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Texts and push notifications are so similar that it can be tempting to lump them together and treat them the same way. They both arrive on a user\u2019s mobile device, they both have to fit within tight character limits, but they both have average open rates that are over 90%<\/strong>. The same is valid on the business end as well. The cost of sending out many texts is relevant for many businesses, especially small ones, depending upon what service and platform are used to blast out messages. Push notifications, in contrast, are unlimited and free<\/strong> when you build and manage your app using Mobilise Solutions<\/a>! But clicking \u201csend\u201d\u00a0doesn\u2019t have to be daunting, and when done right,\u00a0push notifications are an\u00a0incredibly effective way to increase customer engagement.\u00a0Below we\u2019ll share some tips on navigating the push like a pro. You\u2019d instead be invited into someone\u2019s house than forced. Now apply that to push notifications. Condense and frame the title; for example: \u201cWe\u2019re giving away 15 free pizzas! Click to learn more,\u201d instead of \u201cCLICK HERE for a chance to enter our free pizza contest giveaway!\u201d Remember, it\u2019s a message from you to the consumer, and you have a limited amount of characters to work with, so make the most of them. Be human; avoid robotic language and play to the consumer\u2019s interests and benefits, not just your own. What benefit do push notifications offer? Push notifications can serve as a great customer retention tool, but they need to be read! So what would make you click if you were on the receiving end?<\/p>\n Geofenced push notifications<\/a> create virtual boundaries (or a \u201cfence\u201d) around a particular area, so only users who travel in and out of the fence receive the message for a specified time. You can customise the push notification\u2019s fenced area and duration on our platform, sending only to users who enter your chosen hot spots during an hour, a day, a week, etc. This considerably lessens your odds of bugging people with irrelevant notifications. For example, say a frequent customer is on an out-of-state business trip\u2014they probably won\u2019t care about your half-off appetisers deal, so leave them out. Instead, notify people who are most likely to take advantage: the ones nearby.<\/p>\n Hopefully, we all agree that the wee hours of the morning should be push-free, but there\u2019s a lot more to timing than just that. Since poorly planned push notifications can drive people away just as quickly as they arrived, it\u2019s essential to consider the lifestyle and habits of your average user. Studies show<\/a> the best time to send push notifications is between noon and 5 pm on weekdays. Mondays are best avoided since the average smartphone user tends to be busiest at the start of the week, but Tuesday through Friday, you\u2019re golden. Now, this only accounts for the average\u00a0<\/i>user. If your target demographic works weekends or odd hours, you\u2019ll need to factor that in. The main takeaway? Send your push notifications when users have enough downtime to read them but don\u2019t disrupt their quiet hours.<\/p>\n
\nSo, why would anyone argue that push notifications are better? And again, what are push notifications?
\nWell, one consideration is cost. Many users do not have unlimited texting plans and will get charged for each text message you send. This can irritate users and lead them to look at your message negatively. Or, they may opt out of future messages altogether, which is bad for business. The infographic below explains what a push notification is<\/strong>\u00a0and how it can benefit your business.<\/p>\n
\nThe opt-in\/opt-out dynamic<\/strong> also favours push notifications when it comes to user attitude. Users have total control over which apps send them information and may even specify which types of notifications they want from each app. Text messages, on the other hand, often come unsolicited. In fact, due to the sale of phone number lists between companies, some users may receive spammy texts from time to time and view SMS as a lower-quality messaging channel.
\nPush notifications also increase engagement <\/strong>with your app and improve user retention <\/strong>rates. Thus, they can help drive activity on the topic of your message; they also help increase the returns you see from your app. Push notifications serve double duty and offer several benefits at once.
\nWith Bizness Apps, we also enable you to send custom messages to your customers that entice them to come back into your business. For example, you can send a beautifully designed push notification message in seconds, offering people 10% off their dinner within the next hour if things are slow during certain business hours.
\nThis helps bring in new customers and can help attract loyal customers back into your establishment. The return on investment<\/strong> here is staggering for a small business.
\nWhether you\u2019re a small business owner with a mobile app or a seasoned marketer, sending your first push notification<\/a> can feel like cannon-balling into a pool full of strangers. I mean, what are push notifications anyways \u2014 as we keep asking? So what is a push notification? It\u2019s scary and awkward, and somewhat invasive. Why?<\/p>\n\n
\nALSO READ:\u00a0Push Notification Basics Every Business Needs to Know
\nWhether you\u2019re a small business owner with a mobile app or a seasoned marketer, sending your first push notification can feel like cannon-balling into a pool full of strangers. It\u2019s scary and awkward, and somewhat invasive. Why? What are push notifications?<\/p>\n1. Avoid being pushy, despite the name.<\/h2>\n
2. Hit the right target.<\/h2>\n
3. Don\u2019t wake me up.<\/h2>\n
4. I Appreciate your positioning.<\/h2>\n