Push Notification Best Practices for Mobile Apps
How to use push notifications to help users without driving them to disable notifications or delete your app.
Push notifications are a powerful way to reach app users, and an easy way to annoy them. Used well, they bring users back at the right moment. Used poorly, they lead users to turn off notifications or uninstall the app.
Ask for permission at the right time
Instead of requesting permission the moment the app opens, explain the benefit first and ask when it makes sense, for example after a user books an appointment and would want a reminder.
Send notifications that help
- Reminders for things users scheduled
- Updates on orders, deliveries, or requests
- Messages from other people
- Security alerts
- Genuinely relevant, timely information
Avoid notifications that hurt
- Generic promotional messages sent to everyone
- Too many notifications in a short time
- Notifications at night in the user's time zone
- Vague messages that require opening the app to understand
Personalise and segment
Notifications based on what users have done or asked for perform far better than broadcasts. Respect preferences for different types of notification.
Make them actionable
A good notification includes the key information and opens directly to the relevant screen.
Give users control
Offer settings for categories of notifications, so users can keep the useful ones instead of turning everything off.
Measure
Track open rates, opt-out rates, and uninstalls after notifications. Rising opt-outs are a clear sign to send fewer or better messages.
Every notification should be something the user would be glad you sent.
MOKRIN implements push notifications with preferences, segmentation, and deep links, designed to help users rather than interrupt them.
