How to use widgets and notifications to create great user experience

iOS10 has brought rich notifications and more sophisticated widgets, and to fully embrace their powerful functionality and cool options, app developers must now pay even more attention to their design and purpose.

Both push notifications and content in a widget should engage the user by providing valuable services and not just by sending general, passive messages.

Offer instant value with rich notifications

With iOS10 rich content in the push itself is supported, allowing us to play videos, display snippets from articles, or show updated scores from a football match as and when they happen.

Instead of having to tempt the user into the application itself, we can now introduce value at a glance, right within the notification. We can even start performing actions with text input.



Bundle push notifications

It has also been made much easier to replace outdated information in a notification, without the server having to notify the phone.

We can now check for all push messages that are displayed and update them as we go. Notifications can be bundled.

Where previously five notifications would be sent, we can now condense this into one – creating less spam, and a more intelligent product that offers value instead of being a chatterbox.

The introduction of this richer content turns what was a simple nudge, into a meaningful extension of the app itself.



Put the most crucial functions of the app in a widget

With the new widgets, we now have the opportunity to make the most crucial functions of the application available with a single swipe from the lock screen. As with the notifications, rich content is supported and videos and animation can be displayed from here.

There are two types of widgets – collapsed and expanded – with information optimized for each size. The collapsed version is similar to the functionality available with force touch. In addition to the small widget, force touch can include shortcuts directly into the app’s core functions.

The updated widgets are an opportunity to drag existing functionality straight out of the app or build brand new functionality aimed at a different use case.

Impulsive reactions to straight up information. In both cases, the widget should provide valuable updates or functionality that gives the user an enriched experience of the app. This might be personalized information, based on time of day or location.

Done properly, a push notification is a meaningful extension of the app

We thought notifications were great even before iOS10 – they provided an invaluable opportunity to remind and encourage users to regularly interact with your application.

At Nodes, we always aim to add value to push notifications, triggered by certain events, times or locations. Here, two examples on how we have designed push in two cases.

In Børsen Mobil and Play, we personalise the push experience. Users follow companies of specific interest and are only notified if new articles or videos are relevant to them. Read more about personalised experiences in our previous blog.

In the Danish Beredskabsstyrelsen, and British Red24 we use geo location to alert users in critical situations. Based on where you are, you will be alerted immediately in times of crisis.

You can view your location in relation to the affected area, and find nearby safe-havens if you need help. By installing the app, even if you do not directly interact with it, we can provide you with incredibly valuable insights as and when they are needed.

Start with the man in the mirror

If we want our users to accept push notifications and pay attention to them, UX designers have to ensure that they are making the right decisions.

The first step is to explicitly state the value of the notification before you ask users to subscribe to them. The second step is ensuring that you don’t disappoint users who have allowed the notifications in good faith.

Every time you send a push, it’s critical that you are adding value to the experience. Users do not like being spammed with irrelevant updates, offers and news. If there is no value to what you are communicating, then you are potentially damaging the relationship your users have with your product.

Add flexibility, and allow the user to adjust their settings. By allowing people to tailor their updates, you can add even further value and relevance to your push offering.

Do You need inspiration as to how your app can use widgets and notifications wisely?

Contact Linn Elster or James from our User experience team for a dialogue about the possibilities.

Linn Elster James Lindsay