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Effective Strategies for In-App Messaging to Enhance User Loyalty
You've got one shot to make a fantastic first impression, and it often happens within the first month of user interaction. How do you keep them hooked and engaged? Enter in-app messaging!
These nifty, contextual messages encourage users to engage with your app while they're actively using it. But let's be real, transitioning a newbie to a loyal fan isn't a walk in the park. That's when it's handy to learn from other brands that have been down this road and back. Read on for some insider secrets to boost customer retention!
What's In-App Messaging and Why Does it Matter?
In-app messaging involves direct, contextual messages that users see while frolicking around your mobile app. By leveraging in-app messaging capabilities, you can:
- Impress them with new features
- Announce shiney new updates
- Share promotions or answer their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Compared to push notifications, these in-app messages can be triggered based on user behavior:
- When they first download the app
- When they haven't popped in for a while
- When it's time to say goodbye
Having an in-app messaging strategy? It can:
- Turbocharge User Engagement - In-app messaging helps create loving connections with users by meeting them where they're at. This can leave them feeling like they've got a wingman guiding them along! For example, offer quick help if new users have a hard time navigating the app - they'll be all the more grateful and participative.
- Elevate User Experience and Retention - Aim personalized messages at a user's interests, behavior, or app history, and they'll feel valued and connected with your app. Remember, two-thirds of new mobile apps vanish after three days since installation. It's your mission to keep them in the loop!
- Strengthen Brand Loyalty - Reward existing users with special offers or discounts when they browse specific categories or products. This incentivizes purchases and screams, "We dig you and want to go the extra mile!"
The Most Common Types of In-App Messaging
1. Chatbots
Chatbots are the brainchild of AI, chatting up users and offering tailored responses to their queries on the fly. This popular in-app messaging type quickly responds to common problems while freeing the customer service team to focus on more complex inquiries.
Source: Klaviyo
2. In-app Surveys
In-app surveys help gather input about app functionality, user experience, or anything else demanding enhancement. By partaking in this type of in-app messaging, like an in-app survey, you can get genuine and useful user feedback while gabbing it up with your app.
Source: Appcues
3. Tooltips
Tooltips are a secret weapon: brief messages that show up when a user hovers (or clicks) on a specific app element. These baby pop-up boxes offer helpful hints, clarifications, or additional details about features or functions. Tooltips enhance the user experience by providing instant feedback and guidance. Users can explore the app without diving into help documents or FAQs.
Source: Gmail
4. Product Tours
Product tours flaunt your app's features and functions in an interactive miniderby. This handy guide helps newbies find their sea legs, reducing frustration and boosting user retention.
Source: Grammarly
5. Slideouts
Slideouts are cool, slick little panels that glide into the app interface when triggered. They allow users to roam the app while receiving prompts, making for a non-invasive, seamless experience.
Source: Appcues
6. Modals
Modals are eye-catching pop-up messages that come when users need to pay attention, like when something big happens, such as a major feature update. Modals catch eyeballs and prompt users about special offers, reminders, or terms and conditions demanding attention.
Source: Jasper
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Download Case Study## Five Killer Strategies for Using In-App Messaging
Sifting through the best practices for in-app messaging? Get inspired!
1. Personalize your in-app messages
Getting personal with your users can take your app game to the next level.
McKinsey reports that 71% of customers expect personalized interactions, and 76% get frustrated when it doesn't happen.
One shining example is that of Youfoodz, an Australian food service app offering fresh and healthy meals for busy individuals. To turn one-timers into repeat visitors, the app uses in-app messages - from greeting newbies to order confirmations and updates.
Customers who opt-in for purchases receive updates and promotions. Celebrating special occasions with a customized greeting and offering special discounts or store credits only sweetens the deal, encouraging user loyalty.
Our takeaway? Customized messages target their emotions, making life better. Health and fitness apps can particularly benefit from this approach.
If you're in the market for inspiration, read about how YouFoodz generated a whopping 100,000 plus orders per week with their app!
If you want personalized content the pro way, check out these tips from our app developers:
- Address your users by name - A simple address goes a long way in establishing a connection and making them feel valued.
- Offer personalized recommendations - By analyzing user data, you can offer product recommendations based on user behavior. For example, if a user frequently checks a specific menu or dish within a delivery app, send a message with a discount or deal for that food item on that day.
- Celebrate special occasions - Sending a greeting on a user's birthday or anniversary shows you care and adds a personal touch to their experience.
2. Invest in triggered in-app messages
Triggered in-app messages are magically sent at just the right time, based on a user's behavior or actions within the app. They can be highly personalized and supremely relevant.
Dropbox is a trendsetter when it comes to app behavior triggers. For instance, if a user's storage is maxxed out, they'll see a message prompting them to get more space.
Dropbox presents two options for a user to choose: Dismiss or Get More Space.
Triggered in-app messaging shines when upselling, potentially boosting revenue by 10% - 30%!
Here are more tips for crafting triggered messages that won't make users feel pestered:
- Re-engage inactive users - Engage users who haven't been seen for a while with offers or incentives to tempt them back. For example, send a message with a limited-time special offer or highlight new features that have been added since their last login.
- Write educational in-app messages - Equip users with educational content to help them get the most from your app. For example, "Did you know you can customize your workout routine on our app?"
- Decrease abandoned carts - If a user abandons their shopping cart, send a reminder or offer an incentive, like free shipping or a discount code, to motivate them to complete their purchase.
3. Keep it snappy
In-app messaging should be brief and to the point. Users don't have the patience for long-winded messages, so keep your messages short, clear, and impactful. Use everyday language and avoid jargon or complicated words where possible.
Source: Zapier
4. Consider timing for setting up in-app messaging
The timing of your in-app messaging makes all the difference. Users are most receptive when they're active in your app.
The timing can depend on your app's purpose and user behavior. Keep an eye on user activity to determine the best timing for your in-app messages.
Source: Geavi
The timing of in-app messages is on point in the Geavi app, an innovative recording tool that automatically records video evidence on a service level.
5. Test and tweak your messages
Different mobile apps work for different users, so it pays to test, test, test! A/B testing different in-app messages with various groups of users helps determine what works best.
Common elements to A/B test include text, call-to-action (CTA), placement, and imagery.
It's recommended to constantly run tests on in-app messages to improve user flows and test specific factors like the right message type, message tone, and placement.
Source: MUCUDU
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Download Case Study## Small Steps, Massive Results
Dropping in the perfect in-app message is like adding just the right spice to a dish - the impact can be massive!
Not only does in-app messaging offer an opportunity for timely and personalized communication, but it also lets you gather valuable user data on behavior and preferences.
By implementing best practices like segmenting users and using concise, relevant messaging, you can create a more friendly, user-friendly app experience that boosts long-term user retention and satisfaction.
Here at our website, we specialize in creating minimum viable products (MVP) and world-class designs for mobile apps and websites. Our award-winning agency is all about helping you bridge the gap between dream and reality. Let us know if you need a hand in implementing in-app messaging to take your app to the next level.
Contact us today to discover how we can help!
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Krisette LimMaria Krisette Lim is aContent Marketing Specialist with 14 years of experience producing web and print ad content. Krisette has a BSBA degree, majoring in Business Management and Entrepreneurship. When she's not playing with words and punctuation, she's either curled up with a book, sipping hot tea, or tinkering with website builders.
- By strategically using in-app messaging to share promotions, answer FAQs, and offer personalized product recommendations, businesses can elevate their lifestyle and maintain a strong brand loyalty with their customers, ultimately increasing revenue.
- To create a seamless user experience and boost overall business performance, finance, technology, and app development companies can integrate various in-app messaging strategies such as chatbots, tooltips, product tours, slideouts, and modals into their platform, leveraging user behavior triggers for maximum effectiveness.
