All the businesses and companies are in a race to get their app installed. The biggest challenge here is to get users to download your app. You might be wondering if you get users to download your app, the battle is won, but only half of the battle won. That’s because data tells us that 23 percent of people abandon an app after one use. What’s even worse is that the average mobile app retention rate is 20 percent after 90 days.

Yes, that’s sad to hear but it’s the truth. 80 percent of people dump an app within just three months. Therefore it is a big challenge to retain those customers.

It is important for you to tell your users that you exist and the best way to that is engaging them through incentives. Even some of the studies have shown that incentives can actually prompt the renewed interest of users in apps. So how to do that? There are basically two options to do this: push notifications and in-app messaging. And you need to choose the option at the time you develop your app.

Some of you might be aware of Push notifications, how it works, and how it is different from notifications, others might not. So, here in this blog, I’ll be telling you about the same.

If you are a business or enterprise owner who is wishing to develop a mobile app or you are a developer, it is important to know about Push notifications and how you can use them as a great marketing tool for your business.

Push notifications are an effective marketing tool for businesses with a mobile app because they help in retaining your business in the minds of your users.

Again, it is good to add push notifications to your app due to its advantages but you need to make sure that you do not bug users with a lot of notifications. So, that they mute them and it turns out to be a disadvantage for you. You’ll never want that to happen. So take care and plan your Push Notification strategy carefully.

In the given blog, you will get to know everything about push notifications that is significant for you. Hence, it will help know what they are and how to use them effectively to enhance your existing mobile application and get more and more conversion.

Difference Between Push Notifications and In-App Messaging

Push notifications are those notifications that pop up in your smartphone, either on the status bar or on the lock screen. Just like a pop-up, push notifications usually go away once you open them. When you download an app, you might have seen a prompt asking you to approve of push notifications. Once you approve, you get push notifications very frequently.

The main point of difference between Push Notifications and In-app notifications is that push notifications can appear anytime (like a pop-up), while in-app notifications only appear when someone is using the particular app.

Push Notifications have character restriction while In-App messaging do not:

There are some similarities but push notifications are not the same as text messages.

Both the kinds of notifications go directly to the user’s phone and they look almost similar on their lock screen, but they’re different in their functioning. For a push notification to appear on a lock screen, there has to be a restricted character limit while that isn’t the case with other notifications.

No character restriction is applied to them, they can be longer because the users can tap to open and read the entire message. But with push notification, if it gets cut off on the lock screen only, it’s certainly going to hurt conversions. This is the reason push notifications with lesser words have higher click-through rates.

So it’s essential for you to learn about getting your message across with a restricted amount of characters. When you open a push notification, it would be the same as opening a text message. The only difference here would be while a text message directs you to your messaging app, a push notification directs you to the respective app from where you received the notification on your device.

Push Notifications are free for users, In-App Messaging depends on user’s SMS Plan:

Push notifications are totally free for users to receive but the same is not true with text messages. Sending SMS messages to active users as well as potential users as a promotional method, might not be a good strategy. As it depends on the user’s phone plan. They would have to pay to receive SMS messages and let’s be fair, they are unlikely to do that. Also, another drawback here is that people associate SMS promotional content as spam and do not read them. Sending unsolicited SMS messages is considered illegal and should not be followed. Hence, it is better to use Push notifications for promotional purposes than text messages. No company or business wants to be associated with spam therefore it’s better not to send messages with random numbers. Users trust Push notifications as they know exactly where it comes from.

Users can choose to approve or mute push notifications but not In-App messages:

Source: www.pushwoosh.com

According to a survey, only around 26% of users like push notifications as they enjoy getting new updates from their favorite apps. If a user does not want to hear from you, he can simply go to the app and turn off push notifications. This way, the Push notifications feature provides users with complete control to approve or mute push notifications whenever they want. Text messages do not provide any control to the users and this is the reason they do not hold much credibility.

Push Notifications also has its pros and cons.

A good Push notification strategy can help you achieve high open rates and hence high conversions but sending too many notifications can backfire and prompt users to mute. So make sure to provide value to your customers without annoying them.

Benefits of Push Notifications:

Push notifications can help your business gain more traffic and more conversions. The best benefits of push notifications are time-sensitive content. For example; a weather app sends push notifications of severe weather, like high winds, rainfall, etc.

• Shopping cart — Users often put items in their cart and do not proceed to checkout. To instigate users to complete the payment process, sending them a push notification is the best way. A push notification to remind them that they have items in their cart will do the work.
• Payment confirmation — A customer feels relieved once they get a payment confirmation. Sending them a push notification for the same along with asking for feedback will serve two purposes.
• Quick Hello — Sending messages frequently is not good but a quick hello via push notification can remind users about your app and often bring them to have a look at your new offerings.
• Time-sensitive notifications — It is good to send a push notification about a new sale of products or discounts on smartphones after the user has searched for the same.

Push Notifications based on user’s location:

The best way to use push notifications is to send notifications based on the user’s location. Many big businesses are using this strategy to get the best use of push notifications. They have integrated geofencing technology to push notifications to generate sales from customers who have downloaded their mobile app. Let us know how it works?

First, you need to ask for the user’s location permission to track the users’ location. After that, you can send them timely push notification based on their location if it falls within your geofencing range. For example, let’s say someone is passing by Beverly Hills, where Zara’s showroom is located. So, push notifications can be sent to the user by the Zara app to visit the store and check new arrivals.

Push Notifications enhance the user experience:

Push notifications can also improve the user experience. For the first you need to analyze why is someone using your app and what does he seek. For example, let’s take an example of a company like Uber. Their app is a mind-blowing success, and is one of the most user friendly apps. So, let’s find out how they did it. With the use of push notifications, they make things easier for people who are using their app.

Source: www.pngkey.com

Uber rates are based on demand and supply concepts . So, for example; if a user opens the app to request a ride, but sees high prices, then may wait to book a cab. Uber takes the benefit of Push notifications to give the users what they want. The app sends a notification to their users to get the lowest rate possible, hence it adds value to the message and users like it. This is how Uber subtly promotes by giving good user experience.

Now, when the user books a ride, Uber sends push notifications which actually benefit the user. When the ride is 15 minutes away the person receives notification for the same, instead of standing outside and waiting for it to arrive. Uber sends push notifications to users when their ride is arriving along with the car license plate number, so it’s easier for users to spot.

This is how Uber makes the best use of Push Notification to enhance user experience. Similar strategy works for online food ordering services as well. If you are also willing to build a similar app, you can apply this strategy to enhance user experience and get more downloads.

Push Notifications Increases Engagement and Retention:

Push notifications have higher open rates than In-App messages or emails. Users are likely to engage more with push notifications than email or In-App messages. According to Xtify, push notifications open rates are as high as 30% to 60% and interaction rates are as high as 40% compared to the average email open rate at 20% and average click thru rate at 5.4%. With push notifications, you can also target those people who have installed your app but haven’t made any purchase yet. The best kind of push notifications for these kinds of people are Quality Push Notifications of discounts or promotional codes. Setting up a referral program and promoting it through push notifications can be another way to increase the app business.

Source: www.inc42.com

Businesses are likely to get more conversions with push notifications because of higher number of clicks or interaction. Not everyone gets notified about emails or text messages This is because people generally keep them off so that they don’t get disturbed all the time new email is received. Due to the less frequency of Push notifications, app users like to receive them. Timely push notifications can actually increase the customer engagement and acquisition. Customers, then retain your brand and keep using it and also sharing it with their friends and family, providing you with free marketing. Eventually, making your app successful and helping your business make more money.

Personalized Push Notifications:

Having a wide range of customers calls for the challenge to cater all of them. Every customer wants different things therefore, push notifications should be personalized. Sending bulk notifications to everybody who has your app installed isn’t a good strategy. This can actually backfire as people might get annoyed and mute push notifications. If a push notification doesn’t speak to the customer, it’s useless.

Use of Geofencing technology is one way of personalization which we already discussed. Data confirms that push notifications with a personalized message have significantly higher open rates than the non-personalized notifications. With the use of artificial intelligence, it’s actually easy to send personalized push notifications to users based on their profile.

For example, Amazon does it so well. If you are searching for example; play stations then Amazon will send you a push notification about the exciting deals on it. Various other retail apps take advantage of the user’s wish list to send push notifications to purchase those items. For a retailer app, the customer’s purchase history and wish list is a great deal to send them a push notification with a personalized message.

Let’s say a customer has purchased a brand new smartphone. Sending them a notification for discounted accessories like phone cover, earphones, etc. would definitely be a personalized way to promote business through push notifications. Here’s another example. Let’s say you own a small restaurant that serves authentic Indian cuisine. Your app has an online food ordering system. Now based on previous orders of the customer, you can send them a push notification to order their favorite dish. For example; a customer ordered an Indie Pizza for the last four time, send him a push notification like; “30% off on your favorite Indie Pizza if you order now. Customers feel connected and get a better experience. Personalized notifications are the best proven way to increase your conversion rates.

Role of user’s device in enabling Push Notifications:

It is important to keep in mind the user’s device when it comes to push notifications. Survey shows that Android users enable push notifications at a higher percentage than Apple users. Let’s have a look at the difference in click-through rates of push notifications between Android and iOS. The reason is notifications look different on both the platforms. Lock screen and notification centers are distinct between iOS and Android devices.

In iOS devices, notifications disappear after the user unlocks their phone, even if they don’t open the app to read the message. While with Android devices, the notification stays on the lock screen until you open it or clear it.

Source: notifyvisitors.com

If you are developing your app then hire the best of the developers from EngineerBabu who have a great experience to build a user friendly app. We have team expert developers which you can hire on a dedicated basis for your project. We understand that you don’t want to make any long term commitment, therefore we provide you with the facility to hire on a monthly basis. Having an app and want to discuss? Feel free to reach out to us on EngineerBabu.

The post What is a Push Notification? Is it Different from Notification? appeared first on EngineerBabu Blog.

Geofencing Technology helps businesses to target their favorable audience just by providing virtual boundaries. When the targeted customers enters into this virtual boundary, they automatically activate ads and push notifications for that particular business or the mobile application.

This technology is majorly used for GPS and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). There are many other uses of Geofencing Technology, for example, Google Earth which manages it with the help of satellites and represents the boundaries of a specific geographical area. 

The Geofencing technology is also used for the latitude and longitude boundary of the user and the web-based maps. Whereas, in Mobile Marketing Strategy, Geofencing technology gives an opportunity to local and multi-channel businesses to interact through mobile devices with potential nearby customers. 

Due to such technology evolution, the mobile marketing world is moving ahead towards more relevant and contextual customer targeting. When it comes to mobile, the time and location are the two most important elements. The devices are always on the move and eventually changes in location, therefore, to trace the devices Geofencing Technology is very apt and useful in this situation. 

Source: HigherEducationMarketing Website

What is Geofencing Technology?

Geofencing is a location tracking technology. Its services are used in mobile application and other software. It uses GPS, Wi-Fi, RFID, or Cellular Data to initiate a pre-programmed action when the mobile device or RFID tag enters and exits any virtual boundary from a geographical location. This whole process is used in exercising Geofencing Technology.

Depends on the device configuration with the Geofencing, triggers the push notifications or text message alert. It also can activate the delivery of targeted advertisements on social media, allow tracking of associated vehicles, disable certain technology, or can even deliver location-based marketing data. 

Geofencing is a very small yet effective marketing strategy which can target customers based where they are with respect to the businesses. Geofencing technology is broadly divided into 2 categories.

1. Active Geofencing- Active Geofencing depends on the end-users. It can easily use location service to track the users based on business requirements. It can also be done with the help of some specific smartphone applications.

2. Passive Geofencing- Passive Geofencing is active all the time and doesn’t depend on the end-users. It only depends on the Internet connection via Wi-Fi or cellular connection. Passive Geofencing always works on the background when the user switches on the location on their smartphone.

Advancements in Geofencing

Eventually, every technology evolves in a period of time, likewise Geofencing. Developers have evolved and presented a variety of updates in the Geofencing technology. The developers introduced a hand-full of ways to apply this technology in a much more resourceful and creative way. In multiple ways, technology has been implemented in applications like WhatsApp, Facebook, and travel apps like Uber.

For Uber apps, Geofencing is the sole concept on which each activity of Uber is based on. It helps in ride search and confirmation based on which location it is. Still, the technology is evolving in the app to provide much more precise service to the customers. 

Uber also used the Geofencing technology to prevent clogged parking spaces at the entry and exit points of Airports. Even the renowned retail and wholesale brand Walmart is also using Geofencing technology which helps them to drive more sales. 

Source: 911Cellular Website

How is Geofencing appropriate for a Business?

Geofencing targets a majority of qualified audience by presenting them ads for the specific product or services when the user steps into your targeted geotargeting. Those advertisements could be in the form of text messages, push notifications, or PPC ads in a Web Browser or Application. Let’s see some points which could prove that Geofencing could be an easy and right choice for the growth of your business and are as follows;

1. Easy Customer Reach: Geofencing is a great business option to reach customers easily because technology makes sure to notify or inform the customer about your product/services. This technology just traces every new prospect when it reaches to your defined geographical location and instantly performs the assigned action. 

2. Instant Consideration: You can grab the immediate attention from the prospect customer and make them aware of the respective product or services, without uttering even a single word from your mouth. The Geofencing technology instantly nudges a message to the prospect that might interest them and makes them visit the nearest store to check out the latest deals and offers. 

As a matter of fact, almost 90% of SMS are read within 3 minutes of time. So, Geofencing could be a significant boost to the business and help consumers to get informed and make instant decisions. 

3. Increases Brand Awareness: The Mobile Marketing Strategy with Geofencing allows local and multi-channel businesses to communicate with their potential customers who can or ready to purchase through mobile phones. 

These advertising messages and notifications serve as a reminder to consumers and motivate them to choose their brand among the thousands of other similar businesses in the location.

4. Reduced Marketing Budget: Geofencing technology is playing a great role in minimizing the expenses over Marketing. As it is only focused on local consumers and these local consumers are likely to buy from local businesses.

It is quite like an extension or medium of taking your business ahead. Thus, Geofencing technology makes sure that the owner doesn’t require to present in their shop store and call the local passersby to sell your product, it is just because you have already identified your potential and local customer.

Such an evolution in marketing strategy has also supported the new marketing opportunities for online entrepreneurs. A lot of brands have gained success through Geofencing technology; especially those who have highly classified data and require maximum security for that.

How does Geofencing Work in an App?

Geofencing helps to keep control of your business by notifying you when the potential customer is near your store, or a competitor’s store, or even entering into your predefined geographic area.

To perform such geographic marking, you require Google Maps to mark the areas you want to geo-target. Once your area is mapped, you can easily target your customers through mobile phones GPS. 

The virtual geotargeting will then trigger instantly when the new device enters or exits the geotargeting area as defined by the business administrator or the developer. Mostly, the geotargeting is defined within the code of a mobile application. Therefore, the user can opt-in to location service and allow the geotargeting to work for their device as well. 

A geotargeting can also be set up by the end-users using this technology in their mobile apps. Such as the iOS Reminder app, which allows you to choose an address or location where you would like to initiate the specific alert or push notification. 

Geofencing is not only a mobile application whereas it is also used in monitoring vehicles in the shipping industry, animals in the agriculture and wildlife area. It is also a very effective technology in programming drones, as they are pre-programmed to geotargeting the specific area. The drones are usually set up at open-air venues, airports, sensitive military regions, and many other places where it is difficult for humans to reach quickly. Some drones geotargeting also require user authorization, where it carries the user’s identity with the drone so that it becomes easier to keep track of illegal activity or unmanned drones. 

Geofencing technology uses the following procedure for geotargeting through a mobile app; 

1. Location Tracing Services: To locate the user’s device, Geofencing technology uses internet connection or GPS. Though Wi-Fi or Cellular Internet connection is advised, as both are reliable sources, whereas the GPS-based solution is an extremely battery-draining option.

2. Format: To implement Geofencing technology, you don’t require any external or extra hardware. It is available in the form of Software which can be easily integrated into the mobile device app and can be effortlessly managed through an online dashboard or API.

3. Target Range: The implementation of Geotargeting feature is much more beneficial for targeting outdoor large-range. It works effectively and covers minimum and maximum area about between 50 meters to 50,000 meters in radius. For example, the area of a shopping complex and the nearby areas as well. 

4. Privacy: Geofencing technology requires users’ permission to monitor the location and send notification while using it through a mobile app.

Source: RawPixel Website

Applications of Geofencing

With the increasing trend and popularity of smartphone use, Geofencing technology has become a very common and necessary practice for a huge number of businesses. It provides a pool of endless opportunities to the businesses for what they can do. Such practice has become very much popular in the social media and marketing sectors. 

Even many retail brands and hospital businesses also set up geofences around their competition. So, when you reach that specific area, you will receive a push notification requesting you to visit their store or hospital for better service. The push notification depends on the app you have downloaded on your device. Suppose, you have a grocery app on your device, then you are going to receive the notification for that when you approach the geotargeting area of that business. 

Here, are some common applications of Geofencing:

1. Social Networking: One of the most evident and visible uses of Geofencing technology has taken place in Social Networking applications mostly witnessed in Snapchat and Instagram. The location-based filters, stickers, and other media are all possible due to the Geofencing facility in these mobile applications. The images or videos shared on social media platforms by using promoted filters at a concert, using custom-made filters at any party, sharing location-based stories, all these activities are only possible with the geotargeting feature which defines the virtual perimeters.

2. Marketing: Geofencing is also a very effective and efficient way for businesses to make in-store promotions by alerting you as you step in the range of the store. This technology also helps businesses to target ads on a specific audience to analyze the best strategies which work for such location-based users. 

3. Smart Appliances: As the technologies are changing, likewise our home appliances and other gadgets are also getting smarter. For example, with the Bluetooth feature in the Refrigerator, it becomes easier to program it and set a reminder for every 3rd day to buy milk from the nearest grocery store as you are going out of milk now. With such a smart device, you can also make sure the thermostat is set at the perfect temperature by the time you reach home after work. All this can be easily done by using Geofencing technique. 

4. Human Resources: Some companies use Geotargeting feature to monitor their employees. This feature is mostly applied and used over employees who used to spend their major working hours on-field. Companies also use this feature to automate time cards, clocking employees log in, and logout time in the office premises. 

5. Audience Engagement: Geofencing technology is also very effective in engaging crowds of people at any event organization, like concerts, fairs, festivals, rallies, and many more. For example, a concert or a rally can use Geofencing to make people aware of such activity and crowdsource the social media post or share details and location of the venue or any event.   

6. Security: Geofencing is a little intrusive in the personal space of people, and it also has the potential to sometimes feel like a massive dependence over how it is used. But Geofencing is a great technology to gain more security with your mobile device. For example, you can set your home lock and unlock with your smartphone by using Geofencing or can also receive an alert when someone enters or leaves your house. 

7. Telematics: Geofencing is a valuable technology and can be effectively used with telematics. It allows companies to draw a virtual zone around work premises, sites, and secure areas. It can get activated when a person or a vehicle tries to enter that defined virtual zone and alerts the operator with a warning sign or an alarm.

Benefits of Geofencing

Geofencing is still a new practice, so it shouldn’t be overemphasized. But the rate of success it has achieved in such a short period of time is immeasurable. The research and study have also revealed that the users appreciate the facility and assistance they are receiving on their phone is quite helpful and impressive too, as it maintains the location relevance and interest of the end-users.

Therefore, Geofencing beneficial for its users, and the benefits are as follows;

1. It works as an Ads Portal: Yes, you read right, Geofencing works like an ads portal. When the potential customer is near to your store, and you get the notification for their presence. As a result, it sends new product information, free products, offers, or discounts to the potential customer instantly and attracts their attention to consider it and visit your store. 

2. Targets Potential Customers: Social Media platforms provide an enormous amount of marketing opportunities. Such platforms are loaded with a lot of potential consumers who are willing to check out your messages, shared posts, and stick to your brands too. 

But, to find such potential customers is a tedious task to perform manually. Therefore, with Geofencing, you can focus your campaign on the users who are more likely to get converted as the consumer, especially the local consumers, are targeted initially. 

This will definitely persuade consumers to visit your store and make purchases after seeing your products and brand ads. 

3. Supports your Offline Business to make Online Presence: As mentioned above, to target the potential consumers by notifying them when they are near to your geofence area. Likewise, you can also notify passers-by to check out the social media accounts, and this will result in better customer engagement.

In fact, such activity will provide a path for your business to make their presence on social media and gain a reputed identity in the market.

4. Provides Real-Time Analytics: A good marketing strategy requires an appropriate and quick response to the customer’s query which increases customer satisfaction. Thus, Geofencing Technology makes it possible and more effective two-way communication between the customer and the business.

It becomes possible because Geofencing technology instantly notifies the activity of customers or their entry into your market region. This will help you to get ready in advance to guide them and make their shopping experience more convenient and friendly in your store. 

5. Offers Services: Well.. the use of mobile phones is expanding widely, and users like to be online for 24 hours a day. So, offering them free Wi-Fi when they visit your restaurant, hotel, bar, and the hospital will definitely improve the customer experience. It also motivates them to visit such places again and recommend it to their friends and relatives too.

Such customer assistance can be achieved by sending a message to the passer-by through Geofencing and notifying them to enjoy the free Wi-Fi available at your place. 

Geofencing is not only used for Geotargeting and tracking the location. Whereas, it is beneficial and profitable technology when used in a proper manner. It can easily connect your customer with the Geotargeting and location tracking features. Geofencing technology is used to develop applications which can open new doors of opportunity for your business. The proper use of Geofencing technology will quickly build loyal customers and maximize your business conversion rate.  

If you are looking for such quality apps equipped with Geofencing technology for your business idea. Then, you can easily hire a dedicated team of qualified and experienced developers from the EngineerBabu platform. For other details and discussion, you can contact us and take your business idea into reality. 

The post What is Geofencing and How does it Work in an App? appeared first on EngineerBabu Blog.