How to Boost Engagement with Rich Media Push Notifications on iOS

With the evolution of smartphones, the humble push notification has become an integral part of our everyday lives.

And now, with the introduction of rich push notifications on iOS 10, the possibilities are endless.

Imagine being able to enhance your messages with vibrant media attachments that captivate your audience and greatly improve their overall experience.

In this article, we’ll delve into the world of rich media push notifications on iOS, exploring the specific configurations, libraries, and tools needed to make this magic happen.

So sit back, relax, and get ready to revolutionize your mobile marketing strategy.

rich media push notifications ios

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1. Introduction To Rich Push Notifications On iOS 10

Rich push notifications on iOS have become highly valuable for enhancing the user experience since their introduction in iOS 10. They allow app developers and marketers to incorporate various forms of media, including images, videos, audios, and GIFs, making notifications more engaging and interactive.

To enable rich push notifications on iOS, app developers need to utilize the Notification Service and Notification Content extensions. These extensions provide the essential frameworks and functionality for creating and displaying rich media attachments within push notifications.

Key points to note:

• Rich push notifications enhance user experience on iOS devices.
• They allow the addition of various forms of media, such as images, videos, audios, and GIFs.
• App developers and marketers can engage users in a more captivating and interactive way.
• Notification Service and Notification Content extensions are required to enable rich push notifications on iOS.
• These extensions provide the necessary frameworks and functionality for creating and displaying rich media attachments within push notifications.

Important: Rich push notifications have the potential to significantly enhance user engagement and increase the effectiveness of notifications.

2. Enabling Rich Push Notifications For Your App

To enable rich push notifications for your iOS app, first make sure that push notifications are already enabled for the app. This can be done through the app’s project settings in Xcode.

Once push notifications are enabled, proceed to create a notification service extension using Xcode. This extension is responsible for handling the incoming push notifications and adding the rich media attachments. Install the CTNotificationService library provided by Apple, in the notification service extension to facilitate this functionality.

For the notification service extension to work correctly, configure the CTNotificationServiceExtension class as the value for the NSExtensionPrincipalClass entry in the Notification Service Extension target Info.plist file. Alternatively, you can extend the CTNotificationServiceExtension class with your own custom NotificationService class.

3. Creating A Notification Service Extension In Xcode

To create a notification service extension in Xcode, follow these steps:

1. Open your Xcode project and select File > New > Target.
2. Choose “Notification Service Extension” from the list of available templates.
3. Provide a name for your extension and choose the appropriate target and language options.
4. Xcode will generate the necessary files and add them to your project.

5. Edit the newly created NotificationService class to implement the desired functionality for handling push notifications and adding rich media attachments.

6. Open Xcode project

7. Select File > New > Target
8. Choose “Notification Service Extension”
9. Provide a name for the extension
10. Select appropriate target and language options

Note: The provided steps outline the process to create a notification service extension in Xcode.

4. Configuring The CTNotificationServiceExtension Class

To configure the CTNotificationServiceExtension class, follow these steps:

1. Open the Info.plist file of the Notification Service Extension target.
2. Add a new key-value pair with the key NSExtensionPrincipalClass and the value CTNotificationServiceExtension.
3. This configuration ensures that the CTNotificationServiceExtension class is recognized and used as the principal class for the extension.

Alternatively, you can choose to extend the CTNotificationServiceExtension class with your own custom NotificationService class. This gives you more flexibility in implementing additional functionality specific to your app.

• Configuring the CTNotificationServiceExtension class:
  • Open the Info.plist file of the Notification Service Extension target.
  • Add a new key-value pair: Key – NSExtensionPrincipalClass, Value – CTNotificationServiceExtension. This ensures the class is recognized as the principal class for the extension.

Extend the CTNotificationServiceExtension class with your custom NotificationService class to implement additional app-specific functionality.

5. Adding Image, Video, Audio, Or GIF Attachments In APNS Payload

To include rich media attachments in push notifications, you need to modify the APNS (Apple Push Notification Service) payload. The payload should include the mutable-content flag set to true, indicating that the notification content can be modified, and the ct_mediaUrl and ct_mediaType key-value pairs specifying the URL and type of the rich media attachment.

By including the appropriate media URL and type in the payload, the notification service extension will be able to download and display the attached media when the push notification is received by the user.

6. Setting Up CTNotificationContent For Image Captions And Carousel Media

To display image captions, sub-captions, and carousel media in the rich push notifications, the CTNotificationContent library can be used. This library provides additional functionality for creating more engaging and informative notifications.

To set up CTNotificationContent, follow these steps:

• Create a Notification Content Extension in your Xcode project.
• Configure the Notification Content Extension to use the CTNotificationViewController class, which is responsible for displaying the content of the rich push notification.
• Edit the Maininterface.storyboard file of the Notification Content Extension and change the default view to a plain UIView.
• Customize the CTNotificationViewController class to implement the desired behavior and styling for the rich push notification.

This setup allows you to add image captions, sub-captions, and carousel media to your rich push notifications, providing a more visually appealing and informative experience for the users.

7. Registering Notification Category With Actions

To enable interactive elements in your rich push notifications, register a notification category with actions in the AppDelegate of your app. This allows users to perform specific actions directly from the notification without opening the app.

To register a notification category with actions, follow these steps:

• Open the AppDelegate class of your app.
• Use the UNNotificationCategory class to create a category for your notifications.
• Add actions to the category using the UNNotificationAction class.
• Register the category with the UNUserNotificationCenter using the setNotificationCategories() method.

By registering a notification category with actions, you can provide users with options to perform actions such as liking, commenting, or sharing directly from the rich push notification, enhancing user engagement and interaction.

• Interactive elements can be added to rich push notifications.
• Registration of a notification category with actions is done in the AppDelegate class.
• UNNotificationCategory and UNNotificationAction classes are used to create the category and add actions.
• The setNotificationCategories() method is used to register the category with the UNUserNotificationCenter.

8. Sending Rich Push Notifications With CleverTap Dashboard

For users of the CleverTap platform, sending rich push notifications can be easily done through the CleverTap Dashboard.

To send rich push notifications from the CleverTap Dashboard, follow these steps:

• Create a push notification campaign in the CleverTap Dashboard.
• Select either a Single or Carousel template in the “Rich Media” section.
• Customize the content and appearance of the rich push notification using the provided options.
• Add custom key-value pairs using the pt_json key to personalize the notification further.

Using the CleverTap Dashboard, users can easily create and send personalized rich push notifications, leveraging the power of rich media attachments to engage and captivate their audience.

9. Using CleverTap Server API For Rich Push Notifications

To send rich push notifications with the CleverTap Server API, follow these steps:

1. Include “mutable-content”: “true” in the platform_specific: iOS section of the request payload.
2. Provide the necessary parameters for personalization and attachment URLs.
3. Send the request to the CleverTap Server API endpoint.

By including the “mutable-content”: “true” parameter in the request payload, you indicate to CleverTap that the notification content can be modified to include rich media attachments. This allows you to send personalized rich push notifications programmatically.

• Make sure to include “mutable-content”: “true” in the platform_specific: iOS section of the request payload.
• Remember to provide the necessary parameters for personalization and attachment URLs.
• Don’t forget to send the request to the CleverTap Server API endpoint.

“mutable-content”: “true” in the request payload allows CleverTap to modify the notification content and include rich media attachments. This feature enables you to send customized rich push notifications programmatically.

10. Benefits And Personalization Of Rich Push Notifications

The use of rich push notifications offers a range of benefits for app marketers and developers. By incorporating rich media attachments, these notifications enable more engaging and inviting communication with customers, even when they are not actively using the app or visiting the website.

Rich push notifications can be customized and personalized to include the user’s name, location, products viewed, or other relevant information. This personalization enhances the user experience and increases the likelihood of interaction with the notification.

Studies have shown that rich media formats in push notifications can improve reaction rates by 25%. However, only around 8% of marketers currently utilize rich media in their push notifications, indicating a significant untapped potential for higher engagement and conversion rates.

Basic personalization techniques can already improve open rates by nearly 10%. By tailoring the content and message to the individual user’s preferences, highly targeted campaigns can achieve click-through rates of 30% or more.

Some ideas for personalized rich push notifications include:

• Creating a sense of urgency or FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
• Offering birthday bonuses or personalized discounts
• Upselling related products or services
• Asking personalized questions to gather feedback or preferences
• Gamifying the notification experience with interactive elements
• Utilizing tempting images or videos to capture attention

In conclusion, rich push notifications provide a powerful way to engage users and deliver information through push technology. By leveraging the capabilities of modern mobile devices and platforms, app developers and marketers can create personalized, visually appealing, and interactive notifications that drive user engagement and ultimately contribute to the success of their apps and businesses.

FAQ

What is rich push notification in iOS?

Rich push notifications in iOS are interactive messages that include visual and auditory enhancements, making them more engaging for users. These notifications go beyond simple text notifications by incorporating media elements like images, videos, or audio files. By using rich push notifications, businesses can capture users’ attention and provide them with a more immersive experience, even when they are not actively using their apps or browsing websites. This allows for effective communication and encourages users to interact with the notifications, potentially boosting customer engagement and retention.

What is rich media in push notifications?

Rich media in push notifications refers to the integration of various dynamic and engaging elements other than just plain text. By incorporating images, GIFs, videos, audio, deep links, and interactive buttons, rich push notifications enhance the user experience and provide more visually appealing and interactive content. These enrichments can capture the attention of the recipient, relay information effectively, and prompt immediate engagement, resulting in a more engaging and impactful notification experience.

Does iOS allow push notifications?

Yes, iOS allows push notifications on Apple devices such as iPhones. However, it is important to note that before users can start receiving push notifications from an app, they need to explicitly grant permission on their iOS devices. This allows users to have control over which apps can send push notifications and ensures a more personalized and tailored user experience.

What is an example of a rich push notification?

One example of a rich push notification is a retail brand sending a notification to their customers with a new product launch. The notification includes an eye-catching image of the product, enticing customers to tap on it to learn more. By incorporating rich media, the brand effectively captures the attention of users and increases the likelihood of engagement and conversion.

Another example is a travel app sending a notification to users with a video showcasing a destination or a hotel offer. By including a video in the notification, users get a visual preview of what they can expect, generating excitement and potentially leading to immediate bookings or further exploration within the app. The use of rich push notifications in these scenarios enhances user experience and encourages action by providing more engaging and interactive content.