on your goals.

1. Time-limited promotions

Create a sense of urgency: "Today only!"

📲 Example: "Happy hour: 20% off the whole store from 4 to 7pm. Come quick!"

2. Smart reminders

Reach out to a customer who hasn't been in for a while.

📲 Example: "We haven't seen you in 30 days... Your next coffee is on us!"

3. New arrivals and launches

Bring the curious back: a new product, a new collection, a new menu...

📲 Example: "Be the first to try our new facial, starting tomorrow 💆"

4. Rewards and loyalty

Remind customers they have points to use or a reward to unlock.

📲 Example: "You have 40 points! 10 more and your next haircut is free ✂️"

5. Location-based push

A customer is walking past your store? It's the perfect moment to remind them to drop in.

📲 Example: "You're right around the corner 👀 10% off if you come in within the hour!"

🚀 How to set up your push notifications

No need for a complicated app or an overpriced CRM.

With Snapss, you create digital cards (loyalty, VIP club, membership) that your customers add to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Then you can send them targeted push notifications, with no app to download.

✅ What Snapss lets you do

Send personalized notifications in a few clicks
Set automatic triggers (time, date, location, inactivity...)
Schedule your marketing campaigns in advance
Track performance: clicks, visits generated

📊 Example: a beauty salon sends 2 pushes a month: enough to stay top of mind, not so many that clients tune out.

📈 Tips for effective push notifications

✅ Keep it short and punchy (under 100 characters)
✅ Offer a clear benefit or an immediate action
✅ Don't overwhelm your customers (2 to 3 messages a month at most)
✅ Test different formats (promotion, news, reward, event...)

💡 Pro tip: add emojis to catch the eye and set the tone.

📱 Snapss: push notifications made for merchants

✔ No app to build
✔ A digital card in Apple and Google Wallet
✔ Location-based or scheduled push
✔ A simple, fast tool

Beauty salons, coffee shops, opticians and independent retailers use Snapss to stay connected with their customers.

Create my digital card

Conclusion: be there, even before your customers are

Push notifications are the best channel to bring customers back to your store, at the right time, with the right message.

More foot traffic
More sales
Less dependence on social media and paid ads

🚀 Ready to start? Create your digital card with Snapss and send your first notifications in minutes.