How to Send Push Notifications from a WooCommerce Store

Do you ever wish there was a more direct way to reach customers than email, SMS or PPC?

There is - push notifications.

If you aren't firing off push notifications from your WooCommerce store, then frankly you're leaving customers and revenue on the table.

Imagine driving up conversions, dramatically reducing abandoned carts, and boosting average order value with just a couple of clicks. 

You'll do this (and more) by embracing push notifications for WooCommerce.

In this article we're going to explain exactly how to get up and running.

We'll cover why you need to send push notifications, the best tools and plugins, how to send web and (the more powerful) native app notifications, and best practices.

Let’s start with the why. 

Why Send Push Notifications from WooCommerce?

Here at MobiLoud we've built thousands of native mobile apps for clients, who've used their MobiLoud apps to send millions of push notifications.

We're big believers in the power of push, because we've seen it first hand.

Push notifications are the most direct way to reach your customers.

Think about the last time you received a push notification; it likely caught your attention immediately, right? That's because they land directly in your lock screen, which you likely check dozens (if not hundreds) of times daily.

We aren't telling you to drop any other channels, but we are telling you that you must work push notifications into the mix......

• PPC is amazing, but only if you can make it work
• Email is great but deliverability and engagement can be issues
• Social post reach is restricted (unless you pay big bucks)
• SEO and content marketing are unpredictable and long-term plays

Comparing the drawbacks of these channels with the virtues of push, it's easy to see why you need them in your toolbox. Push notifications are:

• Better than email because there's less opt-in friction, they're more visible, and they're simpler to set up and manage
• Better than PPC because they're more cost effective and far likelier to deliver a positive ROI
• Better than social media because your reach isn't dependant on a platform's whims, they'll be delivered to 100% of customers (who opted in)
• Better than SMS because it's easier to get opt-in, and there's more scope to enhance messages with rich media and personalisation

Push notifications break through the noise of crowded inboxes, messy social feeds and cluttered SERPs - giving you a channel with extremely high visibility and engagement rates.

They’re great for all types of businesses, but particularly for eCommerce. Here are a few example use cases:

• Promotion of sales or special events: promote time-sensitive deals.
• Alerts about product restocks: notify customers the moment their items are available.
• Behaviorally triggered reminders: prompt the user to recover their abandoned cart.

You can even segment notifications based on user behavior, customizing messages to fit individual shopping habits and preferences leading to even higher conversion rates.

Web vs Native App Notifications for eCommerce: Pros and Cons

There are two types of push notifications:

1. Web Push Notifications sent to site visitors who give you permission to send them notifications
2. Native App Push Notifications sent to customers who have installed your app on their iOS or Android device

Both of these types of notifications have their own pros, cons and nuances.

Web notifications are great for building an initial communication channel with site visitors, dramatically boosting your chances of converting them into a repeat customer.

Native app notifications are even better, functioning as a direct line to your most loyal customers who have downloaded and installed your app. Once they've downloaded the apps, you have practically limitless options for sending them personalized, tailored messages to build an even deeper connection.

So which should you use: web or native app notifications?

Both!

Setting up WooCommerce push notifications isn't about randomly blasting out messages, it's a strategic move to build relationships with different customer types, growing engagement and brand loyalty. 

Setting up both web and native app notifications for your WooCommerce store and using them synergistically is the optimal strategy. 

Let’s find out how. 

Sending Push Notifications from a WooCommerce Store

Now let's move on to the specific steps you need to take to start sending push notifications from your WooCommerce store.

We'll cover both web and native app notifications - read on and let's get you set up.

Sending Web Push Notifications for WooCommerce

Getting set up with WooCommerce push notifications is relatively simple, and starts with choosing the perfect tools.

Let's start off with web push notifications.

The 5 Best WooCommerce Plugins for Push Notifications

Getting set up with web push notifications for WooCommerce is simple. There shouldn’t be any need for custom coding beyond copy and pasting some snippets, as there are plenty of pre-built tools to handle everything for you. 

The most important thing is choosing the right WooCommerce push notification plugin, installing it, and learning how to use it optimally.

There are plenty on the market, but a few stand above the rest.

• OneSignal: Offers a robust free plan with features enabling targeting and automated notifications.

• PushEngage: A feature-rich option that allows segmentation and personalised campaigns.

• NotifyVisitors: Great for behavioral targeting and A/B testing push messages.

• WonderPush: Instantly implementable with GDPR-compliant features and rapid delivery.

• Beamer: Not just for push; it creates an in-product newsfeed for updates, too.

Each one of these is integrated with WordPress and WooCommerce, has a decent feature-set, and has been tested by thousands of users. But each also comes with distinct advantages, and you should research each to see which one aligns best with your needs. 

If you're short on time though.......

We recommend OneSignal.

OneSignal has deep integrations with WooCommerce, and every other major platform too.

It's the push notification market leader, has extremely reliable and tested infrastructure, and is a mature platform with all the features you'll need to succeed. We’ve worked with them for years and we know they’re a first-rate platform. 

Of course you need to do your own research into the options, but it’s unlikely that OneSignal will disappoint you for normal eCommerce use cases. 

OneSignal has a generous free plan, and paid plans that fit the budget of a startup business.

Installing and Configuring a Push Notification Plugin

The intricacies of installing whatever WooCommerce push notification plugin you choose are beyond the scope of this article, but each should have extensive documentation to follow. 

Here's a very quick summary of the steps you'll go through to install whatever WooCommerce push notification plugin you choose.

1. Navigate to your WordPress dashboard
2. Click 'Plugins' and then 'Add New'
3. Search for your chosen plugin
4. Click 'Install Now' followed by 'Activate'

Once activated, dive into the settings and docs to learn how everything works. You may need to go through extra registration or payment steps too.

Configuration involves setting up notification triggers, deciding the opt-in prompt's look and feel, and integrating properly with WooCommerce.

Make sure you test the settings to validate that notifications are firing as expected. Once you're satisfied that everything is working well - you're ready to go!

Sending Native App Notifications for WooCommerce

Now you know how to send web notifications, let's move onto the more powerful native app notifications.

At the risk of stating the obvious - to send native app notifications you need a native app.

But WooCommerce is, of course, a platform for the web. So you need some way to convert your WooCommerce store into native iOS and Android apps.

Every eCommerce store should have native shopping apps. But building apps the traditional way costs hundreds of thousands and takes many months, and using cheap app builder tools results in cookie-cutter templated apps with weak functionality and only a tenuous connection to your web store.

That's why we built MobiLoud.

MobiLoud converts your store into iOS and Android eCommerce apps.

It's a fraction of the cost of traditional native development, and the end result is far superior to anything you'd get from cheap templated app builders.

With MobiLoud you can go from zero to App Store launch in just a couple of weeks, and you can keep everything from your site. 

Every feature of WooCommerce, every WordPress plugin you use, your theme and your entire product catalog will sync completely with the apps.

The apps will also update in real-time along with your site - so managing them is a breeze.

MobiLoud apps are also the best way to send native app push notifications from WooCommerce.

Once we've built your apps, you can use our deep integration with OneSignal to send unlimited push notifications to users. Through our OneSignal integration, you can set up targeted, event-driven notifications to engage app users on a personalized level.

We also built a special feature for abandoned cart notifications. It detects when one of your app users has closed the app with items left in their cart, which triggers a series of notifications designed to bring them back into the apps to complete their purchase.

It's all automated and handled by our team, so there's nothing for you to do except watch those abandoned cart metrics improve month over month.

To learn more about MobiLoud apps and how we can get you on the App Stores and firing off notifications left and right - book a quick personalized demo. 

Now let’s wrap up with a few pieces of advice for sending push notifications, and best practices that we’ve seen working well over the years. 

Key Components of a WooCommerce Push Notification

Engagement hinges on relevance and appeal. 

For the push notifications you’ll send from your WooCommerce store and your MobiLoud native apps, you’ll rely on a few key elements every time: 

• Captivating headlines: Grab attention fast
• Clear messaging: Communicate your offer or update succinctly (<250 characters)
• Branding: Incorporate your logo & color scheme if possible 
• Call-to-Action (CTA): Make your CTAs compelling and clickable

Use templates to streamline the push notification process, while tailoring content for various campaigns like abandoned cart notifications or special sales promos. 

Segmenting and Targeting Push Notifications

To ensure your messages hit home, segment your audience. Collect data based on user behavior, purchase history, and engagement levels to create targeted campaigns:

• New subscribers: Welcome messages and introductory offers
• Frequent buyers: Loyalty rewards and exclusive deals
• Cart abandoners: Reminders and incentives to complete purchases

Advanced segmentation leads to more personalized and effective push notifications, driving sales and deeper relationships. 

While web push notifications are good for sending out more general messages to site visitors, native app notifications are really perfect for targeting specific types of customers.  

Timing and Frequency of Push Notifications

To ensure your WooCommerce push notifications make the biggest impact, timing and frequency are crucial. 

It's essential to strike a balance. 

Bombarding customers with excessive notifications can annoy them and nudge them to opt out, while under-delivering could mean missed opportunities. 

The sweet spot is something you’ll have to find yourself, but generally an average of one per day seems to work well for eCommerce. 

You should also make sure you consider your audience's time zone and schedule notifications for optimal times when they're most likely to be engaged. 

Regular analysis of your customer data will help you to pinpoint these times.

As a rule of thumb, limit notifications to a handful per week, and send them at the times that common sense and your data tells you make the most sense.  

There are some exceptions - for instance, abandoned cart notifications require prompt action, so sending them soon after a shopper has left your site is effective.

Personalization and Localization of Push Notifications

Personalizing your WooCommerce push notifications can drastically boost engagement rates. Start by segmenting your audience based on behavior, purchase history, and personal preferences. 

Use the tools built into the push platform to include the customer's name, reference past purchases, or suggest items similar to those they've shown interest in. 

Personalization makes customers feel valued and encourages higher click-through rates.

Localization goes a step further by adapting your message to fit the local language and cultural nuances. This might not be relevant to you, but if you get significant traffic from different parts of the world it could be key. 

‍Start Sending WooCommerce Push Notifications Today

The best practices above are just the basic fundamentals, but push notifications really succeed on the basis of great copy, relevant messaging, and intelligent experimentation. 

It's important to constantly test and optimise, and to use notifications strategically for specific goals like recovering abandoned carts.

Get started with sending push notifications from your WooCommerce store today, let’s summarize how. 

1. Choose a WooCommerce push notification plugin to set up web notifications
2. Talk to one of MobiLoud’s eCommerce app experts to build iOS and Android apps with unlimited push notifications built in 

MobiLoud apps give you much more than push notifications, but it’s true that push is one of the most compelling reasons to build eCommerce apps. 

The apps themselves act as a magnet for your most loyal and engaged customers, and once they have them downloaded you can use push to build an even deeper connection with them, promoting your hottest offers and rewarding them with special promotions and programs. 

You’ll have an entire new marketing channel to build your business through, one that consistently works for the top eCommerce brands in the world. 

We've built thousands of apps for thriving businesses in countless industries. Take a look at a few examples:

• Bestseller
• Jack & Jones
• Rainbow Apparel

Read some of our case studies, and check out our features.

You now know exactly how to send push notifications from WooCommerce - so let's get started today.