Web Push vs. Email newsletters

As a website owner, you want to keep your readers informed about new articles and updates, but which method should you use: Web Push notifications or email newsletter subscriptions? Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, so let's take a look at how they compare.

Web Push Notifications

Web Push notifications are short, instant notifications that appear on a user's desktop or mobile device, even when they are not actively using your website. Here are some of the advantages of using Web Push notifications for sending article updates:

• Instant delivery: Web Push notifications are delivered instantly, so your readers will know about new articles as soon as they are published.
• High visibility: Web Push notifications appear directly on the user's device, making them hard to miss.
• No email address required: Users can subscribe to Web Push notifications with just one click, without having to provide their email address.
• Customizable: You can customize the content and timing of your Web Push notifications, to ensure that they are relevant and engaging for your readers.

However, there are also some disadvantages to using Web Push notifications:

• Limited message length: Web Push notifications are limited in length, so you may not be able to provide as much information as you would in an email newsletter.
• Opt-in required: Users must opt-in to receive Web Push notifications, and they can opt-out at any time, so you may have a smaller audience than with email newsletters.

I will use the (free) service of OneSignal to find subscribers and push notifications on updates.

Email Newsletter Subscriptions

Email newsletters are regular email updates that are sent to subscribers who have opted-in to receive them. Here are some of the advantages of using email newsletters for sending article updates:

• Longer message length: Email newsletters allow you to provide more detailed information about your articles, including images and links.
• Direct communication: Email newsletters are sent directly to the user's email inbox, making them a more personal and direct form of communication.
• No device restrictions: Email newsletters can be accessed on any device with an internet connection, making them accessible to a wider audience.

However, there are also some disadvantages to using email newsletters:

• Delayed delivery: Email newsletters may not be delivered instantly, so your readers may not know about new articles as soon as they are published.
• Spam filters: Email newsletters can sometimes be caught by spam filters, causing them to be delivered to the user's spam folder or not delivered at all.
• Email fatigue: Users may receive a large number of emails, leading to email fatigue and causing them to unsubscribe.

Experiment: Which method works better?

Both Web Push notifications and email newsletter subscriptions have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to sending article updates. I consider to use them both but it might become pushy and confusing very quickly.

As an experiment, I will be comparing the effectiveness of Web Push notifications and email newsletter subscriptions in the context of sending article updates. I will be using Web Push notifications to notify subscribers about new articles on my website, and email newsletters to notify subscribers about the same articles.

I will be tracking the number of subscribers who opt-in to each method, the open rates and click-through rates for each notification, and the overall engagement of each audience. I will then evaluate the effectiveness of each method and report back on my findings.

Stay tuned (subscribe or receive push notifications 😉) for the results of this experiment, which will provide insights into the best way to reach and engage your audience with article updates.