Push messaging represents one of the more engaging features available to companies and organizations with native iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile apps. Interacting with end users in real-time to send urgent notifications, sponsor messages, or simply pointing out promotions and updates is made easy by the fact users carry their phones and tablets practically everywhere. The introduction of scheduled push messaging adds another useful element to the feature and serves to address cases where admin users can’t be in front of a computer when important messages need to be sent.

An Overview of Push Messages

Push notifications, also known as push messages and push alerts, enable administrators to send messages directly to all subscribed users of a mobile app. Admin users of the mobile app content management system enter the text message to send in the message field, which may be up to 120 characters in length. In principle, push messaging works the same for iPhone, iPad, and Android, creating a seamless experience for all users with native apps installed on their smartphones and tablets.

Benefits of Scheduled Push Alerts

Scheduling multiple messages at once--often weeks or months in advance--serves to ensure notifications aren’t forgotten and enables staff to dedicate most of their time to other priorities. Consider cases where event planners need to send a significant number of alerts during a busy conference or sales teams need to promote a product on the other side of the world. Admin users are able to dedicate a time most convenient for them to address push messages for an upcoming period and have the peace of mind alerts are ready for publication at a specific time.

How Scheduled Push Messaging Works

The process is very similar to sending a traditional push message, only with the added step of selecting a date and time. Once saved, queued messages are viewable in a list with the ability to delete or edit messages awaiting publication.

Other Push Message Features

Additional push message features includes “deep linking” to tie a push message to a specific page in the app by entering a unique URL. Instead of the homepage, users are taken to specific content to better control the experience and highlight updates or new content in the app. The mobile content management system also display statistics about the number of existing push subscribers. Administrators are able quickly scan overviews of how many devices--broken down by device type--receive a push message.

General Benefits of Push Messaging

The ability to send timely alerts to app users provides a number of significant benefits to companies and organizations. Event apps rely on communicating last-minute scheduling changes and promoting exhibitors or sponsors in large part through push messages. Sales and marketing mobile apps similarly utilize push notifications to alert users to new product launches and exciting offers--or to communicate with internal sales staff over changes to strategies and other logistics. Push messages may even be turned into a revenue generator through charging sponsors or other interested 3rd-parties to promote a product or service in the mobile app. Whether alerting users to last-minute updates or taking advantage of yet another promotion tool, engaging users in real-time via their smartphones and tablets represents a must-have mobile app feature.

Read our blog post entitled “Mobile App Marketing via Push Messaging” for a detailed example of successfully leveraging push notifications.

For more information about scheduling push messages and to speak with an AppBurst representative about mobile app development: