Tech

The Value Of Push Notifications for iOS and Android

3 Mins read

Today everyone has heard about this kind of message and many people are successfully applying those mechanisms for various purposes. Are you aware of the fact that these notifications represent an exceptional marketing instrument able to improve the performance of your mobile application?

Let’s examine the issue in detail, and we shall start with the following point.

Pushes for Android and iOS: are there any differences between them?

Actually, there are and quite a few, so let’s review them concisely.

# OS initial settings

Gadgets with the Android OS are designed in such a way to receive notifications by default. This explains why the subscription rate rises to 90% since, technically, the subscription is taken place automatically.

It’s a different story when dealing with iOS platforms. As standard, all pushes are actually blocked, so users are to confirm their intent to subscribe. Obviously, it leads to a lower level of prescribers (only 45%), so the iOS audience is more likely not to open notifications. However, in case they do, those people turn out to be easier converted into real clients.

# Organizing pushes

Speaking of Android, the notifications could be organized into certain groups. However, the approach to such a process isn’t clear enough. Thus, there’s something to be carefully considered while Android app development.

People having iOS 12+, enjoy pushes grouping by time and app. It’s a pretty effective tool to enhance users’ experience.

# Swipes

The iOS audience can tap or swipe to the right in order to open notifications. If swiping to the left, you’ll see the menu with more options. However, people who prefer Android devices are well aware that swiping left/right will close pushes.

# Notification settings

As a rule, all iOS resources demand some work to set up pushes, for instance, the type of sound signals and the like. On the whole, there exist three ways to display notifications:

  • audio (new messages come with a sound signal);
  • banner + audio (users see a banner on the screen and hear a sound signal);
  • badges (in the upper right corner the audience sees an icon pointing out how many new pushes they’ve received).

As for Android mechanisms, it’s somewhat more confusing. The thing is that Google products are pretty adaptable: they don’t include specific systems to display pushes, thus, it all boils down to developers. Those people have certain tasks and goals to program accordingly. That’s the principle of Android notifications.

Pushes’ main advantages:

  • Possibility to call the attention of the audience. Notifications appear even when people don’t actually have a service open. Pushes represent an effective instrument to capture the attention of users and to remind them about your brainchild.
  • A chance to better interact with clients. It’s all pretty easy, cos it takes only one touch to subscribe. Moreover, these mechanisms allow app owners to reach their people even if they aren’t interacting with the specific platform.
  • An option to protect the contact details of your clients. Let’s say, when a person is subscribing to newsletters, he or she is supposed to indicate the email address. And, push notifications, in their turn, don’t demand those details, meaning, people will feel safer and more willing to cooperate with that program. Don’t worry, you’ll manage to collect all the data you need a little after, as soon as users learn that you could be trusted.
  • Possibility to build up and boost your traffic. In case you manage to choose the right features, you’ll succeed in directing the clients to the screens you need. That’s how you can easily promote particular pages.

What to avoid while implementing notifications

In order to enjoy all the advantages mentioned above, you need to be aware of what might go wrong and how to prevent those mistakes in the first place. So, make sure you pay attention to the following points:

  • Being too pushy from the outset. Be patient and, whatever you do, don’t annoy the audience! Allow people some time to dig up what your framework is about, and don’t ask them to subscribe before they do. The worst case is when you actually irritate users.
  • Being too general and unclear. What the “get subscribed!” phrase can tell the users? Pretty much nothing. If you manage to be more specific in explaining to individuals what they could subscribe to, users will become more supportive.
  • Sending an excessive number of messages. In case clients obtain pushes one after the other, there’s a strong possibility the audience will get infuriated. And, in such condition might decide to delete the service for good. It’s not what you’re striving for.
  • Unrelated content. There’s one proven way to take down all advantages pushes provide – it’s when you sent clients completely irrelevant and pointless content.

And, remember that 10% of users choose to opt out from receiving push messages, in case every time they get the same info. So, be wise when taking advantage of notifications.