11 min read

What is a push notification, and how can they be used to engage users?

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It’s pretty easy to get lost in all of the jargon about modern mobile phones and platforms. If you’ve been looking for ways to improve open rates and engagement for your business, you’ve probably heard of push notifications. But what exactly are they? 

Mobile push notifications have come a long way since they were launched as a service by Apple in 2009. To trace their journey and impact, we’ll go through the basics of push notifications: what they are, how they work, and how to use them to enhance your business’ customer engagement strategy.

What is a push notification?

A push notification is a quick alert that’s sent to a user through an app or website when it’s locked. These notifications can reach users in real time, allowing them to respond promptly, whether by taking advantage of a promotional offer or by staying informed with breaking news. Meanwhile, a business can use push notifications to maintain a direct connection with their audience.

banking push notification on a mobile device

In-app push notifications can be used to send instant fraud alerts, adding an extra layer of security to a user's banking experience.

Lot of people opt in for push notifications – as many as 95% of Android users and up to 73% of iOS users – so now is the time to start using them if you aren’t already. 

How do push notifications work?

Push notifications depend on a communication channel like Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) or Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) to connect a website server or app to a user’s device. 

When a new notification is sent, the server will send a message to the channel, which will then deliver the message to the device. This can be an Android, iOS device, or even a desktop browser using Chrome or Safari. 

The message displays as a pop-up on a user's desktop, mobile home screen, or in the device’s notification center for the user to interact with as they like.

Types of push notifications

There are two major different kinds of push messages depending on the technology you’re using to engage with your customers. They have their own strengths, but creating both highly personalized messages and useful content are features that should be in all your messages for optimal user engagement.

 

Web-based push notifications

Web-based push notifications allow websites to alert users on their desktop or mobile versions. These messages can show up on different areas of a user’s screen or view depending on their browser or operating system.

Web push notifications are a great way to let users know about active sales and specials and are commonly used to get people to sign up for an email list. They’re also sometimes used for support, where they connect users to live or chatbot support about pretty much anything, like product information and account assistance.

 

App-based push notifications

App-based push notifications are created in a mobile app, typically appearing as pop-ups or in-app notifications on a mobile device or smartwatch. Typically, an app user must opt in to receive them first. 

Businesses send app-based push messages for a variety of reasons, like:  

  • Location-specific notifications 

  • Order status updates  

  • Specials and sales  

  • Appointments  

  • Fraud alerts  

  • And so much more!

Benefits of push notifications

It’s more important than ever to get an edge over your competition. Push messages are a smart way to gain an advantage while, at the same time, giving your customers what they want. 

While these types of messages are most commonly used by e-commerce, media, banking, financial, and insurance companies, there are almost no limits to how they can be used. Here’s why:  

  • Push notifications are easy for people to engage with. They don’t cost the recipient anything, and they’re easy to read at a glance, providing a convenient way to stay informed. 

  • Customers decide if they want these messages. Because users choose when to opt in or opt out, your company can ensure a more receptive audience.  

  • You can get messages to the right people at the right time. You can send geo-targeted push messages at the most opportune moment. And time- and location-based pushes give you more control over how and when customers see your messages.  

  • You’ll see better engagement. Push messages tend to perform really high in terms of open rate. And when compared to other forms of mobile marketing, there’s not much comparison: personalized push messages perform better, with personalized messaging shown to improve engagement 10 times more than standardized messages.  

  • You’ll drive retention. Push alerts can help remind your users to come back to your website or app, so they can work well as part of a re-engagement strategy.   

  • You’ll scale your business. Push notifications offer targeted, real-time communication that can help you instill positive customer experience and loyalty no matter the user’s device.

Illustration highlights the benefits of push notifications

Push notifications offer a number of benefits to businesses in different verticals.

8 awesome ways to use push messages

A great way to figure out which kinds of push notifications you should use is to think about the pushes that you receive. What is a mobile push notification that works for you? Which ones don’t? When you keep the end user in mind while planning these messages, you’ll be able to help them solve problems or provide them with useful content.  

Below are a few examples of powerful push notifications that can improve conversions and create a more personalized customer experience.

 

Abandoned cart push messages

These messages remind people of items that they added to their carts but never actually bought. You should build different notifications for different kinds of customers based on their profiles to improve your chances of securing a sale. Track the success rate of these push messages so you can keep refining your messaging.

 

Informational push messages

Informational pushes are the most flexible because these messages can be about anything: 

  • New products and special offers 

  • Account alerts 

  • Transactional messages 

  • Shipping notifications 

  • Posted payments 

  • Subscription status 

  • Appointment reminders 

  • Fun facts about your company or your customers’ use of your app or products 

Luckily, since people are already familiar with push messages, you can use a lot of the same ideas that you find in SMS marketing. If you’re sending push messages of any kind, make sure you keep in mind the information your target audience wants to receive and will find valuable, rather than only what you think is important for your brand.

 

Rich push notifications 

Rich notifications feature a combination of images, emojis, and other visual elements. These messages are noteworthy and attention-grabbing because they go well beyond most of the notifications that a customer is likely to see on their lock screen.

 

Geo-specific messages

Want to let people know that they're near your store or restaurant? Want to give them a coupon if they stop in today? You can use geo-specific mobile push notifications to your customers when they’re close to your location.

For example, dating apps successfully use these kinds of pushes to let people know they’ve matched with someone nearby.

 

Automated notifications

Automated messages let you schedule notifications at times that are most appropriate for your subscribers based on their location. This makes it so much easier to plan campaigns that are time-sensitive or build anticipation for upcoming events and deals.

 

Transactional push notifications

Transactional push messages are sent to people in response to an action they’ve taken, like making a purchase or reservation. They can include messages like shipping updates, delivery confirmations, and payment confirmations. They're an important part of the customer journey, helping brands enhance user satisfaction and build trust.

 

Time-bound notifications

Time-bound push messages are for sending limited-period offers, flash sales, and exclusive promotions to subscribers. They rely on your brand being able to create a sense of urgency to encourage swift action from recipients.

Black Friday is a great time to share time-bound deals and discount codes with shoppers via push notifications because, when done well, these messages capitalize on the excitement and frenzy of the holidays to encourage swift action.

 

Product update notifications

Push messages are a great way to share product updates like new features or enhanced capabilities with subscribers. These notifications can be especially beneficial if they’re personalized to each individual subscriber’s preferences – so, for example, an e-commerce brand could send a personalized notification showcasing the newest version of a product that a subscriber has already shown interest in. These notifications help customers feel unique and valued – a special touch they won’t forget!

Illustration of examples of push notifications

There are a number of powerful ways for brands to use push notifications, like abandoned cart reminders or geo-specific notifications.

Best practices for a push message strategy

Good push notifications are similar to other kinds of marketing campaigns in that they require a good strategy to be successful. While every business and customer are unique, there are some best practices that will get you started on the right foot.

 

Craft compelling content

It may seem simple, but it’s easier said than done: Always create great content written for your target audience. Answer questions your customers have before they ask them. Keep your messages short and direct.

 

Automate your messages

It’s more than likely that much of your audience will follow a similar customer journey, from sign-up to first purchase to leaving their first review. A lot of subscribers will expect similar messages at different parts of their journey for this reason. So, we recommend that if you can, automate messages that your customers will expect to receive at certain critical points of their journey, like when they: 

  • Successfully sign up for an account 

  • Complete their profile 

  • Make their first successful transaction 

  • Have a birthday  

  • ...And much more!

 

Personalize your messages

People expect a personalized customer experience, and personalized push messages can help your brand create tailored experiences for each individual subscriber. This approach can help you strengthen brand loyalty by making every interaction with your customers uniquely meaningful.  

Here are a few pieces you could personalize in your push messages:   

  • A customer’s first and/or last name 

  • Discount codes for special occasions (like birthdays or anniversaries)  

  • Notifications of deals that are unique to a user’s location 

  • Loyalty program rewards and status 

 

Segment your audience and customize your campaigns

Audience segmentation likely plays a significant role in your marketing strategy. That’s why we recommend also segmenting your audience for push notifications.  

You can build segments using: 

  • Page visit information 

  • Element clicked data (like how many people interacted with a specific button on a landing page) 

  • Operating system used, platform used, browsers, etc. 

  • Specific location 

 

Make sure all your push notifications provide value

To keep people engaged with your push notifications, you need to add real value to their experience. That means tailoring the content to be relevant and timely for each recipient and considering their preferences and behaviors. You’ll also need to make sure you aren’t sending them too many messages. 

Moreover, make sure that all your push notifications have a clear call-to-action that guides them on what to do next.  

 

Make opting in and opting out as easy as possible 

Being mindful of your customers’ communication preferences is crucial for building a positive relationship with them. To keep things simple, ensure it’s easy for them to update notification preferences and opt out when needed. 

If your subscribers choose to opt out of push messages, it might be that they prefer a different channel. Consider running an opt-in campaign on other channels to stay connected in the way that suits them best.

 

Use push notifications as part of your omnichannel strategy

Push notifications can serve as a dynamic tool to provide timely, relevant updates – but they shouldn’t be the only way you contact customers. Instead, consider their role within your overall approach to craft a seamless omnichannel customer journey.  

Use push notifications alongside email, social media, SMS, and other messaging channels to create a cohesive, synchronized experience for each customer. Because it’s not just about messaging, it’s about creating lasting relationships with each customer across multiple touchpoints.

Illustration shows push notification best practices

There are a number of best practices for sending push notifications to make sure your customers stay engaged!

How to track the success of your push notification campaign

While it’s easy to take push notifications for granted, they can provide tons of useful information when determining the success of a push message or campaign. 

Here are a few KPIs you could track to determine whether or not your push campaign has been successful.  

  • Number of unique visitors. This is a person who has visited a site or used an app in a given time period. If they visit more than once, they are still only counted as one unique visitor. 

  • Browser and platform distribution. This shows the split of your audience getting your notifications either on their desktops or on their mobile devices. 

  • Number of notifications sent. This figure can be per person or include your entire subscriber base, but looking at the average number of notifications can help you determine if you are sending the right number of pushes. 

  • Opt-in rate. This is the percentage of people who visit your site or use your app that allows push notifications. 

  • Delivery rate. This is the percentage of push notifications that weren’t stopped or blocked by a device or browser. You can figure out your delivery rate by dividing the total number of pushes by the number that weren’t blocked. 

  • Click-through-rate (CTR). Your CTR is the ratio of the number of push notifications sent to the number of those messages that were clicked. 

  • Average order value (for e-commerce). This shows how much is being spent by people who order from your site. Using this metric, you can track the success of a campaign by looking at whether the amount they spent increased after receiving pushes.

  • Conversion rate. Your conversion rate shows just how successful your messages are at getting a customer to convert. Determine this figure by taking the number of conversions divided by the number of interactions with push notifications.

How to start using push notifications

Here’s how to quickly get started with sending push notifications: 

  1. Do research into how others in your industry are using push notifications. Understand the nuances with your customers to glean insights for your own push notification strategy.  

  1. Find a system or API that connects with your platforms. Easy compatibility with your existing systems will mean your implementation will be simple and painless.  

  1. Build a strategy and segment your target groups. Be sure to create multiple strategies and different versions of segments. 

  1. A/B test strategies. Start small and build larger groups to find what works best. 

  1. Roll them out to all your customers. Keep the goal in mind that you want to inform and engage users across the board.  

  1. Optimize your messaging and repeat. Regularly assess the performance of your campaigns and adjust your approach to maintain relevance over time.

Transform your omnichannel approach with push messages

Now when someone asks you "what is a push notification?" you’ll be able to explain just what they are and how powerful they can be. Push messages should be a vital component of your omnichannel marketing strategy to help you engage users across their entire customer journey.  

Ready to embark on this journey? Sinch offers Push with iOS, Android, and React Native SDK, empowering you to integrate push notifications seamlessly into your apps. Or, contact us to speak with a member of our team about how we can help you create an omnichannel strategy your customers will love!