Layout includes built-in tools for communicating with your customers directly through your mobile app. Push notifications and announcements allow you to share updates, promotions, and important information without relying on third-party marketing tools or paid SMS services.
Push notifications are sent directly to customers who have installed your app and enabled notifications. Layout allows you to send unlimited push notifications at no additional cost. Notifications can be sent immediately or scheduled in advance, making it easy to plan promotions, reminders, or announcements ahead of time.
Notifications are best used for time-sensitive updates, such as limited-time offers, special events, or reminders. Because notifications appear directly on a customer’s phone, it’s important to use them thoughtfully and avoid over-sending. Sending relevant, timely messages helps maintain trust and long-term engagement.
Announcements create an in-app feed that customers can view at any time. Each announcement supports an image, a title, body text, and an optional call-to-action button. Announcements remain visible in the app even after a notification is dismissed, making them ideal for promotions that should stay accessible for longer periods.
Announcements and notifications can be used together. For example, you might send a push notification to alert customers to a new promotion, and link that notification to a detailed announcement inside the app. This ensures customers receive the message and have a place to learn more.
All notification and announcement management is handled through the Layout dashboard. From there, you can create, edit, schedule, and publish content. Changes are reflected in the app immediately once published.
Notifications and announcements are tied to your app users, not individual locations, unless otherwise configured. This allows you to communicate broadly across your customer base while still promoting location-specific offers when needed.
Analytics are available to help you understand engagement. You can see how customers interact with announcements and measure the impact of communication on app usage and orders. These insights help refine your messaging strategy over time.
If notifications are not delivering as expected, common causes include users disabling notifications at the device level or delays in app installation permissions. Layout support can help review delivery issues if needed.