Push Notification Click Handling: A Simple Guide

Push notifications improve mobile app performance by encouraging repeat visits, increasing user interaction, and supporting better retention through timely updates and personalized messaging.

Highlights

• Push notifications can boost app engagement by up to 88%, increasing repeat user visits.
• Apps using push notifications see up to 25% more user retention over 90 days.
• 61% of app users say push notifications make them use an app more frequently.

Co-Founder

Harsh Abrol

4 min read

With Over 14 years of Experience in the IT Field, Helping Companies Optimise there Products for more Conversions

Push notifications are among the most effective ways for mobile applications to engage with users. They enable apps to send messages directly to users, even when the app is not open. These notifications prove incredibly useful for delivering timely information, reminders, promotional offers, or alerts. However, the true effectiveness of push notifications lies not only in sending them but also in how they are managed when clicked by users. A well-handled push notification click can significantly boost user engagement and enhance the overall user experience.

In this article, we will explore how push notification click handling works in Android apps, covering everything from setting up push notifications to effectively responding to a user’s click. This guide will address the key elements of managing push notifications and provide practical steps and best practices for Android app developers, including those involved in on-demand app development companies. By the end of this article, you'll have a clear understanding of how to efficiently handle push notification clicks, ensuring a better user experience for your app users. The Business of Apps report shows that push notifications can boost app engagement by 88%.

What are Push Notifications?

Push notifications are messages sent from a server to a user's device, even when the user is not actively using the app. These notifications appear as alerts, banners, or badges on the user’s mobile device. They can include various types of information such as:

1. Breaking news updates
2. Promotional offers
3. Reminders and alerts
4. Activity updates within the app
5. Event invitations

For mobile app developers, the power of push notifications lies in their ability to keep users engaged with the app, even when users are not actively interacting with it. Push notifications can re-engage those who may have abandoned or forgotten about the app.

Why Handling Push Notification Clicks is Important

It’s easy to send a push notification to users, but the real challenge arises when the user clicks on the notification. Push notification clicks are often the first point of interaction between the user and the app. How well you handle this interaction directly affects the user’s overall experience.

When users click on a notification, they expect to be taken directly to relevant content within the app. If this experience is not smooth or if they are redirected to irrelevant or broken content, it may lead to frustration, negatively impacting the app’s reputation and the user’s likelihood of returning.

Proper handling of push notification clicks can:

1. Drive users to the specific page or content that is being advertised.
2. Keep the user engaged with the app after they click the notification.
3. Improve the user experience and overall satisfaction.

Step-by-Step Guide for Handling Push Notification Clicks

Setting Up Push Notifications

Before handling push notification clicks, you must first set up push notifications for your Android app. The most common way to implement push notifications in Android apps is to use Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM). FCM is a service provided by Firebase that enables developers to send notifications to Android devices.

To integrate Firebase Cloud Messaging into your Android app, follow these steps:

Set up Firebase in your Android project:

1. Go to the Firebase Console and create a new project.
2. Add the Firebase SDK to your Android project by modifying the build.gradle files.
3. Download the google-services.json file and add it to your project.

Register for push notifications:

1. You will need to configure the app to receive push notifications by adding the necessary permissions in the AndroidManifest.xml.
2. Use FirebaseInstanceId to get the device token, which will allow your server to send push notifications to the device.

Handle notification reception:

1. FCM provides a service to handle incoming notifications. You’ll need to extend the Firebase Messaging Service class to handle notifications.

Define the Notification’s Intent

Once you set up push notifications, the next step is to manage what occurs when the user clicks on a notification. The most critical part of this process is defining the Intent associated with the notification. OptinMonster data reveals apps with push notifications retain 25% more users over 90 days.

An Intent in Android is a messaging object that requests an action from another app component, such as starting a new activity. The intent must specify which activity the user should be directed to when they click the notification.

For example, if the notification informs the user about a new message in the app, the intent should direct the user to the message screen within the app.

To create an intent:

1. Create an intent for the specific activity or screen in your app that you want to open when the user clicks the notification.
2. Add any necessary data to the intent so that the activity can display the relevant content.

Building the Notification

Once the intent is defined, the next step is to construct the actual push notification. This process involves using Android’s NotificationCompat.Builder to create the notification. You can set various properties for the notification, including:

1. Title: The main heading of the notification (e.g., “New Message”).
2. Message: The content or body of the notification (e.g., “You have a new message”).
3. Icon: An icon representing the app or notification.
4. Sound and Vibration: Customizable alerts to attract the user’s attention.

Display the Notification

Once the notification is built, the next step is to display it to the user. You utilize the notification manager class to manage the display of notifications. The notification manager oversees the delivery and presentation of the notification on the user’s device.

The notification is then displayed in the device’s notification tray. If the user clicks on it, the earlier defined intent is triggered, and the corresponding activity opens.

Deep Linking for Notification Click Handling

Deep linking refers to linking directly to specific content or pages within the app from an external source. In the context of push notifications, deep linking is crucial because it enables users to be taken to the exact screen or content they are interested in after clicking a notification. Localytics states that 61% of users say push notifications increase their app usage.

To set up deep linking in Android:

1. Add an Intent Filter: In the AndroidManifest.xml file, define an intent filter for the activity you wish to open via the deep link. This will specify the URL patterns that your app can handle.
2. Handle the Deep Link: In the opened activity, you can extract the deep link data from the intent and display the relevant content based on the URL or parameters of the link.

Best Practices for Handling Notification Clicks

To provide users with the best experience, follow these best practices for managing push notification clicks:

1. Avoid Overloading Users with Notifications: Sending excessive notifications can lead to user fatigue, causing users to disable notifications or uninstall the app. Be mindful of notification frequency and ensure they provide value to the user.
2. Personalize Notifications: Tailor notifications to the user’s behavior and preferences. For example, if the user frequently engages with a specific feature of the app, send them personalized notifications related to that feature.
3. Test Notifications Across Devices: Various devices may manage notifications in slightly different manners. Confirm that notifications are displayed and handled appropriately on a range of devices.
4. Utilise Analytics: Track how users interact with notifications, including click-through rates, the types of content they engage with, and the time they spend on the app after clicking. Leverage this data to enhance future notifications.
5. Make the Destination Relevant: Ensure that when a user clicks on a notification, they are directed to the most relevant content. For instance, if the notification is about a new promotion, the user should be taken directly to the promotion page.

Final Words

Handling push notification clicks is an essential aspect of mobile app development. It’s not just about sending messages; it's about ensuring that when users engage with notifications, they have a smooth, relevant, and seamless experience. Properly implemented notification click handling can significantly enhance user engagement, retention, and overall satisfaction with your app. Whether you're an individual mobile app developer or part of an app development company, concentrating on click handling can greatly influence the success of your app.

By following the steps outlined in this guide- integrating Firebase Cloud Messaging, defining intents, using deep linking, and adhering to best practices- you will be well on your way to mastering push notification click handling in your Android app.

Push Notification Click Handling with Digittrix

Handling push notification clicks is a crucial aspect of mobile app development that directly affects user engagement, retention, and satisfaction. Whether you’re building a simple utility app or a complex on-demand platform, ensuring that your notifications take users to the right screen with relevant content is key to a successful app experience.

At Digittrix, we bring over 14 years of experience in mobile app development, helping businesses manage user interactions the right way. Our team is skilled in implementing smooth and efficient push notification click handling, especially for Android and iOS platforms. From configuring the backend to mapping user flows on click, we handle every part of the process with attention to detail.

If you're planning to build an app that communicates with users in real-time—be it through reminders, promotions, or updates—our expert developers ensure that your push notification handling works exactly as expected.

Want to improve how users interact with your app notifications? Get in touch with us today. Call us at +91 8727000867 to schedule a consultation or email your questions to digittrix@gmail.com. Let’s help your app make the right impression every time a user taps a notification.