Push Notification Vendor Selection

Mastering the Message: A Guide to Push Notification Vendor Selection

In today’s mobile-centric world, push notifications offer a powerful tool to engage users, deliver timely updates, and drive app interaction. Selecting the right push notification vendor is crucial for ensuring reliable delivery, effective messaging, and valuable user experiences. With a multitude of vendors vying for your attention, choosing the ideal one can feel like navigating a complex notification bar. Fear not! This guide will equip you with the knowledge to make an informed decision, considering your app’s needs, budget constraints, and desired functionalities.

Understanding Your Push Notification Needs:

• App Platform and Target Audience: Consider the platforms your app is available on (Android, iOS, or both) and the demographics of your target audience.
• Messaging Goals: Determine what you aim to achieve with push notifications (drive app engagement, deliver news updates, promote special offers).
• Desired Features: Prioritize the functionalities most valuable for your push notification strategy. Consider factors like:
  • Targeted Segmentation: Ability to segment user base and send targeted notifications based on demographics, app behavior, or preferences.
  • A/B Testing: Test different notification content and delivery times to optimize performance and engagement.
  • Rich Media Push: Integrate multimedia elements like images, GIFs, or videos into push notifications for a more engaging experience.
  • Geolocation Targeting: Send location-based notifications relevant to a user’s current location (e.g., nearby store promotions).
  • In-App Analytics: Track user engagement with push notifications within the app to measure campaign effectiveness.

The Push Notification Vendor Landscape:

There’s a push notification vendor to cater to your app’s needs and budget:

Full-Featured Push Notification Platforms (PNPs):

• Pros: Offer a comprehensive suite of features for push notification creation, segmentation, scheduling, A/B testing, and in-depth analytics.
• Cons: May have higher costs compared to basic notification services.
• Examples: Urban Airship, OneSignal, Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)

Marketing Automation Platforms with Push Features:

• Pros: Integrate push notifications with other marketing automation efforts (email, SMS) within a single platform.
• Cons: Push notification functionality might be a sub-feature within a broader platform, potentially higher costs compared to dedicated PNPs.
• Examples: AppsFlyer, Iterable

Mobile Backend as a Service (MBaaS) Platforms:

• Pros: Offer push notifications as part of a broader suite of mobile development tools and backend services.
• Cons: Push notification features might be less comprehensive compared to dedicated PNPs, may require additional development expertise.
• Examples: Backendless, Kinvey

Evaluating Push Notification Vendors:

• Supported Platforms: Ensure the vendor supports push notifications for the platforms your app is available on (Android, iOS, or both).
• Delivery Reliability: Research the vendor’s reputation for reliable and timely push notification delivery across different devices and networks.
• Segmentation and Targeting Capabilities: Evaluate the level of segmentation and targeting options offered by the vendor to personalize push notifications.
• Analytics and Reporting: Assess the depth of analytics and reporting features provided by the vendor to measure push notification performance and user engagement.
• Ease of Use and Integration: Consider the user-friendliness of the platform for creating, scheduling, and managing push notifications, along with ease of integration with your existing app development tools.

Additional Considerations:

• Free Trials and Starter Plans: Many vendors offer free trials or starter plans with limited features to test the platform and assess its suitability for your app’s needs.
• Data Security and Privacy: Ensure the vendor prioritizes data security and adheres to relevant data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).
• Scalability: Consider if the vendor can scale to accommodate your growing user base and notification volume as your app gains traction.

Making the Final Choice:

• Shortlist Vendors: Based on your app’s needs, budget, and desired features, shortlist a few vendors that seem like a good fit.
• Test the Platform: Take advantage of free trials or starter plans to experience the push notification creation tools, targeting options, and analytics functionalities before committing.
• Read Reviews and Case Studies: Research online reviews from trusted sources and case studies to gain insights into real-world experiences with different push notification vendors, focusing on app developers within your industry.

By following these steps and carefully considering your app’s specific push notification goals, budget, and desired functionalities, you’ll be well-equipped to choose the right vendor and craft effective