Using Discount Codes in Shopify Push Notifications

PushEngage does not generate or fetch discount codes automatically. To include a discount code in a push notification, you create the code in your Shopify admin first and then add it as static text in the notification copy. This guide explains how to do that across different campaign types.

Before You Start

• PushEngage is installed on your Shopify store.
• You have a Shopify discount code ready or know how to create one under Discounts in your Shopify admin.
• Discount codes can be used in Push Broadcasts, Drip Autoresponders, and Trigger Campaigns.

Step 1: Create a Discount Code in Shopify

1. Log in to your Shopify admin.
2. Go to Discounts in the left navigation.
3. Click Create discount.
4. Choose the discount type: Amount off products, Amount off order, Buy X get Y, or Free shipping.
5. Set the discount value, minimum requirements, usage limits, and expiry date.
6. Enter a discount code. Use a short, memorable code. Example: SAVE15, WELCOME10, CARTBACK.
7. Click Save.

Tip: Set an expiry date on the discount code to create urgency. Make sure the code is active before the push notification goes out.

Step 2: Add the Discount Code to Your Push Notification

Once the code is created in Shopify, add it directly to your notification copy in PushEngage. There is no variable or auto-fetch — the code is typed in as plain text.

Recommended Placement

The discount code works best in the notification message (body text), not the title. The title should create the hook; the message delivers the offer.

Field	Example
Title	A little gift from us
Message	Use code SAVE15 at checkout for 15% off your order.
URL	Your store homepage or a specific product/collection page

Use Discount Codes by Campaign Type

In Cart Abandonment Campaigns

Cart abandonment Push 3 (the incentive push) is the most common place to offer a discount. The subscriber has already seen two reminders — a discount at this point converts holdouts.

1. Go to Campaigns » Trigger Campaigns.
2. Open your Cart Abandonment campaign and click on the third notification (or add one if you only have two).
3. Include the discount code in the message body.

Example copy:

Option	Title	Message
1	Still on the fence? Here is 10% off	Use code CART10 at checkout. Your {productname} is waiting.
2	We want you to have this	Complete your {productname} order with code SAVE10 for 10% off.
3	A deal for coming back	Use code COMEBACK10 for 10% off your order. Offer expires in 48 hours.

In Welcome Drip Campaigns

A discount in Push 3 of the welcome series nudges new subscribers toward their first purchase.

1. Go to Campaigns » Drip Autoresponders.
2. Open your welcome series and edit the third notification (the incentive push).
3. Add the discount code in the message.

Example copy:

Option	Title	Message
1	Your welcome gift	Use code WELCOME10 at checkout for 10% off your first order. Valid for 48 hours.
2	First order discount is here	We want to make your first purchase easy. Use code FIRST10 for 10% off.
3	A treat for joining us	Use code NEW15 for 15% off anything in our store. Go ahead, treat yourself.

In Push Broadcasts

Use Push Broadcasts to send discount codes for flash sales, seasonal promotions, or one-time offers to all subscribers or a specific segment.

1. Go to Campaigns » Push Broadcasts.
2. Click Create New Push Broadcast.
3. Compose your notification with the discount code in the message body.
4. Select your audience (all subscribers, Leads, Customers, or an Audience Group).
5. Send immediately or schedule for the right moment.

Example copy for a flash sale:

Option	Title	Message
1	24-hour flash sale is live	Use code FLASH20 for 20% off everything. Offer ends tonight at midnight.
2	Today only: 20% off your order	Use code TODAY20 at checkout. This deal expires in 24 hours.
3	Surprise deal inside	Use code SURPRISE15 for 15% off sitewide. Valid today only.

Best Practices

1. Set a clear expiry. Discount codes without an end date have less urgency. Set the code to expire 24-48 hours after the notification fires.

2. Use one code per campaign. Do not use the same discount code across multiple campaigns at once. If you need to track which campaign drove conversions, use unique codes per campaign (e.g., CART10, WELCOME10, FLASH10).

3. Match the offer to the audience. Use the Leads segment for first-purchase discounts and the Customers segment for loyalty or repeat-purchase rewards. See Understanding Default Shopify Segmentation and Audience Groups for how to target segments.

4. Do not offer discounts too early. In a cart abandonment sequence, hold the discount for Push 3. Offering it in Push 1 trains customers to wait and abandon on purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can PushEngage auto-generate unique discount codes per subscriber? Not natively. All subscribers who receive the notification see the same static code you typed in. For unique per-subscriber codes, you would need to generate them via the PushEngage API.

What happens if the discount code expires before a subscriber opens the notification? The subscriber will see the code in the notification but it will not work at checkout. Set notification expiry times to match your discount code’s validity window to reduce this.

Can I use the same discount code in multiple campaigns? Yes, but you will not be able to distinguish which campaign drove the conversion in Shopify reports. Use unique codes per campaign for cleaner attribution.

Where do subscribers enter the code? At checkout. Make sure your notification URL links to a page where they can add items to their cart and proceed to checkout easily.

If you run into any issues, please feel free to contact us by clicking here. Our support team will be able to help you.