Overview
Push notifications are automated messages sent directly to your customers' mobile devices when their loyalty card is installed in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. These notifications help you stay connected with customers, encourage repeat visits, and celebrate important milestones—all without manual effort.
Tip: Push notifications appear as lock screen alerts on customers' phones, making them highly visible and effective at driving action. Once configured, they work automatically in the background based on triggers you define.
What you can do:
Send automatic feedback requests after customers earn stamps or points
Remind customers to return for their next visit
Send birthday wishes with special offers
Customise messages for different card types
Set precise timing for each notification type
Re-engage customers at strategic moments in their loyalty journey
Before You Begin
Requirements:
Active loyalty card created and configured
Customers with cards installed in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet
Customer profiles with complete information (birthdays required for birthday notifications)
Warning: Push notifications only work for cards that customers have installed on their devices. Customers who haven't installed their cards won't receive push notifications, though you can still reach them via email or SMS.
Understanding Push Notification Types
The platform offers three automated push notification types, each designed for a specific purpose in your customer engagement strategy.
1. Feedback Request
Purpose: Gather customer feedback while the experience is fresh
When it's sent: After a customer earns stamps or bonus points
Use cases:
Request reviews after purchases
Gather satisfaction ratings
Identify service issues quickly
Build social proof with positive feedback
Example: "How was your visit today? We'd love your feedback! 🌟"
2. Next Visit Reminder
Purpose: Encourage customers to return before they forget about you
When it's sent: A set number of days after the last earned stamp or points
Use cases:
Re-engage customers before they become inactive
Remind customers of their progress toward rewards
Maintain regular visit frequency
Prevent loyalty programme abandonment
Example: "Missing you! You're only 2 stamps away from your free coffee ☕"
3. Birthday Congratulations
Purpose: Celebrate customers and strengthen emotional connection
When it's sent: A set number of days before the customer's birthday
Use cases:
Offer birthday rewards or discounts
Create memorable customer experiences
Drive visits during birthday month
Show customers they're valued
Example: "Happy Birthday Sarah! 🎉 Enjoy a special gift on us this week!"
Accessing Push Notification Settings
To configure automated push notifications:
Navigate to Perkstar from your dashboard
Open the left-hand menu
Click Push
Select the Push Automation tab at the top of the screen
Note: You'll see three configuration tiles, one for each notification type: Feedback, Next Visit Reminder, and Birthday Congratulations.
Configuring Feedback Requests
Feedback requests help you gather reviews and identify service issues while the customer experience is still fresh in their mind.
Step-by-Step Setup
In the Feedback tile, locate the Card dropdown
Select the card template you want to configure (if you have multiple card types)
In the Message field, write the message customers will see:
Keep it conversational and friendly
Ask a specific question (e.g., "How was your visit today?")
Include a clear call-to-action
Set the timing using Request will be sent after setting count hours after earned stamps:
Enter the number of hours after earning stamps when the notification should send
Recommended: 2-6 hours (while experience is fresh but not immediate)
Review the Apply to Cards field to confirm which cards will receive this notification
Click Save
Timing Best Practices
Recommended timing by business type:
Restaurants/Cafés: 3-4 hours after visit (after meal digestion, during evening relaxation)
Retail stores: 4-6 hours after purchase (time to use/enjoy product)
Service businesses: 2-3 hours after appointment (immediate enough to be relevant)
Entertainment venues: 4-8 hours after visit (time to reflect on experience)
Avoid:
Immediate notifications (feels pushy, customer may still be on-site)
Next-day notifications (experience less memorable)
Late-night hours (respect customer time zones)
Message Examples
Casual/Friendly tone:
"How was everything today? We'd love to hear from you! 😊"
"Thanks for stopping by! Quick question—how'd we do?"
"Your feedback helps us improve! How was your experience?"
Incentivised approach:
"Rate your visit and earn bonus points! ⭐"
"Share your thoughts and we'll add 50 points to your card!"
"How was today? Leave feedback for a surprise reward!"
Direct/Simple:
"Rate your experience (takes 10 seconds!)"
"Help us serve you better—quick feedback?"
"How would you rate today's visit?"
Configuring Next Visit Reminders
Next visit reminders help maintain customer engagement and prevent your loyalty programme from being forgotten.
Step-by-Step Setup
In the Next Visit Reminder tile, select your Card from the dropdown
In the Message field, write your reminder message:
Remind customers of their progress
Create urgency or excitement about rewards
Keep it brief and actionable
Set the timing using Reminder will be sent after setting count days after last earned:
Enter the number of days after the last stamp/points earned
Recommended: Based on your typical purchase cycle
Review the Apply to cards field
Click Save
Timing Strategy by Business Type
High-frequency businesses (daily/weekly visits):
Coffee shops: 5-7 days
Quick service restaurants: 7-10 days
Convenience stores: 7-14 days
Medium-frequency businesses (monthly visits):
Casual dining: 14-21 days
Hair salons: 30-40 days
Car washes: 14-21 days
Low-frequency businesses (occasional visits):
Fine dining: 30-45 days
Specialty services: 45-60 days
Seasonal businesses: Varies by season
Tip: Analyse your customer visit patterns in the Analytics section to determine optimal timing. Look at the average days between visits for your most loyal customers.
Message Examples
Progress-focused:
"You're halfway to your free [product]! Come back soon! 🎯"
"Only 2 more stamps until your reward—don't forget about us!"
"You've earned [X] points! Visit again to keep building rewards."
Urgency/FOMO:
"Missing you! Special offer expires soon—come see us!"
"Don't let your progress go to waste! You're so close to a reward."
"Your loyalty deserves a reward—visit us this week!"
Friendly/Casual:
"We'd love to see you again! ☕"
"It's been a while—everything okay? Come visit us!"
"Your favourite [product] is waiting for you!"
Offer-based:
"Come back this week for 2X bonus points!"
"Special discount just for you! Valid until [date]."
"Welcome back offer: [specific promotion]"
Configuring Birthday Congratulations
Birthday messages create emotional connections and drive visits during a customer's birthday month.
Step-by-Step Setup
In the Birthday Congratulations tile, select your Card from the dropdown
In the Message field, write your birthday greeting:
Make it warm and personal
Include a specific offer or gift
Create urgency (limited time offer)
Set the timing using Congratulation will be sent after setting count days before birthday:
Enter how many days before the birthday to send the notification
Recommended: 3-7 days before (gives customer time to plan visit)
Review the Apply to Cards field
Click Save
Timing Considerations
Days before birthday:
7 days before: Best for planning-required visits (reservations, appointments)
5 days before: Good balance for most businesses
3 days before: Works for spontaneous visits (retail, quick service)
1 day before or on birthday: Most immediate, highest urgency
Note: Some businesses send two notifications—one a week before ("your birthday is coming!") and one on the birthday itself ("happy birthday!"). Create separate card types or use manual push for the second message.
Message Examples
With specific offer:
"Happy Birthday Sarah! 🎉 Enjoy a free [product] on us this week!"
"It's your birthday month! Celebrate with 20% off your next visit 🎂"
"Happy Birthday! Your gift is waiting—visit us to claim it! 🎁"
Mystery reward:
"Happy Birthday! We have a special surprise waiting for you! 🎈"
"Birthday treat incoming! Stop by to discover your gift 🎉"
"It's your special day! Come celebrate with a birthday surprise 🥳"
Points/stamps bonus:
"Happy Birthday! We've added bonus points to your card! 🌟"
"Birthday bonus: Triple points on your birthday week! 🎂"
"Happy Birthday! Earn 2X stamps on all visits this week! 🎉"
Expiration included:
"Happy Birthday! Your free [product] is ready—valid until [date] 🎁"
"Birthday week special! Redeem by [date] for your free gift 🎈"
"Happy Birthday! Visit within 7 days to claim your surprise! 🥳"
Birthday Data Requirements
Warning: Birthday notifications only work if you have customers' birth dates in their profiles.
How to collect birthdays:
Include birthday field in sign-up forms
Ask during first visit when issuing cards
Request via email campaign ("Update your profile for birthday rewards!")
Collect at point of sale during transactions
Include in customer import CSV files
Info: Don't have birthdays yet? Launch a campaign encouraging customers to add their birthday to their profile in exchange for immediate bonus points.
Managing Multiple Card Types
If you run multiple loyalty programmes (e.g., separate cards for different locations or product lines), you can configure different push notifications for each card type.
Setting Up Card-Specific Notifications
Select the first card from the Card dropdown
Configure all three notification types for that card
Save each configuration
Return to the Card dropdown and select the next card
Configure notifications with messages and timing appropriate for that audience
Repeat for each card type
When to Use Different Settings
By location:
Different languages for different regions
Different timing based on local customer behaviour
Location-specific offers or promotions
By card type:
Premium cards get more generous birthday offers
Stamp cards emphasise progress differently than points cards
Different purchase cycles (coffee card vs. salon card)
By customer segment:
VIP customers receive exclusive messaging
New customers get more frequent engagement
Lapsed customers get stronger re-engagement messages
Best Practices
Message Writing Guidelines
Do:
✅ Keep messages under 100 characters when possible
✅ Use emoji sparingly (one per message maximum)
✅ Include customer's first name when possible using merge fields
✅ Create clear calls-to-action
✅ Test messages on your own device first
✅ Mention specific rewards or offers
✅ Match your brand voice and tone
Don't:
❌ Use ALL CAPS or excessive punctuation!!!
❌ Send too frequently (respect notification fatigue)
❌ Make promises you can't keep
❌ Use jargon or technical terms
❌ Create notifications without clear value
❌ Forget to proofread for typos
Frequency Management
Tip: Avoid notification fatigue by spacing notifications appropriately. Maintain a minimum of 3-5 days between any notifications to the same customer.
If a customer would receive multiple notifications:
Prioritise: Birthday > Feedback > Next Visit Reminder
Consider disabling some automations for highly active customers
Adjust timing so notifications don't overlap
Compliance and Privacy
Important considerations:
Customers control notification permissions on their devices
Respect customer opt-outs immediately
Comply with local marketing regulations
Never send promotional content disguised as transactional notifications
Ensure birthday data is collected and stored with proper consent
Monitoring Performance
Tracking Notification Effectiveness
Metrics to monitor:
Delivery rate: Percentage of notifications successfully delivered
Open rate: How many customers tapped the notification
Response rate: Actions taken after notification (visits, feedback submissions)
Opt-out rate: Customers disabling notifications
Access analytics:
Go to Analytics or Reports section
Look for Push Notifications or Engagement metrics
Filter by notification type and date range
Optimising Based on Performance
If delivery rates are low:
Customers may not have cards installed
Launch installation campaign
Check device compatibility
If open rates are low:
Test different message copy
Adjust timing (different time of day)
Make messages more compelling or urgent
If response rates are low:
Offer stronger incentives
Create more urgency (limited time)
Simplify the action required
Check if offers are actually valuable to customers
If opt-out rates are high:
Reduce notification frequency
Improve message relevance
Segment audiences more carefully
Review timing (avoid early morning/late night)
Troubleshooting
"Customers aren't receiving notifications"
Check:
Cards are installed - Notifications only work for installed cards
Device permissions - Customers must have notifications enabled for Wallet app
Card is active - Deactivated cards don't send notifications
Notification is enabled - Verify configuration is saved and active
Customer device settings:
iOS: Settings → Notifications → Wallet → Allow Notifications (ON)
Android: Settings → Apps → Google Wallet → Notifications (ON)
"Wrong card type receiving notifications"
Check:
Apply to Cards field - Verify correct cards are listed
Card dropdown selection - Ensure you configured the right card template
Customer card type - Check which card the customer actually has installed
Fix:
Reconfigure the notification for the correct card type
Save changes
Test with a sample customer
"Timing seems off"
Check:
Time zone settings - Verify your account time zone matches your business location
Hours vs. days - Feedback uses hours, reminders use days
Trigger event - Ensure you understand when the countdown starts (after earning stamp/points)
Fix:
Adjust the count field to your desired timing
Save and test with a known customer
Monitor first few notifications to verify timing
"Birthday notifications not working"
Warning: Most common issue: Missing birthday data. Verify birth dates are entered in customer profiles.
Check:
Customer profiles - Verify birth dates are entered
Date format - Ensure dates are entered correctly
Days before setting - Confirm timing is set appropriately
Fix:
Add birth dates to customer profiles
Re-save birthday notification configuration
Test with a customer whose birthday is approaching
"Message appears truncated on devices"
Issue: Long messages get cut off in lock screen notifications
Fix:
Keep messages under 100 characters
Put most important information first
Test on both iOS and Android devices
Prioritise clarity over cleverness
Advanced Tips
Seasonal Adjustments
Holiday seasons:
Temporarily adjust timing to match increased visit frequency
Update messages with seasonal themes
Offer holiday-specific rewards in birthday messages
Slow seasons:
Increase reminder frequency to maintain engagement
Offer stronger incentives to drive visits
Use push to announce special promotions
A/B Testing Messages
Test different approaches:
Create two versions of a card type
Split your customers between them
Use different message copy for the same notification type
Track which performs better
Apply winning message to all customers
What to test:
Emoji usage vs. no emoji
Question format vs. statement format
Incentive-based vs. emotional appeal
Urgency vs. no urgency
Coordinating with Other Campaigns
Align push notifications with:
Email marketing campaigns
SMS promotions
In-store signage
Social media content
Seasonal sales or events
Example coordination:
Send email announcing new reward programme
Next-day push notification: "Did you see our email? Check your progress!"
Follow-up SMS to non-openers
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can customers turn off push notifications?
Yes. Customers control notification permissions through their device settings. If they disable notifications for the Wallet app, they won't receive your automated messages. You can still reach them via email or SMS.
Q: How many push notifications will a customer receive?
This depends on their behaviour and your configuration. Highly active customers might receive frequent feedback requests. Less active customers might receive next-visit reminders. Birthday notifications happen once per year. Space notifications appropriately to avoid overwhelming customers.
Q: Can I send one-time push notifications manually?
The automated push system handles recurring triggered notifications. For one-time promotional messages, check if your platform offers a manual push notification feature in the marketing or messaging section.
Q: Do push notifications work for cards not yet installed?
No. Customers must have the card installed in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet to receive push notifications. For customers who haven't installed cards, use email or SMS instead.
Q: What happens if a customer earns multiple stamps in one day?
Typically, the system sends one notification per trigger event. If your feedback notification is set for 3 hours after earning stamps, and a customer earns stamps twice in one day, they may receive two notifications. Consider this when setting timing to avoid over-messaging active customers.
Q: Can I use customer's name in push notifications?
This depends on your platform's merge field capabilities. Check if fields like {customer_name} or {first_name} are supported in push notifications. Test thoroughly before deploying to all customers.
Q: What if I want to change a message after it's set up?
Simply edit the message in the respective notification tile and click Save. Changes apply to future notifications immediately. Previously sent notifications cannot be recalled or edited.
Q: How do I know if my messages are effective?
Monitor your analytics for open rates, response rates, and subsequent visit patterns. Compare visit frequency before and after implementing push notifications. Track redemption rates for birthday offers. Survey customers about their notification preferences.
Q: Can different locations use different messages?
If you have separate card templates for different locations, yes. Configure each card's notifications separately with location-appropriate messages and timing.
Q: Are there costs associated with push notifications?
Check your Perkstar plan details. Push notifications are typically included in standard plans, but there may be limits on volume or features depending on your subscription tier.
Q: Can I personalize messages with customer data?
Yes, if your platform supports merge fields. Common fields include customer name, points balance, stamps earned, and loyalty tier. Test merge fields thoroughly before sending to all customers.
Q: What if customers complain about too many notifications?
Review and reduce your notification frequency. Check timing to ensure messages aren't sent at inconvenient hours. Segment your audience more carefully—highly active customers may need different settings than occasional visitors.
Tip: Need help optimizing your push notification strategy? Contact Perkstar support for personalized recommendations based on your business type and customer behavior patterns.