How to set up the first push notifications for a website

1. Choosing a Push Notification Service

Popular platforms:

1. OneSignal (free plan up to 10k subscribers)
2. Pushwoosh (flexible pricing)
3. SendPulse (email integration)
4. WebPush (easy setup)
5. DMPilot (automatic series of notifications and low prices tariffs)

Selection criteria:

1. Compatibility with your CMS (WordPress, OpenCart, Joomla etc.)
2. Availability of free plan
3. Audience segmentation features
4. RSS automation support

2. Website Preparation

Technical requirements:

1. Website must use HTTPS (mandatory for push)
2. Access to edit HTML code

For WordPress:

1. Install a plugin (e.g., "OneSignal Push Notifications")
2. Enter API key from service dashboard
3. Customize subscription prompt design

3. Subscription Setup

Implementation options:

1. Automatic prompt (appears on site entry)
2. Subscription button (better for conversion)
3. Example: "Get notifications 🔔"
4. Place in header or popup

Tips:

1. Add explanation: "No spam - only important updates"
2. Offer subscription bonus (discount, checklist)

4. Creating Your First Notification

Recommended structure:

1. Title (up to 40 chars): "20% Off Today!"
2. Text (up to 120 chars): "24-hour sale - discount on all products"
3. Icon (192x192px)
4. URL (links to target page)

Testing:

1. Send test to yourself and colleagues
2. Check display across browsers

5. Optimization and Analytics

Key metrics:

1. CTR (5-15% is normal)
2. Subscriber count
3. Peak activity times

Improvement tips:

1. A/B test notification copies
2. Set up triggered messages (abandoned cart)
3. Implement interest-based segmentation

Conclusion

Push notification setup takes under 1 hour and provides:

1. +15-25% repeat visits
2. Increased purchase conversion
3. Direct audience communication channel

Next steps:

1. Configure automatic triggers
2. Add RSS feeds for blog updates
3. Test different notification formats

💡 Tip: Start with free plans, then upgrade as your audience grows.