Push notifications for restaurants: How to get more online orders
Push notifications let restaurants send instant, targeted messages directly to customers' phones. With open rates around 90%, far higher than email - they're one of the most effective tools for driving repeat orders. This guide covers how push notifications work, when to send them, what to say, and real examples you can use today.
Push notifications are short, direct messages sent straight to a customer's phone via your restaurant's app. Unlike emails that sit unread in an inbox, push notifications appear on the lock screen the moment they're sent, making them one of the most powerful tools in restaurant marketing today.
Whether you want to fill quiet hours, promote a new dish, or win back lapsed customers, a well-timed push notification can drive orders within minutes. Here's everything you need to know to use them effectively.
So, how can you leverage your special offers to grow your online sales?
One very effective way is to send a message directly to interested customers on the one thing they carry everywhere - their phone! Push notifications do just that.
Push notifications help you and your offers get noticed by customers. They allow you to send timely, relevant messages to people who already have an interest in your business, increasing the likelihood they will act on the offer you’ve just sent them. This of course leads to increased sales.
Why push notifications work for restaurants
- People bring their mobiles everywhere!
- They can't be missed as they appear on the lock screen
- They are much shorter and snappier than an email
- They can have a clear call to action
How to use push notifications to grow your online sales
Push notifications consistently outperform email when it comes to getting customers' attention. Open rates average around 90%, compared to roughly 23% for email. Apps using push notifications also see a 26% higher open rate and 92% better retention meaning customers are far more likely to keep your app installed and keep ordering.
One Flipdish customer, a fast-food restaurant, ran a one-day-only special offer and promoted it entirely via push notification. Orders that day increased more than five-fold, a 210% increase in sales compared to the same day the previous week.
So, we recommend creating a solid and consistent push notification strategy. Ideally, send no more than one push notification per week, but more than one per month. Sending out too many or too few will reduce their benefits. Yes, there is a sweet spot here.
It's also advisable to vary the content of your notifications. For example, at various times you can send brand messages, menu updates, special offers or promo codes.
Learn how to send push notifications though your Flipdish portal here
Top tips for restaurant marketing push notifications:
- Keep your messages short and simple
- Frontload the most important information
- Keep the messages relevant, timely and topical
- Include a clear call to action
It's also a good idea to include emojis in your messages where possible - they help to get your message across with less text and more visual appeal!
Push notification ideas and examples for restaurants
Push notifications can be used to send your customers a deal they can’t resist!
Here are real-world push notification examples you can adapt for your restaurant:
- 🍕 New on the menu: Try our new BBQ Chicken Pizza tonight - order now and get free delivery
- 🎁 We miss you! It's been a while - here's 15% off your next order: WELCOME15
- ⏰ Only 2 hours left on today's lunch deal - order before 2pm!
- Thinking about lunch? $2.50 lunch specials available during lunchtime hours
If you want to send notifications about promotions on a particular day, here are some title suggestions:
- Monday - More On Monday, Money Off Monday, Monday Madness
- Tuesday - Two Meals Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday
- Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday, Wonderful Wednesday
- Thursday - Thirsty Thursday, Throwback Thursday
- Friday - Fiver Friday, Feelgood Friday, Friday Fun
Get more online orders and grow your business with Flipdish
FAQs
Yes. Restaurants using push notifications consistently see higher repeat order rates. Because messages go directly to opted-in customers' lock screens, they drive immediate action in a way email and social media rarely do. One Flipdish customer saw a 210% sales increase on the day they sent a targeted push notification promotion.
Aim for one per week as a maximum and at least one per month as a minimum. Sending too frequently causes customers to opt out; sending too rarely means lost revenue opportunities. Consistency matters more than volume.
The best windows are 11am–1pm (pre-lunch) and 5pm–7pm (pre-dinner). Avoid sending late at night or early morning, as these are likely to be dismissed or prompt opt-outs.
