Get the most out of Email and Push Notifications for your Shopify Store

Reaching your customers effectively is a very important element to the success of your online store. By choosing the right communication channels, and understanding how to leverage them strategically, you can significantly improve your sales and customer outreach. Two important communication methods for Shopify eCommerce stores are email marketing and push notifications. 

In this article, we discuss the benefits of each channel, the right way to set them up and how to leverage push and email on your Shopify store to recover lost sales from sold out products.

Understanding Email and Push Notifications

Email marketing, as most are familiar with, involves sending targeted messages to subscribers’ inboxes. It’s a versatile channel for delivering detailed information, building brand loyalty through storytelling, and nurturing customer relationships over time. Statista has reported that by the end of 2025, there will be 4.6 billion email users. 

Louisa Zhou founder of LuisaZhou.com said “Email marketing is king for one good reason: it has a higher ROI than other marketing strategies.” 

Push notifications, on the other hand, are short, pop-up messages sent to users’ devices (smartphones, tablets, desktops) who have opted in to receive them. A recent study by Wisernotify found that 60% of people agree to receive push notifications. They offer a direct and immediate way to communicate time-sensitive updates, promotions, and reminders.

An online store’s success depends on reaching the right customer with the right message at the right time. Email and push notifications, when used strategically, become powerful, complementary tools in your marketing arsenal.

When to Use Push Notifications vs. Email: A Strategic Approach

Both push notifications and email marketing play crucial roles in a comprehensive communication strategy. However, their strengths lie in different areas. Understanding when to use each channel is key to maximizing their effectiveness. 

These strategic communication tools have the following qualities:

Delivery – push notifications are instant and direct, while email is sent to a customer’s inbox, but subject to filters and spam

Message Length – push notifications are short and concise with limited characters, while email can be longer and detailed

Urgency – push notifications are ideal for time-sensitive updates, while email is suitable for less urgent communication

Engagement – push notifications are suitable for quick interactions with immediate response and higher click through rate (CTR), while email allows for a deeper engagement and customer loyalty with a lower CTR

Due to these key features, push notifications are usually best used for back-in-stock alerts, flash sales, abandoned carts and shipping updates. While email is best used for newsletters, product announcements, personalized offers and customer loyalty rewards. 

Best Practices for Push Notifications: Capturing Attention Instantly

Push notifications excel at delivering timely and relevant information directly to your customers’ devices. To make the most of this channel, follow these best practices:  

• Keep it concise: Push notifications are short by nature. Get straight to the point with clear and compelling language. Focus on the most important information.  
• Create a sense of urgency: Leverage words like “now,” “limited time,” or “exclusive” to encourage immediate action. This is especially effective for flash sales or limited-stock items.
• Personalize your messages: Segment your audience and tailor your notifications based on their past behavior, preferences, or demographics. Personalized messages are far more likely to resonate and drive engagement.
• Respect frequency: Bombarding customers with too many notifications can lead to “notification fatigue” and ultimately, uninstalls. Find a balance that keeps your audience informed without overwhelming them. Start with a low frequency and test to see what works best.  
• Include clear calls to action: Tell users exactly what you want them to do. Whether it’s “Shop Now,” “View Deal,” or “Learn More,” a clear CTA guides them towards the desired action.

Best Practices for Email Marketing: Building Relationships and Driving Conversions

Email remains a powerful tool for nurturing customer relationships and driving conversions. Here’s how to optimize your email marketing strategy:

• Craft compelling subject lines: Your subject line is the first impression. Make it intriguing, personalized, and relevant to entice recipients to open your email.
• Segment and automate: Segment your email list based on customer behavior and preferences. Use automation to send targeted emails at the right time, such as welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders, and post-purchase follow-ups.
• Provide value: Don’t just focus on selling. Offer valuable content, such as exclusive deals, product recommendations, or educational resources, to keep your audience engaged.
• Design visually appealing templates: A well-designed email template enhances readability and reinforces your brand identity. Use high-quality images, clear fonts, and a consistent color scheme.  
• Include clear calls to action: Guide your readers towards the desired action with prominent and compelling CTAs.

How Back in Stock by AMP Optimizes Both Channels: A Powerful Synergy

When it comes to out-of-stock products, getting restock notifications to your customers as soon as possible though the right channel is critical to recovering sales. With Back in Stock by AMP, you can automatically notify waiting customers via email, web push notifications and even SMS– delivered instantly or on a schedule you control. 

Drive conversions within 60 seconds of a restock while maintaining a smooth sales flow by adjusting audience size and timing.

•  Instant & Scalable Delivery – Notify customers the moment a product is restocked for immediate conversions.
• Full Control Over Notifications – Manage delivery settings to prevent overselling and ensure a seamless shopping experience.
• Brand-Aligned Messaging – Customize notifications to match your brand’s voice, design, and even multiple languages.

Beyond notifications, Back in Stock seamlessly integrates with your eCommerce stack and offers advanced analytics to track restock conversions, ensuring you never lose revenue due to out-of-stock products.

“ This app has been great at notifying customers when items are out of stock. It also helps us know what is most in demand after something sells out! We love it!!” – Plain Jane

By understanding the strengths of each channel and implementing the best practices outlined above, you can create a powerful synergy that drives sales, builds customer loyalty, and ultimately, maximizes your Shopify store’s success. Leveraging tools like Back in Stock by AMP further streamlines this process, automating key notifications and providing valuable data insights. Start exploring the potential of both channels today and watch your business thrive.