Will Your App's Users Allow Push Notifications?

By Author: Jennifer Lewis
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Typically, when someone downloads your mobile app using an Apple mobile device, it asks whether they would like to receive push notifications. This is an important question for your app, a lot rides on the answer. More specifically, your mobile app should aim for its users to allow push notifications primarily because it means they are saying connected, and are likely to use your app more frequently. And while you can't force such an app setting, you can encourage your users to do so.

What Are Push Notifications?

The feature known as push notifications is specific to Apple and its mobile devices. Essentially, what the service does is forwards notifications from a third party app such as yours, to the mobile device that is being used. Whether someone is using the app or not, the notification will appear on the screen of the Apple product. This, of course, first requires the user’s consent, which is what your mobile enterprise should aim to secure for every user it has.

Push Notifications Equal More Usage

While having your users consent to allow push notifications on their Apple device should be ...
... the ultimate goal, such consent is not always easy to obtain. With that said, the best way to get consent lies within the user's perception of your app. In other words, if they want to stay connected to it, then they will likely consent to receive push notifications. So, foremost, your goal should be to create a mobile app that users want to stay connected with. In context, it all comes down to that pivotal moment when the Apple device first asks the user if he or she would like to receive push notifications from your app. It only takes a matter of a second or two for them to make such a decision. However, once the user has made their decision and subsequently replies to the dialogue, they are much less likely to go back and change it. This is primarily because of the extra steps involved with going into the iOS settings and switching the push notifications.

Getting It Right The First Time

For such reason, it should be your mission to get every mobile device user to agree to allow push notifications when they are first presented with the dialogue box prompting them to do so. Another way that you can ensure your users agree to allow push notifications the first time they are presented with the option, is by making sure such notifications are crucial to the user's success using the app. In other words, if you have a social network that thrives on users being notified — even when the app is not in use — of activity with friends, then users are more likely to allow push notifications. This is juxtaposed to, say, an image editing app that does not require much interaction or updates.

Conclusion

Regardless of your mobile app, whether it is a social network, a gaming app, or an image editing mobile offering, you should aim to get every one of its users to allow push notifications. If you can do so, then you will not only optimize the number of users, but your will also increase the frequency at which they do so. When it comes to offering a successful and profitable app to the mobile market, this is the toughest and most important accomplishment.

The author holds a content writer position in enterprise application development company. The enterprise mobility consulting firm has offering healthcare mobile application development on major mobile platforms.