Subscription Prompt: Understanding subscribing and the importance of user consent

When implementing push notifications in web applications, it’s crucial to consider how and when you ask users for permission. Browsers have specific rules and behaviors that developers must work around to provide a smooth experience. Let’s break this down.

The Challenges of Native Browser Prompts

Browsers such as Chrome sometimes suppress push notification prompts, either displaying them in less noticeable ways (e.g., a small bell icon in the address bar) or blocking them altogether. This can confuse users or cause them to miss the prompt entirely. As a result, users might not even realize they have the option to subscribe.

Additionally, browsers enforce strict rules:

1. User Interaction Required: A subscription prompt can only be triggered after the user interacts with the page (e.g., clicking a button).
2. Single Attempt Limitation: Once the native prompt is shown and dismissed, you cannot display it again for the same user, leading to lost opportunities.

The Solution: A Pre-Prompt for Push Subscription

To address these issues, many platforms, including ours, implement a "pre-prompt" or custom permission dialog. This allows us to:

• Prepare the User: Show a clear and engaging explanation of why they should subscribe to notifications before triggering the browser’s native prompt.
• Control the Flow: Users must interact with our custom prompt (e.g., clicking "Allow"), which satisfies the browser’s interaction requirement.
• Retry Without Annoying the User: If the user declines our pre-prompt, we haven’t triggered the browser’s native prompt yet. This means we can politely ask again later, giving users time to reconsider.

See Pushwoosh Subscription Prompt feature for more info.

Why This Matters

By introducing a pre-prompt mechanism, we not only comply with browser restrictions but also create a more user-friendly experience. Users understand what they’re subscribing to and are less likely to dismiss the request outright. This approach significantly increases subscription rates and ensures that users feel in control of their choices.