In-app announcements are like catching a glimpse of a shiny $50 bill on the pavement during your usual daily walk. They break routines and offer new benefits or information.

Understanding the best practices to make an impact with in-app announcements will improve engagement and adoption rates for new features.

In-app announcement definition

In-app announcements are messages sent to users within an app or website. Thanks to their disruptive and dynamic nature, they are an effective way to catch user attention and communicate news.

They are helpful in communicating news with users, such as; information about new features or services, upcoming events, promotional offers, or other important notifications.

These little banners are key for feature adoption and platform exploration. They help break a user’s pattern of behavior and offer new user journeys that delight users.

In-app announcements can also be used to direct users to other parts of the app or website, such as a new product page or registration process.

Benefits of using in-app announcements

In-app announcements provide companies with a powerful tool for getting their message across to users in an efficient and effective way.

With in-app announcements, you can:

• Quickly inform customers of product updates, new features, bug fixes, upcoming events, and special offers.
• Build trust through keeping customers informed helps build customer loyalty and trust between the company and its users.
• Provide useful information about products or services, in-app announcements also create opportunities for meaningful interactions with users.
• Tailor messages to specific user demographics or preferences, which improves personalized conversations with customers.
• Boost user engagement, retention rates, and sales figures. By delivering timely content through channels such as push notifications or banner ads companies draw attention to their products or services, resulting in higher conversion rates.

By using promotions or discounts via these messages companies can motivate people into taking action which leads directly to increased sales numbers.

3 Types of in-app announcements and their use cases

In-app announcements share different types of information, like webinars, new features, software updates, and even product offers, so it’s important to distinguish which type of in-app announcement best suits your informational goal.

There are three types of in-app announcements: in-app modal notifications, banners and toasts, and newsfeeds.

Understanding when and how to use each in-app announcement will help improve the impact of communication.

1. In-app modal notifications

In-app modal notifications are short messages that appear on a users’ device when they navigate a platform. They can appear when users open an app or later during a session.

Modal notifications help attract users to new features. They serve as both an announcement and an information carrier, as they can share new feature updates and give context around its functionality.

Here’s an example of how Asana announces new features with in-app modal announcements. They combine screenshots, education content, and CTAs for users to learn more.

(Image source: Asana)

Use case: Due to their disruptive and eye-catching nature, modals are best used to share big news, like new features available.

2. In-app banner announcements

Banners and toasts pop up at the top or side of a platform screen. Their dynamic and eye-catching positioning is ideal for sharing news.

Banners are helpful features to share information with users, particularly educational content, like for example an upcoming webinar or software maintenance.

Here’s an example of how Slack uses banners to share their upcoming webinar.

(Image source: Slack)

User case: Ideal feature to share information that doesn’t require immediate attention, for example; webinars, surveys, maintenance updates, or newsletter signups.

3. In-app newsfeed notifications

An in-app notification center helps keep users on track with news and feature updates. They provide a record of all important updates, which are easily accessible.

This type of notification can be used to keep users in the loop on upcoming webinars, software updates, or any other type of content that may be of interest.

Here’s an example of how Product Fruits uses newsfeeds to keep their users up to date on webinars, features, and product training.

(Image source: Product Fruits)

This form of in-app announcment allows users to continously access updated information and resources. Which avoids users missing out of information from temporary announcements.

7 Best practices for creating in-app announcements

For in-app announcements to really make an impact, there needs to be a strategy behind the message, timing, and placement. You can’t just aimlessly send out information.

Each message needs to be supported by:

• Goal: What’s the objective of the announcements? Wether it’s signups, feature adoption, or purely informational, each will effect your choice on in-app announcements, timing, and content
• Supporting onboarding features: When it comes to new features, your announcement needs to be backed with tours, tutorials, and help article for users to quickly understnad how to use new features.
• Resources: New announcements need to be backed by relevant information resources, help articles, and quick access to further details.

Here are some tips to help you create in-app announcements that convert and engage.

1. Segment messages

For announcements to entice users to perform a certain action, they need to be relevant and solve a problem they face. to achieve relevancy, you need to release in-app announcements to the right audience.

It’s good practice to categorize in-app announcements by user segments. For example, is a webinar relevant for new users or existing? Who would benefit from a new feature release? Can this announcement be localized to reach users in a region?

Announcement segmentation will make sure that all content is relevant and interesting for your target audience. This will boost engagement and increase the chances of users taking action.

2. Play around with a sense of urgency

Create in-app messages that convey time-sensitiveness. You want to provoke immediate action from users.

People respond most when there is an element of exclusivity or urgency. For example, use language such as “limited time” or “only available for 24 hours” to encourage users to act quickly.

3. Use crafty and intriguing copy

Straight and to-the-point message copy will entice and drive more conversion. Aim to craft concise messages that get information across quickly.

Copy should be short and sweet – no longer than two sentences at most – to avoid overwhelming the user with too much information.

Play around with copy that addresses a user’s pain point, and that makes in-app announcements more relatable and actionable.

4. Spice it up with some visuals

Include visuals or graphics: Visuals can instantly capture the user’s attention and make it easier for them to understand your message quickly.

If possible, add visuals such as photos, videos, GIFs, or other graphics to your announcements to make them stand out from the rest.

Here’s an example of how Writer uses visuals in their announcements to entice intrigue and curiosity from their users

(Image source: Writer)

5. Placement and timing are important

The placement of in-app announcements plays a big role in their visibility and enticement.

Timing is also an important factor in how successful an announcement can be. A well-timed announcement can draw attention to new features, remind users of forgotten features, or encourage users to take action.

It’s important to pay attention to user behavior and ensure that the announcement is delivered when users are most likely to engage with it. Additionally, you should consider the frequency of your announcements to ensure that users are not overwhelmed with too much information.

6. Make CTAs relevant

Write action-provoking CTAs that tell users exactly what to expect. Your CTAs must align with the overall message of the announcement.

Use CTAs that hold actionable and active copy. That will make announcements more engaging and actionable for users to respond positively to the announcement and take the desired action.

Here’s an example of how Mailchimp uses a clear CTA to show users what the next step will look like.

(Image source: Mailchimp)

7. Test everything to perfect the announcement craft

Test out different in-app content and placement options. This will help understand your user’s preferences and behavior to optimize the next announcements.

A/B testing gives you valuable insights into how people interact with your message, enabling you to refine it until it resonates with customers effectively.

By following these best practices for creating effective in-app announcements, companies can ensure that their users receive important information while also increasing engagement levels and boosting customer loyalty.

Tools for creating and managing in-app announcements

In-app announcements are a powerful way for companies to communicate with their users, but they must be sent effectively to maximize results.

When looking for an in-app announcement tool, it’s important to consider the following:

• Customization: Make sure you can customize messages according to user location or personal preferences. This allows you to target specific audiences and tailor their message accordingly.
• Scheduling: Timing is important, but it shouldn’t be a manual task. Be sure it’s possible to schedule announcements at different times, allowing users to receive important information when it is most relevant to them.
• Analytics: Make sure you can easily track performance and data insights. This eases the process of data analysis and helps gain an understanding of how effective communication has been and how to improve it further.
• Testing: A/B testing can be used to compare different versions of the same announcement and determine which one generates better results.

Announcements are only the start of a user journey

In-app announcements are only one small part of an overall successful product feature adoption strategy. To ensure users stick with new features, they must be part of an integrated onboarding process that includes analytics, testing, and other engagement tools.

Product fruits provide an extra layer of customization to your platform, allowing you to craft a tailored feature adoption journey and onboard users to new features, thus giving your platform more worth. Additionally, it needs to be adjustable to a brand’s personality, traceable, and connect to tours, knowledge bases, and in-app demos.

Create your own in-app announcements today, no card (or coding) is required.