Push notifications (introduction)
Push notifications are messages that appear on your smartphone or mobile computer to inform you about new social networking posts, new website material, or some other online activity that occurred when you were busy with other things. The message sent by an application to the mobile device of a customer is a Mobile App Push Notification. You can send push notifications to customers who install and choose to receive messages from your mobile application. Mobile app push notifications generally serve to deliver product updates, reminders, custom offers, news breaking and information that is integrated into the app's functionality and requires attention.
Why Push Notifications?
Unlike traditional emails or text messages, push notifications provide concise information. Potential customers don’t like companies contacting them directly through calls as they perceive it as invasion of privacy. Under such circumstances, push notifications via app can help improve product commitment and customer experience.
How does it work?
Push notice notifications can be seen in the lock screen, banner and notification center of your phone at 3 places, when the app user chooses messages. While Android has an opt-in and manual opt-out user default, iOS will not permit apps to send users updates unless they accept messages. Mobile users in Canada now have an average of 50+ apps on their phones, making it difficult to create a flow where an app meets a daily habit. It's difficult to use so many applications daily.
Push notifications on iOS and Android will help users return to an app while they are overwhelmed by the many applications they have installed on their mobile. Users may be encouraged to log in and complete specific activities that provide value through personalized notifications. You need an effective re-engagement plan in place to keep users engaged and optimize the potential of your native mobile app.
Types of push notifications
Push notifications come in a variety of forms, including badge notifications – which appear momentarily on the screen – and banner notifications, which work similar to pop-up advertisements. This will give you an idea of how you can expand your messaging plan by using Android and iOS push notifications. The Android approach provides a wider range of push-enabled users than iOS by design. However, the ability to quickly opt-out allows users to force messages off or disable the app. In a new survey by Accengage, 43.9% of mobile app users have opted for mobile push messages versus 91.1% of Android users.
Let's look at the different types of mobile push notifications and how they can help with user interaction.
#1. Educational
Informative push notifications provide important, relevant messages to consumers and keep them informed about important changes, warnings, and events. This makes them ideal for finance apps like Cred, which alert customers to recent account activity or important market spikes. This particular mobile push form, however, can be used in any industry.
#2. Reminders
These alerts alert users to major app changes and recommend that they either download the latest version or try out a new or significantly enhanced feature. These push notifications show users that they're still working to improve their experience. An app sends alerts based on user feedback and data from external sources so users don't miss out on crucial opportunities or tasks. If a user has a meeting, for example, an app may use local traffic data to notify them when they should leave the house to arrive on time.
#3. Geolocation
When users enter or exit an area, an app will give them a simple push notification. Geolocation notifications enable you to establish virtual boundaries around specific areas so that an app can send push notifications to all users who are within those boundaries. Geolocation alerts are useful for submitting date match notifications, locating nearby stores and points of interest. Google Maps push notifications, for example, are caused by geolocation.
#4. Promotional
Users get promotional push alerts when there are exclusive deals, giveaways, or sales. Promotional alerts inspire users to make transactions in this way. Amazon, for example, allows users to set up personal alerts for offers on specific products and items. When the price for these products and items falls below a threshold that the user has specified, they will receive a warning. Users are enticed to take a desired action through promotional alerts.
#5. Re-engagement
Fitness apps, e-commerce apps (online stores and marketplaces), music apps, and many other forms of apps can benefit from re-engagement or catch-up notifications. Re-engagement or catch-up notifications aim to inspire users. If people use an app to perform certain tasks to improve their lives in any way, the app will congratulate them on their achievements. “Congratulations! You are a hustler!” can be sent by a productivity app. This strengthens a user's relationship with the app by associating these positive experiences and achievements with its use.
Why do Push Notifications matter?
Push notifications have quickly become a commonplace feature in the modern world. People recognise push alerts – even though they don't name them that – and have approved them with very few exceptions. Users can customise their push notification settings on a case-by-case basis, allowing them to select which updates they want to receive. You may, for example, choose to be alerted only when new Instagram posts are made, rather than any time there are Amazon sales.
This helps people to control the kind and amount of information they get. Amazon now has revealed that its Alexa suite of products will now include push notifications. The easiest way to push alerts is by calling for action directly. This can include content a user wants to hear instantly about flash sales or limited-duration special savings events. A sense of urgency is essential to push notifications: the fact that you get to know your customers in this way means you have details now.
#1. The easiest way to reach
Incorporating Android and iOS push notifications into the messaging strategy is the easiest way to reach a customer. It also boosts mobile user engagement and app retention. Experienced Mobile App developers continuously discuss user reviews and analyze other features such as the most frequent features of users when updating and changing an app.
#2. Attracts the customer
A study by Digital Trends show that nearly 90% of applications that are downloaded onto a mobile device are only opened once and never used again? Statista statistics show that 25 per cent of smartphone applications have been downloaded worldwide by consumers and used only once in 2019. Just 16 per cent of consumers would offer an app a second chance. Action items, updates and services in the form of push notifications ensure retaining the attraction and attentiveness of the customer.
#3. Makes action items easy
A click on the notification often ensures a halfway completion of the action. A customer looks at a notification, gets inspired and can now immediately get it completed. It is so quick to even process.
How can you make the best out of it?
One of the most appealing features of push notifications is how simple they are to set up and handle. They don't need rigorous training and are easier to comply with data privacy laws than email ads or text message alerts. While some people fear that push notifications will bother them, the truth is that they are extremely useful for both business owners and consumers. After their introduction to the marketing world, statistic after statistic has poured in to justify the use of push notifications. Users may receive customized deals, such as discounts, thoughtful reminders, and app news, via push notifications.
It's a subtle way of reminding them that you're there and that you have something worthwhile to sell. One of the most notable advantages of using push notifications is that they elicit user participation. They enable you to retarget users and assist in the development of relationships through customised and personal experiences.
#1. Timing
Timing is key- anywhere and everywhere. A well-timed initiative will make a big difference in your users' experience and your app's growth. When scheduling your updates, keep in mind the different time zones. You don't want to wake your users up, so if you're sending a time-sensitive deal, make sure it's adjusted to their time zone. Although push notifications can be an effective way to meet and re-engage mobile app users, spamming users with too many notifications and at inappropriate times can backfire.
#2. Visual appeal
Make it visual: Adjusting photos and videos to a push message will make the users more powerful and reactive. In this short notification- even fonts and spacing matter. Then come into the picture- emojis. For instance, Emojis will raise CTR – with emojis at 4.94%, compared with 3.01% at no. Some emojis seem easier than others to function. When crafting the notification, be imaginative. Make yourself feel like you're talking to your users.
#3. Adapt to the device
Push notification strategy for mobile apps should consider the inherent differences between the mobile platforms and the opt-in rates. For better rates, follow each Stores' rules. When it comes to the duration of push notifications, remember to keep them brief and to the point. The user will be able to read your push notification right away. As a general rule:
- For Android, maintain 60-90 characters.
- For iOS, limit yourself by 120 characters.
Your push notification will be shown in its entirety this way.
Final thoughts:
In a survey, Responsys, a multinational marketing firm headquartered in California, discovered that 6 out of 10 adults have already downloaded apps from their favourite brands. Responsys also discovered that seven out of ten adults have activated push notifications on those apps. When Responsys enquired among the youth, the results were even more impressive.
From word-of-mouth reviews to print advertisements to radio and television commercials, the goal of marketing campaigns has evolved significantly over time. Mobile marketing is quickly becoming the most critical part of targeting a large number of clients and potential customers these days.
Customers expect news of promotions and offer to come to them rather than looking for them themselves now that they have digital technology in their pockets at all times of the day. This is where push notifications will help your promotional campaigns; you're taking the pressure of seeking knowledge off your customers' shoulders and putting it on your shoulders.