Have you ever wondered why notifications pop up in the corner of your browser when you visit certain sites? This is a new trend which has moved over from mobile phones in the form of push notifications which are intended to get the user’s attention and is effectively part of the website’s online campaign. But if you delve deeper, you’ll also discover web push notifications, an altogether more advanced form of inbound marketing. Without going into too much detail, these use coding and software called service workers to enable companies like yours to launch digital marketing campaigns whenever you want. And here’s how they work:
Remember when you visited a webpage and were asked to enter your email to get updates and you clicked the ‘x’ button? In today’s fear-mongering world with cyber crime an ever present threat, few people are willing to share personal details such as their email addresses online. But they are willing to subscribe or consent to web push notifications. Now, unlike browser notifications which are generic and pop up as soon as anyone visits the site, web push notifications are designed to help digital marketing campaigns engage users who aren’t necessarily even on the site by using a specific inbound marketing technique.
Again, without swamping this article with jargon, when someone agrees to the subscription, a service worker is downloaded and installed on their browser (Firefox and Chrome currently work best for this) and then continue to run in the background even after the user has left your website. And so begins your company’s not-so-online online campaign. Thanks to the embedded service worker you have the capability of sending an inbound marketing message directly to that subscriber whenever you want, regardless of whether they’re on your website or not. Update them about new features, promote a new product or shout about a flash sale to hundreds or even thousands of people at the click of a button. Now that is taking digital marketing to a whole new level.
Some digital marketing ideas for web push notification usage include:
-
New content – send links to blogs, videos or products to boost web traffic and attract interest.
-
Abandoned shopping cart – did they leave your site halfway through browsing and never purchase their items? With one click you can have them back and remind them of all those items they wanted to buy.
-
Offers – promote flash sale or special deal. Make your customers feel special by contacting them directly but make sure to include the time-restriction on the offer for a truly effective online campaign.
-
Survey – need some additional information for your market research? Why not ask your market?
And the best thing about web push notifications? Companies already using them (it’s a new technology so they’re not everywhere yet) report a thirty times higher conversion rate than emails (which can end up in junk or bounce back as soon as an email address is changed) and a 10 per cent reduction in customer opt outs. Overall, as far as digital marketing goes, it’s clear to see that web push notifications have revolutionised the way companies can (and should) conduct online campaigns. It also signifies companies needn’t necessarily invest in a mobile app – if you can use push notifications on your website and users have linked their phones to their computers, the notification can pop up on a desktop, laptop, tablet and their mobile. Inbound marketing at your fingertips.
Interested in acquiring some web push notifications for yourself? Unless you’re adept at coding, it’s best to contact the experts. Our website developers at Digital Freak can build web push notifications into your existing website or create an entirely new one for you. They’ll also train you up so you can take over the day to day running of the digital marketing using your new inbound marketing tactic. Contact Digital Freak today to find out more.
When clients work with me, they get exactly what they want - no-nonsense, authentic digital marketing that works! With my industry experience, eye for detail, and a team that goes the extra mile, every client gets the personalised, expert treatment they deserve. Let’s get you online – and growing!
