TLDR
Many restaurants and cafes overlook push notifications as part of their marketing, or don’t consider them at all. But push notifications can significantly boost customer loyalty and engagement, potentially increasing retention rates by 3 to 10 times. With the integration between Square Smart Customer Groups and the Per Diem mobile ordering app, it’s now easier to send targeted push notifications to any customer segment you want to reach — whether that’s new customers, loyal regulars, lapsed visitors, or subscribers. In this post, we’ll walk through three simple and effective ways to use this feature to engage your customers directly from your app.

How Smart Groups Can Boost Customer Engagement
Square Smart Groups are a game-changer for customer engagement, allowing you to target the right customers with personalized messages that maximize sales. By leveraging this feature, you can enhance your loyalty marketing efforts and reduce customer churn rates.
Personalized Targeting for Maximum Impact
Smart Groups automatically segment your customer base, enabling you to send tailored push notifications for restaurants and coffee shops. This personalization ensures that your messages resonate with each customer group, increasing the likelihood of engagement and repeat visits.
Early Detection of Customer Churn
One of the key benefits of Smart Groups is their ability to help you understand customer churn sooner. By focusing on when customers were last seen, you can identify potentially lapsed customers and take proactive measures to re-engage them before it's too late.
Enhancing Loyalty Through Timely Engagement
Engaged customers are more likely to stay loyal, and Smart Groups make it easier than ever to keep your audience connected. Whether it's welcoming new customers, rewarding regulars, or enticing lapsed customers to return, Square Smart Groups provide the insights you need to craft compelling messages that drive action.
By utilizing Smart Groups with Per Diem's push notification feature, you can create a robust customer engagement strategy that boosts retention, increases orders, and ultimately grows your business with less effort.
Reconnect With Lapsed Customers
Smart Groups enable merchants to identify and reconnect with lapsed customers through targeted push notifications. By understanding your audience and delivering relevant messages, you can effectively minimize churn and boost customer loyalty.
Crafting Effective Re-engagement Campaigns
Monitoring user behavior is crucial for creating impactful push notifications for restaurants. By analyzing purchase history and engagement patterns, you can tailor your messages to resonate with each customer's preferences. For instance, you might send a push notification saying,
"We miss you! Come back this week for 20% off your favorite latte."
These behavior-based push notifications can increase open rates by up to 400%, making them a powerful tool for loyalty marketing.
Timing and Frequency Matter
When implementing your re-engagement strategy, consider sending push notifications during off-peak hours to maximize visibility. Strike a balance between staying top-of-mind and avoiding message fatigue. By leveraging Smart Groups and Per Diem's dashboard, you can easily segment your audience and schedule personalized notifications that feel thoughtful rather than intrusive, ultimately driving more customers back through your doors.
.png)
Turn First-Time Visitors Into Loyal Regulars
Experts suggest that new guests need 3-5 visits to become true regulars. This insight is crucial for customer engagement strategies, especially when leveraging Square Smart Groups. By identifying first-time visitors, you can craft targeted push notifications for restaurants that encourage repeat visits within this critical window.
Personalized Loyalty Programs
A well-designed loyalty program can transform first-timers into lifelong clients. Utilize Square Smart Groups to segment new customers and offer them personalized rewards through Per Diem's integration with Square Loyalty and the app-based advanced incentives. Promote these offers through push notifications. This approach incentivizes return visits and makes the guests feel valued from the start.
Crafting a Journey That Resonates
Enhance loyalty by engaging guests before, during, and after their visit. Use coffee shop marketing techniques to create anticipation, provide a memorable experience, and follow up with personalized messages. Square Smart Groups allow you to tailor your communication at each stage, ensuring a cohesive customer journey.
Strategic Promotions: Entice and Reward
Implement promotions that both attract first-time buyers and reward loyalty. Use Per Diem's dashboard to send targeted push notifications offering introductory discounts to new customers while rewarding regulars with exclusive perks. This dual approach strengthens your loyalty marketing efforts and encourages long-term customer relationships.
Reward Your Best Customers with Personalized Perks
Tailoring Recommendations for Enhanced Engagement
Leverage Square Smart Groups to identify your loyal customers and tailor recommendations based on their purchase history. This data-driven approach boosts customer engagement and makes your regulars feel valued and understood. By utilizing push notifications for restaurants, you can send personalized offers that resonate with each customer's preferences, increasing the likelihood of repeat visits.
High-Value Rewards for Long-Term Loyalty
Offering high-value rewards as part of your loyalty marketing strategy can significantly impact customer retention. Consider providing free upgrades, early access to new menu items, or exclusive event invitations to your most loyal patrons. These meaningful perks not only enhance the customer experience but also incentivize word-of-mouth marketing, turning your best customers into brand ambassadors for your coffee shop or restaurant.
“You're one of our favorites — enjoy a free upgrade with your order today."
Leverage Push Notifications for Effortless Loyalty Marketing
Personalized notifications can increase engagement by over 344%. Per Diem lets you implement loyalty marketing tactics that drive results.
Boost Engagement with Targeted Messages
Push notifications have become one of the most effective tools for driving timely customer engagement. Per Diem enhances this channel by delivering an average 70% open rate on its app-based notifications. With unlimited push notifications included, you can maintain regular, targeted communication with your customers directly through your app, without added cost.
Personalization: The Key to Customer Retention
Tailoring push notifications based on user behavior is the secret sauce to making your messages feel personalized and relevant. By analyzing customer data, you can send targeted promotions, updates, and offers that resonate with individual preferences. This approach to coffee shop marketing not only enhances the customer experience but also significantly boosts the effectiveness of your loyalty marketing efforts.

Final Thoughts
By leveraging Square Smart Groups and Per Diem's push notification capabilities, you will unlock powerful tools to engage customers more effectively. These targeted strategies allow you to reconnect with lapsed patrons, welcome newcomers, reward loyal customers, and much more, all with personalized, timely messages. Implementing these approaches can boost retention rates, increase order frequency, and foster stronger customer relationships. The combination of Square's data-driven segmentation and Per Diem's seamless delivery mechanism streamlines your marketing efforts, saving you time while maximizing impact. Don't wait to utilize these powerful features—sign in to your Per Diem dashboard today and start crafting targeted push notifications that will resonate with your audience and drive real results for your business.