Push notifications: Re-engage and retain users effectively

Push notifications: Re-engage and retain users effectively

Dear Apptics community,

Have you ever wished to proactively engage and communicate with users even when they are not actively using your app? Apptics already empowers you with features for app health, performance, usage, engagement, and growth.

We are excited to add Push notifications that will help you take user engagement to the next level and facilitate re-engagement with users!


Introduction to push notifications

Push notifications allow you to trigger notifications to your app users about important updates, events, offers, posts, etc. As the name suggests, these push notifications are app-related messages shown to your users as pop-up messages on their devices. These notifications are sent to users who have already installed your app and have enabled push notifications on their device settings.

Push notifications complement traditional methods like email, SMS, and phone calls. They serve as a highly effective channel to communicate with users, keep them informed of any updates instantly, and encourage active engagement. You can send these notifications even when your users are not actively using the app. This way, you can open new opportunities for re-engagement and boost user retention for your app.

Sending push notifications using Apptics

To start sending push notifications in Apptics, you must first complete the push notification setup. This involves authenticating the appropriate push notification service provider certificates with your app and later adding their details in the Apptics console. You need to upload the Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) credentials for Android apps and Apple Push Notification service (APNs) certificates for iOS apps. Once the necessary certificate details are provided for the package name/bundle ID, you can proceed to create and send push notifications to users. You can refer to our push notifications guide for detailed guidance.

A push notification contains many elements including text, media, action buttons, and much more. Usually, you would have to trigger them natively by sending the notification payload in your app code or using third-party tools. In Apptics, we have simplified and streamlined the process of creating a push notification in five simple steps.

1) Schedule


You start by providing a name to the push notification you are drafting for your reference. Then, you set the timing of the push notification. For the first phase of push notifications, you can either trigger the push notification immediately after publishing it or schedule the notification for a later date and time.

2) Audience



Define the target audience for the push notification by using filters and criteria.
  • Filters - Select at least one application ID to target your push notification. You can refine your audience further by filtering based on device type, model, app version, OS version, country, and user group. To measure the effectiveness of your notification, you can track the conversion rate by specifying a desired action you want users to take within the app after interacting with the notification.
  • Criteria - Set the criteria based on which you want your selected audience to receive push notifications. You can set the criteria pattern based on previous user activity (the events triggered or screens visited by your users) within a selected date range.
Notes
Note: The number of devices targeted for the notification based on the filters and criteria you apply in the Audience tab will be shown as the target device count.


Apart from selecting the audience for the notification, you can also analyze how effective it was amongst your users. You have an option as Conversion. It allows you to choose an event (that is already being tracked in Apptics for your app) and measure how many users have taken the desired action within your app after interacting with your notification.
Quote
Example: Say you send a notification for a webinar happening tomorrow. The desired action here would be for your users to register for the webinar after interacting with the notification. If the action of registering for an event from the app is tracked as an event in Apptics, you can select the same event to know how many users registered for the webinar after interacting with the push notification.
Notes

3) Content


After scheduling the notification and targeting your app users, you must provide the notification content. The content mainly includes the title, message, and image. If you have a desired action you want your users to take after interacting with the notification (of course!), you can provide the URL of the page/screen and redirect them.

4) Additional elements


Now that you have provided what needs to go in the notification, you can provide additional details to customize how the notification should appear and behave on the user's device. They include:
  • Sound to play while the notification is delivered
  • Notification payload
  • Increment app badge icon to notify unread notifications
You can also add some Android-specific elements like the notification channel, app icon, and app icon color that you can add to customize the notification appearance and sound.

5) Action buttons


The final step is to add interactive elements in the notification to encourage active user engagement. You can add a maximum of three action buttons and provide the associated details, such as:
  • Category name - It decides the notification type and action buttons that will appear. This applies only to iOS apps.
  • Action ID - A unique action ID to track user interaction associated with each action button.
  • Button label - The text is displayed on the action button.
  • Icon path - The file path of the image that will be used as the button icon.
  • Click action - The display name for the button icon.
While you create the notification and provide the necessary details, you can get a preview of the notification based on the entries you have provided so far.


Testing the push notification


In Apptics, you can test the notification once you select the timing, define your target audience, and provide the message for the notification. You can view the option to test the notification starting from the step to add content for your message.

You can test the notification on devices that are registered with APNs/FCM and have debug mode enabled in them. You can select the application ID and provide the device token, which will be available in Xcode/Android Studio for the test device. After testing the notification, what's next? Hitting the publishing button, of course!

Once you finish all the steps with the necessary details, save the notification as a draft for future iterations, test on devices, and finally publish when it is ready!

Monitoring the results


After creating push notifications, it is much more important to know if they have been successfully sent to your users. So once the notifications are triggered, you will be able to view the performance stats for the notification. They include:
  • Target count - The number of targeted devices for the notification.
  • Success count - The number of notifications that were sent successfully from the push notification service provider.
  • Failure count - The number of notifications that couldn't be delivered due to technical issues.
  • Received count - The number of notifications delivered to the user's device.
  • Opened count - The number of notifications that users opened and interacted with.
  • Conversion count - The number of times users took the desired action after interacting with your notification.
We have rolled out the push notification feature in its BETA phase, and it awaits enhancements in the future. Some of them include recurring notifications, user segments, and automation of push notification workflows. Stay tuned for interesting updates!

Cheers,
Team Apptics




        • Recent Topics

        • Tip of the week #26: Import/ Export calendars in Zoho Calendar.

          Any calendar on the web or calendars that you create in any other calendar application can be imported in to Zoho Calendar. This will help you to add the events from the calendars that you import to your Zoho Calendar. You also have the option to export

        • Add Zoho Forms to Zoho CRM Plus bundle

          Great Zoho apps like CRM and Desk have very limited form builders when it comes to form and field rules, design, integration and deployment options. Many of my clients who use Zoho CRM Plus often hit limitations with the built in forms in CRM or Desk and are then disappointed to hear that they have to additionally pay for Zoho Forms to get all these great forms functionalities. Please consider adding Zoho Forms in the Zoho CRM Plus bundle. Best regards, Mladen Svraka Zoho Certified Consultant and

        • Social icons, open in new tab?

          Hello, I have two social icons on my footer, Facebook and Psychology Today. Clicking on the Facebook icon opens a new tab, the Psychology Today icon does not. I would like them both to open a new tab. Am I missing a setting somewhere?

        • Real-Time Screen Annotation During Zoho Cliq Screen Sharing

          Hi Zoho Support Team, Hope you're doing well. We’d like to request the addition of real-time screen annotation tools during screen sharing sessions in Zoho Cliq video calls. 🔍 What We're Looking For: The ability for the presenter—and optionally, other

        • Autofill address using smart fields mapped over the pdf document

          Hi, I'm using mail merge to map smart fields onto PDF documents I plan to distribute for signing. I already have a Zoho Sign subscription. When mapping smart fields from the Employee form, I only see the permanent and current addresses which include the

        • How do I cap employee leave accrual

          HI there, How do I cap an employee's leave accrual? The policy is that you accrue 15 days leave annually (1.25 days a month) and once you reach 15 days, you wont accrue more until you take leave. Thank you!

        • Open sub form from a button as a popup form

          Is there a way within a form to use similar code as below to show a button in the form when clicked opens the subform for data to be added to the record being viewed in the form OpenUrl("#Form:<Customer_Delivery_Address>?<Delivery_Address>=" + input.ID,"popup

        • Dont have backup option in setting

          Hi guys. I started using zoho book a week ago. I bought premium package yet I don't have backup option in setting. I hope anyone can help me find a solution. Thanks in advance

        • Making Tags Mandatory

          When creating an expense, is it possible to make the Tags field mandatory?  I see the option in settings to make other fields mandatory, like Merchant, Description, Customer, etc, but nothing about Tags. Thanks! Kevin

        • Is there a plan to integrate zoho voice with zoho books?

          Hello, Is there a plan to integrate zoho voice with zoho books? Right now we are using the Twilio SMS integration into zoho books, but have recently decided to switch to zoho voice for calls and sms. Is there a plan to integrate zoho voice natively into

        • Pass variables to Zoho Desk via URL to create a fast new ticket landing page

          We are integrating our phone system into Zoho Desk. Currently when a helpdesk agent answers the phone, a soft client opens a new tab with zoho desk at the new case page. https://desk.zoho.com/support/companyname/ShowHomePage.do#Cases/new We would like

        • Zoho Books Extension: What Happens If Custom Fields Already Exist?

          When developing Zoho Books extensions, what happens if the target Zoho Books organization already has a custom field with the same API name as one defined in the extension? I’m asking because we originally created an on-Books version of this functionality,

        • Modular Permission Levels

          We need more modular Permissions per module in Books we have 2 use cases that are creating problems We need per module export permission we have a use case where users should be able to view the sales orders but not export it, but they can export other

        • ¡Vuelven los Workshops Certificados de Zoho a España!

          ¡Hola usuarios de Español Zoho Community! Hace ya unos días que hemos dado la bienvenida al 2026, y promete ser un año de lo más emocionante. Y es que nos gustaría haceros nuestro particular regalo de Reyes, aunque lleguemos un poco tarde. 🎁 ¡Nos gustaría

        • Free Webinar on 21 January: Looking back at Zoho Mail in 2025

          Hello Zoho Community! Curious about how Zoho Mail evolved in 2025? Wondering how these updates can make your everyday email work simpler? We’ve got a session you won’t want to miss. In our Zoho Mail 2025 recap webinar, we’ll walk you through the key features

        • Cliq Networks users can see all other network users contact information

          Is there a way to hide user contact information from each user in networks? I would only like the users to see the admin's contact information, not other users. Network users information shared by default

        • Zoho Sheet - Printing - Page Breaks and Printing Customization

          I think the title is descriptive enough in that I cannot find help documentation on a simple task of adding in page brakes for separating pages on print. Thanks

        • Missing the "Find & Merge Duplicates" choice

          Hi, I am missing the "Find & Merge Duplicates" choice. I looked under the "More Actions" menu in Contacts, Accounts, Vendors, and Leads and it is not there. I have full permissions. Please assist me on finding this feature. Thanks!

        • OAuth integration issues

          I'm experiencing persistent OAuth errors when trying to connect Make with Zoho API. I've tried multiple approaches but keep encountering the following issues: First error: 'Invalid Redirect Uri - Redirect URI passed does not match with the one configured'

        • Marketing Tip #16: Ideal sizes and formats for adding images to your online store

          Images can make (or break) your storefront experience. When your banners and product photos follow the right sizes and aspect ratios, your store looks cleaner, loads faster, and feels more trustworthy—especially on mobile. Here are recommended image sizes

        • Improve WhatsApp Module in Zoho CRM

          The current WhatsApp module UI in Zoho CRM feels cluttered and complex, especially when handling high volumes of conversations. It would be great to enhance the WhatsApp module UI/UX by adopting a clean and simplified interface similar to Bigin CRM’s

        • Blueprint transitions on locked records

          We use the ability to automatically lock records (quotes, sales orders, etc.) based on criteria, such as stage. For instance, if a quote has been sent to a client, the quote is then locked for further edits. Our ideal quote stage process is: Draft>Sent>Won.

        • Enhance productivity with the revamped Zoho Sheet View

          Hello folks, For some time now, you've been able to use the Zoho Sheet View to quickly edit multiple records or to insert a batch of new records. Its tabular interface allows users to engage in these tasks productively. Despite this, the existing Sheet

        • No OR Filter for Views with a Related Modules Criteria

          We would like to create a Deal View where the User can see all their deals. For that, we would need an OR to connect the criteria. One of the Fields is a "multiselect User", these (Related Modules Criteria) can only be Filter with an AND. Even between

        • Good news! Calendar in Zoho CRM gets a face lift

          Dear Customers, We are delighted to unveil the revamped calendar UI in Zoho CRM. With a complete visual overhaul aligned with CRM for Everyone, the calendar now offers a more intuitive and flexible scheduling experience. What’s new? Distinguish activities

        • Chat to Lead

          Can I convert a Chat to a Lead?

        • Limit maximum entries for subform - depending on fields entry

          Hi Zoho! I have a form with a subform in it. I'd like to have limitation for the row number depending on an entry in a drop-down field in the main form (If the field in the main form is marked "Answer1" - Limit the entries to 1 row, if the field is "Answer2" to have 2 rows limitation, "Answer3" = no limitation at all) Can this be done? Thanks Ravid

        • Save HTML Snippet Page as PDF with Dynamic Data in Zoho Creator (Working Solution)

          Hi Zoho Creator Community 👋, I faced a common challenge while working with HTML Snippet Pages — I needed to generate a PDF with dynamic data and save it back into the record automatically. Here’s the working solution that might help others. Use Case

        • Make Camera Overlay & Recording Controls Visible in All Screen-Sharing Options

          Hi Zoho WorkDrive Team, Hope you are doing well. We would like to request an improvement to the screen-recording experience in Zoho WorkDrive. Current Limitation: At the moment the recording controls are visible only inside the Zoho WorkDrive tab. When

        • Write-Off multiple invoices and tax calculation

          Good evening, I have many invoices which are long overdue and I do not expect them to be paid. I believe I should write them off. I did some tests and I have some questions:  - I cannot find a way to write off several invoices together. How can I do that,

        • Rebranding Options for Zoho One

          We need the addition of rebranding and white-labeling settings directly within the Zoho One Admin Panel. This feature should allow organizations to customize the unified portal with their own logo, brand colors, and custom domain mapping (e.g., portal.company.com).

        • Tip #57- Accessibility Controls in Zoho Assist: Mobility- 'Insider Insights'

          Remote support should be easy to navigate for everyone. For users with mobility-related accessibility needs, long sessions and complex navigation can be challenging. Zoho Assist’s Mobility Accessibility Controls simplify interaction through keyboard-based

        • Total Cost in reports showing zero

          The image below shows my issue. The column Total Cost should show the cost to our company based on hours logged and the employee's rate. For instance, if the person working on Subtask 1 is paid 20/hr, then Total Cost should display $160 ($20x8 logged

        • To print Multiple delivery notes in batches

          In Zoho Books, we can print a Delivery Note from an Invoice using the Print Delivery Note option, but it is non-editable and always prints all line items from the invoice. Our requirement is to deliver invoiced items in batches and print delivery notes

        • Invoices not arriving and mail server settings

          I am having an issue where some clients are not receiving invoices. I have configured Zoho Books to send on my behalf and configured the appropriate SPF, DKIM and DMARC settings on my mail server and tested these as working. I get the CC'd copies so I

        • UPLOAD A CREATED PDF AUTOMATICALLY

          Using the html header pdf+print button, I have managed to find a way to have a user create a pdf using entered form data. Using the schedule button, I can have a "file uploaded" pdf mailed to someone as an attachment. The missing piece is to be able to add the pdf, created in that html page to a file upload field automatically? Right now one has to save it to computer and then upload it in a FILE UPLOAD FIELD. Any help would appreciated !  

        • Consolidated Department-wise Payroll Cost Summary Report

          Hello Zoho Payroll Team and Community, I am writing to discuss a reporting requirement regarding department-level expense tracking within Zoho Payroll. As we scale and manage salary distribution for employees across multiple departments, such as Accounts,

        • How to remove chat icon from knowledge base?

          I have set up a knowledge base to hold FAQs and documentation. It is currently standalone, and not integrated into our website. On every page there is a chat button in the bottom left corner that says "We're offline, please leave a message." How can I

        • Missed chats on WhatsApp closing after one minute

          Hi, we have added WhatsApp as a channel. However, if a chat is not picked up within 2mins, the chat is marked as missed and is closed within a minute. Why are they not staying in our "missed" queue for 24 hours as per our WhatsApp preference settings?

        • [ZohoDesk] Improve Status View with a new editeble kanban view

          A kanban view with more information about the ticket and the contact who created the ticket would be valueble. I would like to edit the fields with the ones i like to see at one glance. Like in CRM where you can edit the canvas view, i would like to edit

        • Next Page