A while ago I read an article entitled “How WalMart, Asda and The Rolling Stones use mobile push notifications“, written by David Moth. The article explored how these mega brands use push notifications to strategically gather their users attention.
The article got me thinking about all of the apps that I have on my phones (yes phoneS – one personal and one work phone) and how effective those messages are. I have to say that I often don’t even allow push notifications in the first place. When that little message pops up “App XYZ would like to send you Push Notifications. – Don’t Allow or OK?” I always panic and hit “DON’T ALLOW!!!” because I have this irrational fear that I will not be able to figure out how to turn them off and they’ll send me crazy messages at all hours of the day and night! Upon exploring my phone today I realized the only app I allow push notifications from is HauteLook, which I actually really enjoy getting because some of those alerts have allowed me to score some sweet deals on clothes and beauty products.
The article also got me thinking I would do my own push notification experiment and determine the best and worst ways to use push notifications. Also I am interested in knowing what content is valuable for users to be “pushed”.
If you have any suggestions on apps that I should download to review please let me know – give me the good, bad and the ugly, I’ll put them to the test!
Stay tuned for Part 2 when I will reveal which apps I have chosen to test!
