21 Push Notification Best Practices You Should Follow in 2024

Push notifications are an essential part of an omnichannel marketing strategy. When effectively used on mobile devices, laptops, and desktop browsers, they can boost CTR by up to 30%, ROI by up to 2200%, and website traffic by up to 25%.

Moreover, 70% of customers feel that push notifications are helpful. 52% look for relevant information and offers. 40% interact with push notifications within an hour of receiving them.

How do you use this powerful tool for the best results? Noah Weiss, Head of Search, Learning, and Intelligence at Slack, has some advice: “A great push notification is three things: timely, personal, and actionable.”

Here, then, are 21 best practices for using push notifications for browsers and apps. They’re divided into three broad categories: Promptness, Personalisation, and Action-oriented Cues. After you go through them, see these five examples of push notifications done right.

Promptness

1. Leverage the right moments

You could have customers all over the world. That’s why it’s’ important to do a time zone check before sending out notifications. The time and day of the week matter, too.

Business and finance-related communications can be in the morning at the beginning of the week. Gaming and entertainment can be in the evenings and weekends. With automation, this can be planned and scheduled in advance.

2. Create urgency

Messages that are urgent capture attention. There should be a genuine reason for this, and it should not be simply a gimmick. For example, they could announce the last day or hour of a sale. For those in retail, a reminder that some items will be out of stock can work.

3. Promote updates and new content

Consumers love to discover unique and tailored content. They also like to be among the first to do this. Such behavior can be leveraged with notifications announcing app updates and new features. The words “new” and ” be the first” can be powerful hooks.

4. Use locations

With location-tracking technology, apps can send triggered notifications to customers based on where they are at specific points in time. For instance, if they’re near a store or restaurant, a tailored message could invite them to drop in. Such notifications could also be sent when the customer travels to a new town. According to a survey, 49% of consumers said they’d use an app more if it sent them push notifications triggered by their selected hometown.

5. Don’t’ overdo it

One of the reasons consumers don’t opt-in for push notifications is the fear that they will receive too many. Reassure them from the start that this will not happen. Use timing and frequency judiciously. The optimal frequency will depend on the nature of the sector and the need to deliver updates. Engagement and click-through rates over time are one metric to determine the right frequency.

Personalization

6. Pat consumers on the back

When customers take action, you can use notifications to tell them how it helped. They can also use behavioral cues, such as pointing to consumers after work that they deserve a treat. The results of the survey customers have participated in can also be sent, with a note that this would not have been possible without them.

7. Generate interest

Based on customer segmentation, your notifications can engage the customer by hinting at nuggets of information on the app or site. This way, you can draw attention to what they have not yet seen. Demonstrate how they can gain knowledge. Inform them that they will miss out if they don’t use the app or visit the site.

8. Keep it light-hearted

Most consumers don’t’ like marketing jargon. This is where a sense of humor comes in handy. Light-hearted and funny notifications make them smile and feel treated as a person, not a consumer. Games or music apps, for instance, could use characters and lyrics to make a vital point.

9. Use GIFs, photos, videos, and audio

Notifications that support images, videos, and audio are referred to as rich push notifications. These can be highly effective. One study of data from nearly 5 million messages showed that big-picture notifications see a 56 percent higher direct open rate on average. Best practices include segmenting customers so that only those with the supported browsers or operating systems receive them.

10. Start telling stories

Marketers know the power of brand storytelling. This same technique can be put to good use with push notifications. Such messages come across as personal, intriguing, and compelling. For example, you could use the words “Find out what happened when…” or “This is the story of how one of our customers benefited….” When consumers hear of a relevant story, chances are they will click through to find out how it ends.

11. Be clear and crisp

The main characteristic of push notifications is that they are short. This means that every word is important. The more concise you can keep, the better. Avoid jargon or filler words. For example, a finance app should not say: “We are pleased to inform you that you can now easily download your monthly statement by simply clicking here.” Instead: “Your April statement is ready. Download now.”

12. Explain the features

Explaining features is an effective way to use push notifications, especially for new customers.

A series can explain the top features of your mobile app, for example. Highlighting the distinctive elements of your webpage or digital service is another tactic. The focus should be on how such features can benefit or add value to the consumer. Take this case study for Mamikos, which provides services for property owners. Using mobile push notification templates, they achieved 35% more booking confirmations.

13. Leverage social media

Social media is a key growth driver for every business. You can use push notifications to amplify this by including links to your social media channels. The more personal, the better. For example, if a consumer has made a recent purchase, you can ask them to display it on social media. Another example: is if there is a social media post relevant to your category, you can alert the consumer.

14. Promote new content

You must already have planned regular rollouts of new content and upgraded app features as part of a retention and engagement strategy.

Segment consumers and let them know of these updates via push notifications. Mention the benefits and a clear CTA via a link.

Action-oriented Cues

15. Focus on personal goals

This is an excellent tactic for categories and apps that help consumers reach personal milestones. For example, fitness and health apps can send reminders of daily workouts and calories. Fintech companies can also guide consumers toward meeting financial goals through instructive and timely reminders.

16. Send nudges

This can be a constructive engagement booster. You can remind consumers who have not opened your app about what they’re missing out on.

Or you could encourage other small, positive actions that add value. Social proof, positive reviews, and product comparisons are other nudges that can drive consumers up the marketing funnel.

17. Send price information

For E-commerce merchants, push notifications can be a valuable way of reminding consumers of price drops, future price increases, or sales.

In general, consumers are always open and receptive to such information. A prominent call to action button further stimulates action.

18. Promote deals

Virtually every digital marketer uses deals to attract interest at one time or another. Push notifications are a powerful way of getting customers to take action. The notification should be crafted to highlight the offer and what steps must be taken to avail of it.

19. Ask for feedback

Yet another effective way to get consumers to engage by taking action is by asking for regular feedback. This could be an online review, filling in a form, or simply providing an app rating.

The type of feedback requested and the means for doing so should be spelled out. It also helps to mention the time the customer will need. For example: “Spend five minutes to improve how we work.”

20. Send real-time updates

One of the chief merits of push notifications is the ability to send out real-time updates.

This is often used by weather and news apps. Marketers can leverage this by sending sales dates, delivery and dispatch notifications, and payment received messages. Action can be requested by asking for confirmations or sending reminders of other products or services that can be useful.

21. Use action buttons

Your notifications should be clear about the action you want the consumer to take.

You should also provide them with a specific prompt to do so. Using buttons with the words “Book Now” or “Recharge Now” is some way of doing this.

Summary

In this way, using the above principles of Promptness, Personalisation, and Action-oriented Cues, you can develop a compelling marketing push notification strategy. Going beyond message delivery to an interactive channel that drives usage, engagement, and retention