As smartphone apps become more and more popular the ongoing app challenge is really, how to ensure new and consistent app usage.
And, as the mobile landscape expands, there are a plethora of options available as to how to deliver digital content. So, it’s essential to understand that the ideal mode of delivery is ultimately dependent on the type of content to be delivered – identifying what your audience needs, wants or just how they most enjoy it By determining and leveraging this information your app or product will go a long way, extending engagement and usefulness to consumers and maximizing your ROI.
One means of content delivery proving to be a vital tool for developers is “push” notification as discussed in GigaOm’s article, Engagement wars to pull users back apps push notifications. “Many developers already employ notifications to send out alerts, offers and remind users of updates. But now, the messages are taking on even more significance, because developers are being judged more on how often users are coming back to their apps.”
So, Why and How to Push?
By providing short, interesting pieces of content you can invite your users back into the application for a longer experience, which also improves audience retention. Push can be used for news alerts, event announcements, mobile vouchers and many more uses.
“Push” essentially gives a brand a well-respected yet noninvasive voice, allowing you to create more dedicated customers by delivering them relevant and fresh updates, while keeping your app at the forefront of their attention
So make sure your push app is helping, not hindering, your brand.
- Offer message content that transports the users into a rich media environment that is fresh, engaging, and entertaining.
- Test which types of notifications your consumers are most responsive to.
- Segment users with tailored push notifications because there’s no one-size-fits-all. Using in-app analytics, you can also integrate your app with CRM systems to gain data on your users.
- Inform users from the onset that they have complete control of personalizing their preferences and can opt in or out at any time.
- Create data driven content, triggered by what you already know about your customer. Consider what they have purchased, downloaded, or shared.
- Use geo detection (if available) and any other bits of information to put your message into context.
Popular brands using push notifications
MSNBC.com push notification content presents breaking news, feature stories, video, photos, podcasts and more.
Twitter users can now adjust their settings to receive push notifications whenever their favorite users tweet or re-tweet.
HotelTonight’s android app uses push notifications to offer an alternative way to find great last minute places to stay. Messages alert travelers to city-specific deals as soon as they’re available, allowing for cheap prices at top hotels on the fly.
Salesforce’s mobile lite is free and sends you real-time notifications to your mobile and Desktop. Read more at Venture Beat and Cloudify can be extended to send alerts like Case escalated, Case Closed, Opportunity Created, Opportunity Closed, Contract Expired and many more with customization.
Widdit’s new HomeBase SDK enables android app developers to use push notifications, rich mobile messaging in addition to other branding and content features deliverable to native mobile apps from a single code base.
So provide your users with exceptional customer service experiences, build engagement and better monetize mobile app audiences.