Push Notifications

Re-engage users with timely, relevant notifications

Bring Users Back With Push Notifications

Push notifications are the most direct channel to reach app users. Email gets lost in inboxes. Social media posts compete with endless feeds. But push notifications appear on lock screens and notification centers, grabbing attention immediately. Done well, they drive engagement, retention, and conversions. Done poorly, they annoy users who disable notifications or uninstall your app.

The key is relevance and timing. Generic "Check out our app!" notifications get ignored. Personalized notifications triggered by user behavior perform dramatically better: order shipped updates, messages from friends, sale on items they viewed, reminders for incomplete actions. Timing matters too: notifications at 3AM get you blocked, while notifications during active hours get engagement.

We implement sophisticated push notification systems using Firebase Cloud Messaging, OneSignal, or custom solutions. Segmented campaigns, personalized content, behavioral triggers, A/B testing, delivery time optimization, and analytics tracking: all configured to maximize engagement while respecting user preferences.

Notification Types

Transactional Notifications

Triggered by user actions or system events. Order confirmations, shipping updates, payment receipts, password resets, appointment reminders. High engagement because users expect these updates.

Examples:

  • β€’ "Your order #12345 has shipped"
  • β€’ "Payment received: RM150.00"
  • β€’ "Appointment tomorrow at 2 PM"
  • β€’ "Password reset successful"

Promotional Notifications

Marketing messages promoting sales, new features, content. These drive conversions but risk annoying users if overused. Require opt-in and should be targeted to interested segments.

Best Practices:

  • β€’ Personalize based on behavior
  • β€’ Limit frequency (max 1-2 per week)
  • β€’ A/B test messaging
  • β€’ Provide clear opt-out

Social Notifications

Alerts about social interactions within apps. New followers, likes, comments, mentions, messages. Keep users engaged with social features and drive return visits.

Re-engagement Notifications

Win back inactive users. "We miss you" messages, new feature announcements, personalized recommendations. Timing is crucial: too soon feels pushy, too late means they've forgotten your app.

Advanced Notification Features

User Segmentation

Send different notifications to different user groups. Segment by behavior (active vs inactive), demographics, location, preferences, purchase history, app version. Personalized notifications outperform broadcasts significantly.

Rich Media Notifications

Include images, videos, or interactive elements. Product photos for e-commerce, GIFs for entertainment apps, action buttons for quick responses. Rich notifications grab more attention and provide better context.

Smart Delivery Timing

Optimize delivery based on when users are most likely to engage. Analyze historical open rates by time and day. Adjust for time zones automatically. Quiet hours settings respect user sleep schedules.

A/B Testing

Test different message copy, send times, images, or calls-to-action. Measure open rates, click-through rates, and conversions. Continuously optimize based on data.

Deep Linking

Notifications open specific screens in your app, not just the home screen. "Order shipped" opens order details. "New message" opens that conversation. Reduces friction and improves conversion.

Push Notification Platforms

Firebase Cloud Messaging

Google's free push notification service for iOS and Android. Reliable, scalable, integrates with other Firebase services. Best for apps already using Firebase.

OneSignal

Feature-rich platform with segmentation, A/B testing, scheduling, analytics. Free tier generous. Excellent documentation and easy integration.

Custom Solutions

Build on top of Apple Push Notification service (APNs) and Firebase for complete control. Required for advanced use cases or regulatory requirements.

Ready to Implement Push Notifications?

Let's build a notification strategy that engages users without annoying them.

Setup Push Notifications