Push notifications for restaurants: 15 campaign ideas

Updated 2026-08-24

Why push notifications are changing the loyalty economy

A direct channel, with no shipping costs

Unlike SMS, billed for each message, push notification is displayed at no cost per sending. You can therefore follow up regularly without seeing the bill increase — which changes your ability to remain present in the customer's mind between two visits.

A channel that only exists with digital

A paper map does not create any recall channels. The push notification only exists because the loyalty card is in the customer's phone. This is the switch that transforms a passive loyalty program into an active recovery tool. To understand this switch, read the complete digital loyalty card guide for restaurants.

The three rules before sending anything

• Consent: only customers who have accepted notifications receive them. This is a GDPR requirement and a condition of trust.
• Relevance: a notification must provide real value — an offer, useful information, attention. Not a simple “think of us”.
• The measure: too many messages pushes the customer to deactivate notifications. Program focused scenarios rather than a continuous flow.

15 campaign ideas

Attendance boosts

1. Inactivity reminder — A customer who has been absent for several weeks receives a simple message: “We haven’t seen you in a while. Your coffee is waiting for you. » This is the best return scenario, because it targets customers who have already chosen you once.

2. The reminder of points close to a level — “Just one more pass before your free dessert. » The customer who knows that a reward is near has an objective reason to return this week.

3. The relaunch of lunch — “Tomorrow noon, the dish of the day is [name of dish]. Reserve your table. » Targeted at lunchtime regulars, it fulfills a hollow service.

4. Post-first-visit follow-up — A day or two after a first visit, a thank you message with a reason to come back: “Thanks for coming. A coffee awaits you on your next visit. »

Birthdays and personal dates

5. Customer’s birthday — “Happy birthday!” A dessert is offered to you this week. » Attention that stands out, at a controlled cost, and which brings the customer back at the right time.

6. The establishment's anniversary — “Our restaurant is celebrating its [X] anniversary: special menu all week. » You transform an internal date into a visit for everyone.

7. Points expiring — If your program has an expiry date, let them know before it expires: “Your points are expiring soon, use them. » This is an honest and effective emergency response.

Offers and events

8. Tuesday evening offer — “This Tuesday, a free drink from [time]. » Target a hollow niche with a limited-time offer to smooth out traffic.

9. The new dish or menu — “Our new fall menu has arrived: discover [dish]. » Information that gives curious people a reason to return.

10. The seasonal dish — “The first [seasonal product] are here, this week only. » The seasonal argument creates urgency without selling out.

11. The special event — Theme evening, concert, broadcast of a match: “Tonight, we are broadcasting the match. Table to reserve. » The push becomes the tool for filling the event.

Engagement and play

12. The wheel of gifts — Suggest a game of chance: “Spin the wheel, try a reduction. » A fun engagement lever that rewards without depending on an opinion. DimaCard offers a wheel of gifts independent of reviews, which can be activated without development.

13. The pulse survey — “What dish would you like to see on the menu?” » A simple question engages the customer and tells you what they want — two benefits in one message.

14. Limited time offer — “Until Sunday, [offer]. » The short horizon creates urgency and triggers the quick visit, provided you do not overdo it.

15. The thank you after reward — “Your free dessert has been unlocked, see you soon!” » Confirming a reward obtained reinforces the pleasure and initiates the next visit.

How to write a notification correctly

Short, one idea, one action verb

A notification reads in one second on a locked screen. It must contain a single idea, expressed simply. Start with an action verb — “Discover,” “Book,” “Enjoy” — and give the reason to click: the offer, the event, the reward. Avoid vague phrases like “Think about us”: the customer doesn’t click on something that doesn’t bring them anything.

A clear offer, not a teaser

Say what the customer gets, without ambiguity: “A free coffee”, “Free dessert”, “A free drink this Tuesday”. Too vague teasing (“Surprises await you”) generates distrust and disengagement. The clarity of the offer is what protects the relationship over time.

Timing that respects the customer

Send when the customer can act: the lunch reminder the day before or in the morning, the evening offer at the end of the afternoon. Avoid times when the client cannot come, and never send in bursts. One well-placed message is better than three poorly placed messages.

Set up these campaigns with DimaCard

With DimaCard, push notifications are unlimited and free, included in the subscription. You program automatic scenarios – inactivity reminder, birthday – which run without intervention, and you can send targeted one-off campaigns from the dashboard. Only customers who have accepted notifications receive them, which protects you from spam and respects consent. Examples of business use by business are presented on the use cases page.

Conclusion

Push notification is not a gimmick: it's the channel that finally gives your loyalty program the power to recontact. Used well – consent, relevance, measurement – ​​it transforms customers who have forgotten you into regulars who return. Start with two automatic scenarios (inactivity and birthday), then add one one-off campaign per week.

Note Morocco: in Morocco, push notification naturally combines with WhatsApp: push carries automated reminders (inactivity, birthday, offer), while WhatsApp remains the merchant's conversation and proximity channel. This complementarity is a matter of local use, not a DimaCard functionality. Prices in dirhams are not published: MAD prices on request via the contact page.