Push Notification Engagement

Most brands underestimate the power of one line. Zomato built an empire on it. Not the app. Not the UI. Not even the discounts. Their biggest growth hack? Notifications. Your phone lights up and instead of a boring “Order food now,” you see: 👉🏻“When you open the fridge and find nothing but disappointment.” 👉🏻“Mood: fries before guys.” It’s short, witty, and ridiculously relatable. You don’t swipe it away. You smile. Often, you click. And order. That’s the genius of Zomato’s strategy  They turned push notifications into content marketing. Here’s why it works: 1️⃣ Context over copy — They don’t just sell food, they sell moods. 2️⃣ Consistency beats campaigns — Dozens of micro-moments a week > one ad film. 3️⃣ Entertainment = engagement — By making people laugh, they earned permission to market daily without feeling spammy or salesy. Deepinder Goyal has always pushed for Zomato to have a voice that feels human, witty, and instantly shareable.  That founder-led vision is why their messaging feels less like “marketing” and more like a conversation. And here’s what every D2C founder should note: Zomato processes 2 million+ orders a day — many triggered by these tiny nudges. Their notifications aren’t a side tactic. They’re a revenue engine. Great branding isn’t about louder ads or bigger spends. It’s about creating consistent touchpoints so simple that they feel invisible,  yet powerful enough to influence behaviour at scale. Because the brands that delight people in the mundane moments are the ones they remember when it matters. Zomato isn’t just an app anymore. It’s a daily conversation. And that’s the power of brand positioning done right. If you’re building in a crowded space and want positioning that actually converts attention into loyalty — DM me “BRAND.”

Need a masterclass on how NOT to engage users? Check out this Audible notification. In behavioral design, experimenting with notifications (think: timing, wording, and how they're presented) is usually a smart move. Nail it, and you see a spike in engagement for hardly any effort 🧪✨ But then, there's my recent Audible experience. Coming back after a long spell of inactivity, what do I find? A bland, uninspiring message asking me to opt-in for 'account updates and other important information.' If there was ever a notification that feels like it's talking to the wall, not you, it’s this one. Emotional appeal? None.  Timing? Off.  Engagement? Thanks, but no thanks 🙅♀️ Alright, let’s unpack why Audible's notification missed the mark: 1️⃣ Vague messaging ‘Account updates and other important information’ sounds about as rewarding as watching paint dry. I say this with love. Audible, you can do better. Why should I care? Without specifics, it's just noise 📣🚫 2️⃣ Terrible timing Imagine this: You finally decide to open back up Audible, ready to dive into a world of stories, but bam! You're hit with a notification. No story, no joy, just a request for permissions. Talk about bad timing ⏲️👎 3️⃣ Lack of salient opportunity costs 'Not now' implies I can do this later, diminishing any urgency to deal with this now. When given the choice, I will punt it if there is no motivation to do otherwise. How could Audible turn it around? ✅ Personalize and concretize MY benefits. Instead of a generic ask, how about something that speaks directly to our interests? 'Excited about mystery novels? Opt-in to get the latest thrillers that'll keep you on the edge of your seat!' Now that's a message we can get behind 💡📚 ✅ Get the timing right. Wait until after we've finished a book or a listening session. That glow of satisfaction? That's the perfect moment to ask if we want more of what makes us happy. It turns the notification into a continuation of the good vibes. 🌟 ✅ Make it hard to say no. No, I don’t mean logistically (although, that could be funny–a ‘no’ option that moves when you try to click it 🤣). I mean, instead of ‘not now’, how about ‘miss out on exclusive offers’. I still have a choice. And ‘no’ just feels a little less appealing. The bottom line? Make notifications something we look forward to, not something we automatically swipe away. It's about creating a win-win, not a snooze-lose. Now let's make that 'Yes' feel like a no-brainer! 🎉 What’s the best notification message you’ve seen? #BehavioralEconomics #Product #Audible

🚨 Ensuring that push notifications provide value and relevance to the end-user is paramount. Given the specific nuances of how iOS and Android handle these notifications, it becomes vital to ensure you're not inundating your users with inconsequential alerts. When a user grants permission to receive notifications from your app, it signifies a level of trust. It's your responsibility to uphold that trust. Overloading them with irrelevant or poorly timed notifications might not only lead to them disabling alerts but could also result in them uninstalling the app – a scenario you want to avoid. Effective push notification strategies come down to two primary considerations: 1️⃣ Technical Implementation: The engineering and product teams must ensure the proper functioning of push notifications. These should be dispatched based on distinct event triggers and user behaviors. Given the complexities introduced by A/B tests, feature flags, and concurrent marketing campaigns, it's crucial to maintain the reliability of push notifications on native iOS and Android platforms. 2️⃣ Strategic Deployment: The onus is on the marketing and growth teams to use this tool judiciously. Push notifications offer a direct channel for continuous engagement with users, but this privilege should be exercised with caution. Maintaining a symbiotic relationship between these teams is essential. Open communication and continual feedback loops are crucial to optimizing user experience, ensuring your brand's reputation and trustworthiness are sustained.

How Myntra Nails Push Notification Design 👇 I am always on the lookout for apps that excel in user engagement. Recently, I came across Myntra's notification prompt, and it’s a masterclass in persuasive design! Here’s why it works so well: 1️⃣ Clear Value Proposition: ↳The prompt doesn't just ask for permission; it explains why the notification is beneficial. Highlighting deals and trend updates directly addresses the user's need for savings and fashion insights. 2️⃣ Visual Hierarchy and Design Simplicity: ↳The structure is intuitive, with the most critical message (the value) at the forefront, followed by a concise explanation. The design is clutter-free, ensuring that the user’s attention is not scattered. 3️⃣ Psychological Triggers: ↳The vibrant pink CTA button is not just eye-catching but also strategically aligned with Myntra’s brand identity. This consistency builds trust while subtly nudging users to take action. 4️⃣ FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): ↳ The wording like "Never miss a deal" taps into the user's fear of missing out on something valuable. This emotional trigger is a proven strategy to increase opt-in rates. 5️⃣ Minimal Cognitive Load: ↳ By keeping the prompt straightforward and limiting the choices, Myntra reduces decision fatigue, leading to quicker and more affirmative responses. 💡 What's your opinion about Myntra's notification? #UXDesign #ProductManagement #MobileUX #UserExperience #DesignThinking #ProductManager #ProductDesign #UIUX #Design 

Most people think notification = sending a message But this barely scratches the surface. Every notification is part of a whole experience. Here's a breakdown of the 5 main types of notifications with the 4 stages every notification entails More tips in 🧵👇 Notification Types In general, almost every notification falls into one of these categories. ⏰ Time-Based 📍 Location-Based 🔀 Change-Based 🙋♂️ Peer-Based 🤖 Rule-based Always consider all types! You might be surprised at what you come up with. For any kind of notification, there are 4 stages. 1️⃣ Trigger What causes the notification? Ideally should be based on an action the user's previously taken, like setting a reminder. 2️⃣ Hook What compels the user to read the notification? And then open it? It must be: • Attention grabbing – every notification is competing with all the others. • Specific – users must understand exactly why they're being notified. The most personalized, the better. 3️⃣ Destination Now where does the notification take users? It should: • Be as direct as possible (no additional clicks) • Make sense from the notification • Have clear next steps 4️⃣ Action Alright, you've got them all the way here! Now what? Ideally, the action: • Is obvious • Matches the notification • Can be completed promptly The best way to learn this is just to pay attention to the notifications you're sent. For every email or push notification, think ask yourself: 1. What was the trigger? 2. How are they hooking me in? 3. Where does this take me? 4. How do they make the action clear? One final note: Notifications are powerful. They offer a way to keep users informed and engaged, but it's a fine line between helpful and bothersome. Please use them wisely, taking advantage of their benefits without annoying users. Thanks for reading!