Accessing and Using the Push Notifications Section
Overview
The Push Notifications section is your command centre for creating and managing all push messages sent to your customers' loyalty cards. From this interface, you can send instant notifications, schedule future campaigns, target specific customer groups, and review your complete notification history.
What you can do:
Send immediate push notifications to customers
Schedule notifications for future dates and times
Target all customers or specific segments
View history of all sent and scheduled messages
Manage and delete scheduled campaigns
Track manual vs. automated notifications
This centralised hub gives you complete control over push notification campaigns, helping you engage customers with timely offers, reminders, and updates directly on their mobile devices.
Before You Begin
Requirements:
Active Perkstar account with push notification access
At least one loyalty card created and configured
Customers with installed cards (push notifications only reach installed cards)
Tip: Check customer "Card Status" before sending campaigns to understand how many customers will receive your notification.
Accessing the Push Notifications Section
Standard Account Navigation
To reach the Push Notifications screen:
Log in to your Perkstar account
Locate the left-hand menu (vertical navigation panel on the left side)
Find the Push or Mailings icon in the menu list
Click the icon to open Push Notifications
The Push Notifications screen appears
Default view: When you open this section, you'll land in the Mailings area, which serves as your main dashboard for creating and reviewing notifications.
Agency Account Navigation
Agency accounts require an extra step:
If you manage multiple clients through an agency account, follow this process:
Log in to your Perkstar agency account
In the left-hand menu, first click the user icon (profile or account icon)
This reveals your client list or user selection
Select the client you want to manage
Now click the mailings icon or push icon
You'll arrive at the Push Notifications screen for that specific client
Why the difference: Agency accounts manage multiple businesses, so you must select which client's notifications you want to work with before accessing their push section.
Understanding the Push Notifications Interface
The Push Notifications section contains two primary tabs and a history area:
Send Push Tab
Your main workspace for creating notifications:
When you click into the Push section, you'll find yourself in the Mailings area by default. From here, click the "Send Push" tab at the top of the screen to access the notification creation interface.
What you can do in Send Push:
Compose new notification messages
Select which card type to send from
Choose your target audience (all customers or specific segments)
Schedule messages for immediate or future delivery
Preview messages before sending
This is where you'll create all manual push campaigns.
Push Automation Tab
Located at the top of the screen alongside Send Push:
What you can do in Push Automation:
Set up feedback requests after customer purchases
Configure next visit reminders
Schedule birthday congratulations
Define timing rules for automated messages
Apply automation to specific card types
Learn more: See "Push Notifications - How Automated Messages Work" for detailed automation configuration.
History Section
Track all notification activity:
What you'll find in History:
Complete log of sent notifications
Scheduled notifications waiting to be sent
Automated notifications that were triggered
Emoji indicators showing manual vs. automatic sends
Timestamp and message content for each entry
Deletion controls for scheduled messages
Sending a Push Notification
Step 1: Navigate to Send Push
Open the Push section from the left-hand menu
You'll land in the Mailings section by default
Click the "Send Push" tab at the top of the screen
The notification creation interface appears
Step 2: Select Your Card
Choose which loyalty card will send this notification:
Locate the Card dropdown selector
Click the dropdown to view available card templates
Select the card whose customers should receive the notification
Why this matters: If you run multiple programmes (different locations, membership levels, or card types), this determines which customer base receives your message.
Example:
Select "Downtown Location" card → Only downtown customers receive notification
Select "VIP Membership" card → Only VIP members receive notification
Select "Standard Rewards" card → All standard programme members receive notification
Step 3: Choose Your Audience
Two targeting options available:
Option 1: All Customers
Sends to everyone with this card type installed
Maximum reach
Best for: General announcements, new features, holiday greetings
Option 2: Specific Segment
Sends to a filtered subset of customers
More targeted and relevant
Best for: Behaviour-based offers, geographic targeting, loyalty tier promotions
To select all customers:
Choose the "All Customers" option from the audience selector
Your notification will reach every customer with an installed card
To select a specific segment:
Choose "Specific Segment" from the audience selector
Select a segment from your pre-configured list:
Active customers (recent visitors)
Lapsed customers (inactive for X days)
High-value customers
Customers close to earning rewards
Geographic segments
Custom segments you've created
Confirm your selection
The interface typically displays how many customers will receive the notification based on your selection.
Step 4: Choose Timing (Immediate or Scheduled)
You have two delivery options:
Immediate Sending
Notification sends within seconds
No scheduling required
Best for: Flash sales, urgent updates, time-sensitive offers
Scheduled Sending
Notification sends automatically at your chosen date and time
Plan campaigns in advance
Best for: Promotional campaigns, birthday messages, coordinated launches
To send immediately:
Leave the "Schedule" option unchecked or toggled off
Compose your message
Click "Send"
Notification delivers immediately to all selected customers
To schedule for later:
Check the "Schedule" box or toggle the schedule option
A date picker appears
Select your desired date (click calendar and choose date)
Select your desired time (use time picker or type in time)
Verify time zone is correct
Compose your message
Click "Send" or "Schedule"
Notification is saved and will send automatically at the specified time
Scheduling tips:
Schedule during business hours (9am-6pm) for better engagement
Avoid very early morning (before 8am) or late night (after 9pm)
Consider customer time zones if serving multiple regions
Space notifications appropriately (not multiple per day)
Step 5: Compose Your Message
Write your notification message:
Locate the Message text box
Type your message content
Keep it concise and compelling
Message guidelines:
Character limits:
Aim for under 100 characters for optimal display
iOS shows approximately 100-120 characters on lock screen
Android varies by device but similar range
Longer messages get truncated with "..."
Effective message structure:
Start with most important information
Include clear value or benefit
Add call-to-action
Use one emoji maximum (optional)
Good examples:
"Flash Sale! 20% off today only—visit by 6pm ⏰"
"You're 2 stamps from a free coffee! Stop by this week ☕"
"Happy Birthday! Enjoy a free dessert on us today 🎂"
"Weekend Special: Earn double points Sat & Sun 🎉"
Avoid:
Vague messages: "Check it out" (what should they check?)
All caps: "HUGE SALE!!!" (appears spammy)
Too long: Messages that exceed 150 characters
No value: "Hello" (no reason to take action)
Step 6: Send Your Notification
For immediate notifications:
Review your message, card selection, and audience one final time
Click "Send"
Notification begins delivering to customers immediately
Confirmation message appears on screen
Notification appears in History section with send timestamp
For scheduled notifications:
Review all settings: message, card, audience, date, time
Click "Send" or "Schedule" (button text may vary)
Notification is saved for future automatic delivery
Confirmation appears showing scheduled date and time
Notification appears in History with "Scheduled" status
System sends automatically at the specified time—no further action needed
Important: Once sent, immediate notifications cannot be recalled or edited. Scheduled notifications can be deleted before they send.
Understanding the History Section
What History Shows
Complete notification log including:
All manually sent notifications (created in Send Push tab)
Scheduled notifications waiting to be sent
Automated notifications triggered by customer actions
Timestamp for each notification
Message content
Target audience
Delivery status
Emoji Indicators
History uses emojis to distinguish notification types:
Push notifications in the history section include visual indicators showing how each message was sent. Hover your cursor over any emoji to reveal additional details about the sending method.
Manual Send Emoji
Indicates notification sent manually from Send Push tab
Shows you composed and sent this message yourself
Represents deliberate campaign you created
Automatic Send Emoji
Indicates notification sent by automation rules
Triggered automatically by customer behaviour or events
Examples: Feedback requests, birthday wishes, visit reminders
Scheduled Emoji
Indicates notification waiting to be sent
Shows future send date and time
Can still be cancelled before sending
Why this matters: Quickly see which notifications were manual campaigns vs. automated engagement. Helps track total notification frequency customers are experiencing.
Using History to Monitor Campaigns
Review history regularly to:
Verify notifications sent successfully
Track notification frequency (avoid over-messaging)
See which automated notifications triggered
Monitor scheduled campaigns coming up
Identify patterns in customer engagement timing
Managing Scheduled Notifications
Deleting All Scheduled Notifications (Entire Account)
To cancel every scheduled notification across all cards:
Navigate to the Push section
Open the History section
Locate the "Delete" or "Delete All Scheduled" button
Click the Delete button
Confirmation prompt appears: "Are you sure you want to delete all scheduled push notifications?"
Confirm deletion
All scheduled notifications across all card types are immediately cancelled
They will not be sent at their scheduled times
Use this when:
Revising your entire notification strategy
Clearing test notifications before launch
Business changes require stopping all campaigns
Starting fresh with new campaign calendar
Warning: This action cannot be undone. All scheduled notifications are permanently deleted. You'll need to recreate any campaigns you still want to send.
Deleting Scheduled Notifications by Card Template
To cancel scheduled notifications for one specific card only:
Step-by-step:
Navigate to the Push section
Click the Card dropdown selector
Select the specific card template you want to manage
Click the "Send Push" button or tab
Look for the "Delete" button (specific to this card)
Click the Delete button
Confirmation prompt appears: "Delete all scheduled push notifications for [Card Name]?"
Confirm deletion
All scheduled notifications for only this card template are cancelled
What gets deleted:
✅ All scheduled notifications for the selected card
✅ Notifications scheduled for any future date/time
❌ Does NOT affect other card templates' schedules
❌ Does NOT affect automated notifications (automation continues)
❌ Does NOT delete history of already-sent notifications
Use this when:
One location closes temporarily but others remain open
Revising one card's strategy without affecting others
Testing revealed issues with one card type's messaging
Different cards need different campaign calendars
Example: You have "North Store," "South Store," and "East Store" cards. South Store is renovating and shouldn't send promotions. Delete scheduled notifications for "South Store" only, leaving other stores' campaigns active.
Best Practices
Before Creating Campaigns
Preparation checklist:
[ ] Review recent History to see notification frequency
[ ] Check which automated notifications are active
[ ] Verify customer segments are up to date
[ ] Confirm card selection is correct
[ ] Check for scheduling conflicts with existing campaigns
Message Composition
Write compelling messages:
Put most important information first (in case of truncation)
Include clear value proposition or benefit
Create urgency when appropriate ("Today only," "Limited time")
Use action verbs ("Visit," "Earn," "Redeem," "Claim")
Test on your own device before sending to thousands
Emoji usage:
Maximum one emoji per message
Place at the end: "Visit us today! ☕"
Choose relevant emoji that reinforces your message
Ensure it displays correctly on both iOS and Android
Frequency Management
Avoid notification fatigue:
Limit manual notifications to 2-3 per week maximum
Remember customers also receive automated notifications
Consider Google Wallet's 3-per-day limit for Android users
Monitor customer opt-out rates as feedback indicator
Space notifications at least 24-48 hours apart
Scheduling Strategy
Optimal sending times by business type:
Food & Beverage:
Morning specials: 7-9am
Lunch promotions: 11am-1pm
Dinner offers: 4-6pm
Avoid: After 9pm
Retail:
Mid-morning: 10am-12pm
Afternoon: 2-4pm
Evening: 6-8pm
Avoid: Before 8am, after 9pm
Services (salons, gyms, etc.):
Business hours: 9am-5pm
Early evening: 5-7pm
Avoid: Weekends (if closed), late evenings
Plan ahead:
Schedule campaigns 1-2 weeks in advance
Align push with email and SMS campaigns
Prepare seasonal/holiday campaigns early
Review and adjust based on analytics
Troubleshooting
"I don't see the Send Push tab"
Possible causes:
Still on default Mailings screen—click "Send Push" tab at top
Account may not have push notification permissions
Agency accounts: Need to select user/client first
Browser issue: Try refreshing the page
Solution: Ensure you've clicked Push in left menu, then look for tabs at top of screen. For agency accounts, select user first.
"Can't select a specific segment"
Check:
Have you created customer segments? (Go to Customers → Segments)
Does the selected card have any customers with installed cards?
Are you looking in the correct location for segment selector?
Solution: Create segments in the Customers section before using them in campaigns, or use "All Customers" option.
"My scheduled notification didn't send"
Verify:
Notification wasn't deleted (check History for deletion record)
Time zone settings are correct (may use UTC or account time zone)
Account is in good standing (payments current, no restrictions)
Scheduled time has actually passed (check current time vs. scheduled time)
Solution: If notification missing from History as "Scheduled," it was deleted. Recreate the campaign and verify settings.
"Customers aren't receiving notifications"
This is usually a delivery issue, not a sending issue:
Confirm sending succeeded:
Check History for "Sent" status and timestamp
Verify notification appears in customer card's Latest Updates section
If sending succeeded but delivery failed:
See "Troubleshooting Push Notification Delivery Issues" article
Verify customer card installation status (must be "Installed")
Check customer device notification settings
Consider connectivity issues on customer devices
FAQ
Q: Can I edit a scheduled notification? A: Most systems require deleting the scheduled notification and creating a new one. You typically cannot edit scheduled messages after creation.
Q: What happens if I accidentally send immediately instead of scheduling? A: Sent notifications cannot be recalled. If the message contained errors, you can send a correction or clarification as a follow-up notification.
Q: How do I know how many customers will receive my notification? A: The interface usually displays estimated reach based on your card and audience selection. Only customers with "Installed" card status receive notifications.
Q: Can I send to individual customers? A: The interface is designed for campaigns (all customers or segments). For individual communication, create a segment with only that customer, or use email/SMS.
Q: What's the difference between Send Push and Push Automation? A: Send Push is for manual campaigns you create and send yourself. Push Automation sets up rules for automatic notifications triggered by customer actions (purchases, birthdays, etc.).
Q: Will my notification show up on both iOS and Android? A: Yes, if you send to all customers. The system delivers to whatever device type each customer has, handling iOS and Android differences automatically.
Q: Can customers unsubscribe from push notifications? A: Customers control notifications through their device settings. They can disable Wallet notifications (iOS) or card/browser notifications (Android) anytime.
Q: How long are scheduled notifications stored before sending? A: Indefinitely, until either the scheduled time arrives (and notification sends) or you manually delete them.
Q: Is there a limit to how many notifications I can send? A: Check your plan details. Some plans include unlimited notifications, others have monthly limits. Contact support for your specific account information.
Q: What if I schedule two notifications for the same time? A: Both will send. Customers receive both notifications, which could be overwhelming. Review your schedule and space notifications appropriately.
Related Articles
Push Notifications - How Automated Messages Work - Setting up automatic notification triggers
Troubleshooting Push Notification Delivery Issues - When customers don't receive notifications
Push Notification Delivery Time - Understanding delivery timing and delays
Customer Filters and Segmentation - Creating target segments for campaigns
Push Notifications on iPhone (iOS) - Customer guide for iOS devices
Push Notifications on Android - Customer guide for Android devices
Need help with the Push section? Contact support for assistance with navigation, campaign creation, or troubleshooting delivery issues.