What do your regular breakfast and successful marketing strategies have in common?

The best ones involve variety.

Give it a thought. As a blogger, to be successful with marketing, you must employ different methods, tactics, and test strategies to determine what works best for your business. You can’t just go all-in on one thing.

So what can you do to diversify your marketing strategy?

Simple, use Web Push Notifications.

Image from Pexels by Cristian Dina

Not only do push notifications let you communicate updates to your audience, they enable you to drive traffic to your website or landing page, build your audience, and grow your business. Plus, they work great in tandem with email marketing.

Table Of Contents

What Are Web Push Notifications?

Web push notifications are notifications that can be delivered to a user through web browsers.

These are alert-style messages that slide in at the top or bottom right-hand corner of a desktop screen, depending on the operating system. It might also appear on a mobile device in a manner nearly identical to push notifications delivered from apps.

Web push notifications are delivered on a user’s desktop or mobile screen anytime they have their browser open. It doesn’t matter if the user is on your website or not.

Web push notifications are usually short and have the ability to evoke users' interest to make an action. Most importantly, it has almost twice the open rate and higher CTR than other major marketing channels like email.

Web Push Notifications Vs In-browser Notification Vs Mobile Push Notification

An in-browser notification is another form of online messaging that targets active website visitors when they are actively on your website.

Mobile push notifications are the types of notifications that appear on a mobile device. These messages go to a user’s phone and show up on a lock screen.

mobile push notification

When a user opens a push notification, it will bring the user to whatever app sent the message. Much like web push notifications, users can opt-in and opt-out of receiving notifications.

But in this article, we’ll be covering all you need to know about web push notifications.

They differ from in-browser notifications and mobile push notifications in that a user does not need to be on the website to receive the push notification. This allows marketers to reach users when they’re not actively engaging on a website.

Who Should Use Web Push Notifications?

Web push notifications are a must-have for each and every business that focuses on growth. In this article, we will dive into the topic of why should you care about web push notifications if you are any of these:

10 Reasons Why Bloggers Need Web-Based Push Notifications

1. Drive More Traffic To Your Website And Re-engage With Your Readers

If you’re handling a publishing or blogging website, driving traffic to your website (both repeat and first-time) is likely the most important thing for you.

Because more traffic leads to more paid subscriptions. On top of that, more traffic leads to greater visibility for ads displayed on your website and, eventually, it allows you to command more revenue from advertising.

Web push notifications give publishers and bloggers the ability to drive traffic by nudging their readers to return to the website.

According to a study done by Oppolis Software, digital publications that use push notifications see an increase of 102% in overall downloads compared to publications that don’t use notifications.

2. Communicate Instantly With Your Readers

One of the main advantages of web push notification is that it demands immediate action on the part of the subscriber. Either the subscriber closes the notification or he clicks on the notification and is taken to the content.

Publishers can use this unique functionality by sending instant content through push notifications. When it is sent in the form of a web push notification, this becomes a “digital nudge” encouraging the subscriber to know more and return to the website.

3. Yield Better Response Than Any Other Marketing Channel

Studies show that email and social media are the most effective marketing channels. Email still provides the highest ROI of any single channel.

But not all first-time visitors are comfortable providing their email addresses. That’s where web push notifications come in - helping your users take the first step in building a relationship with your brand.

Combining your web push notifications and email creates a winning marketing strategy by giving you additional touchpoints to connect with your audience.

push notification stats
Source: dinarys.com

With Push notifications, subscribers will get your notifications at any time right at their browsers. You don’t need users browsing your websites to send it, offering you a better channel compared to email.

Another advantage of push notifications is, subscribers don’t need to log in to Google or Twitter, or Facebook to receive the notifications. They could be anywhere on the web to receive your notification.

4. Make It Easier For A Reader To Opt-in Compared To Email

Opting in to receive web push notifications is a one-click process. Compare this to the email opt-in process, which requires the reader to enter his email address at the very least.

This increases push notification opt-in compared to email. Opt-in rates for web push notifications can range from 6% to 12%. Some early studies have shown push notifications to have an opt-in rate 10x times the rate at which an average email list builds.

5. Make It Easy To Track Subscriber Behavior On Your Site

You can track clicks on messages in an email campaign, but you need to do it through an email marketing platform or some other third party.

In the case of web push notifications, you can just paste the integration code and start following subscriber behavior on your website right away. It gives you a more advanced capability of verifying their interests, predicting their future behavior, and better targeting of campaigns, thanks to personalization - all in real-time.

6. Offer A Cost-effective Alternative To Building An App

If the only reason you’re building an app is to send users instant notifications, then a better option would be to simply subscribe readers from your mobile/desktop website and send them web push notifications.

In fact, the debate between apps and websites is still ongoing. Some experts say that for small and medium-sized companies, mobile websites reach more people than apps do.

Another factor to be considered here is cost. Sometimes, building an app just doesn’t make sense from a financial and business standpoint.

Considering this, web push notifications are a great way to leverage the power of interactive, instant communications with your readers, without incurring the cost of building an app.

7. Utilize The Opportunity To Trigger Sensitive Data

You can follow geo-location-based data, and choose the right time to send web push notifications. Nobody likes to get notifications early morning or in the middle of the night.

You can design your notifications strategy that is in line with the behavior of your target readers.

You shouldn’t send breaking news in the middle of the night. But you can send the same push updates during the “peak hour” or in the evening.

It doesn't matter if they are on smartphones or desktops, browser push notifications can reach them as long as they have an active internet connection.

This precise marketing channel allows your users full control over the subscription. They can opt-in anytime, and disable browser push notifications anytime they want.

8. Utilize The Limited Time Of Your Audience

Your audience has a thousand better things to do than read your lengthy emails. Push Notifications are crisp messages sent directly to their browsers.

The time to grasp information is reduced to just a few seconds for your end-users as web push notifications are limited in terms of character length.

So get rid of the jargon and the first paragraph you use for courtesies & introductions - come straight to the point.

9. Save Time

A web push notification message takes less time to create than other marketing copy because they are short in length and concise.

You can use it to make your subscribers aware of limited-time offers the minute you launch. Don’t let them miss out on a great opportunity — they’ll appreciate the heads up.

10. Adblock And Cookies Are No Longer A Problem

When your potential subscribers agree to receive notifications, these are saved in their browser. Therefore, no ad blockers will affect the delivery of your messages.

Moreover, no cookies are needed!

To identify a subscriber, the browser uses unique keys for each account, including service workers, eliminating the need for cookies.

How Frequently Should You Send Your Web Push Notifications?

Probably the most crucial thing to consider while scaling up your push notification campaigns is the frequency of your messages.

Since push notifications are a high-engagement communication channel, you need to be really careful not to inundate your subscribers with more notifications than they can handle.

Furthermore, since website push notifications are a comparatively new channel, there is no data out there on optimal frequency.

You need to carefully monitor your click-through rates (CTR), time on page, bounce rate, and opt-outs after every push notification to find out which frequency works best for your audience.

Final Thoughts

Web push notifications are gaining popularity among bloggers and publishers all around the world. A strong web push notification strategy may significantly increase engagement and conversion rates on your website in a short period of time.

And with the right tool, you can create web push notification campaigns that can help you boost your revenue and reach your audience across various channels. That’s the reason why you should give Monsy a shot!

Monsy is specially built for bloggers and publishers to easily capture the audience and efficiently market to them across multiple platforms.

So what are you waiting for? Get your skates on, sign up today to grow your revenue up to 85%, and harness the power of web push notifications.

black scientific calculator, orange, and notebook on table
Photographer: Iryna Tysiak | Source: Unsplash

A good number of digital publishers rely solely on advertising as their source of revenue. With the presence of tech giants in the publishing industry, it has become very difficult to remain competitive with a single revenue stream.

Publishers need to diversify their revenue stream to survive in the long run.

As we move into the 2020s, revenue diversification for publishers is easier than ever. But where should you draw the line? To what extent does focusing on multiple revenue streams interfere with your content quality?

In this article, we’re guiding you through the process of diversifying your revenue while also considering the factors that come into play while adding revenue streams.

But first, let’s dive deeper into why publishers need to diversify their revenue streams in 2021.

Why Do Publishers Need to Diversify Their Revenue Streams?

When your money keeps rolling in, it's easy to get complacent. You start relying on that fixed revenue stream and become increasingly hesitant to pursue new opportunities, not wanting to be one of the 75% of businesses that fail to launch new projects and initiatives.

However, this entails the classic risk - putting all your eggs in one basket.

If that revenue stream starts fading away, you will still be required to pay your expenses while attempting to adjust the course and find a new revenue source.

Here’s why diversifying your revenue streams will protect your publishing company’s future:

Sales stream can dwindle, so keep investing in them

It should go without saying that businesses cannot rely on a single source of revenue to survive in the long run.

It makes no difference how amazing your client or customer base is, or how well your connection is currently working. That might change at any time. A change in your financial situation necessitates a renegotiation of your contract.

Moreover, they may simply find a better deal elsewhere. The best way to protect against future financial crises is to always be on the lookout for new sales to establish a stable customer base.

Competition will be fierce, make the most of your resources by developing new products and services

The advantage of revenue diversification is that it allows organizations to make the most use of their resources and completely realize their potential.

You might be able to diversify by only introducing new verticals. For example, social video news company NowThis News has introduced more than 10 verticals in less than 8 years in operation.

Alternatively, you might enter a whole new market segment with a new client base to capitalize on significant growth potential. However, in any case, you will be making the most use of your resources and aiming for the highest potential ROI.

It is easy for one revenue stream to sap your energy and divert your attention away from growth

We've seen it too many times when one main revenue stream begins to demand more and more attention until it completely dominates everything. It might be your first valued client or customer, or it could be your most profitable revenue stream.

Regardless, it may rapidly become an impediment to development and success by consuming too much of your energy and resources, leaving you with little with which to seize new opportunities.

Learn to avoid this happening in the first place, because trying to untangle yourself later is considerably more difficult than avoiding it in the first place.

Factors to Consider While Adding Revenue Streams

Instead of blindly following what other companies have done to diversify their revenue streams, you need to assess your position to determine what works best for you. Here are three things you should consider to choose the most appropriate revenue mix.

1. Recognizing Your Audience

First and foremost, you must get a thorough understanding of your target audience.

What do they appreciate and despise; what are their demographics; are they inclined to pay for the online content they consume; are they willing to accept a lot of advertising; and so on. Knowledge is power, but understanding your consumers or audience well is absolutely important.

2. Recognizing Your Capabilities

Then you should assess yourself, your strengths, and your limitations. Do you provide unique, high-quality original content? Do you have great technical skills? Do you have strong ad operations skills? Do you have a solid sales team? and so on.

There is no one-size-fits-all revenue balance, and choosing one without the ability to apply it properly can be disastrous to your digital business.

3. Understanding Your Options and choosing the best-fit

This is the relatively simple part: after performing some basic research, it is quite apparent what the primary options are out there. Concentrate on what is truly driving revenue growth and where consumer trends are going.

Finally, if you followed the first two steps correctly, selecting which revenue streams to include in your mix should be simple.

Top 4 Revenue Streams For Publishers

Revenue Stream #1: Direct Sales

The conventional method for web publishers to utilize a data management platform (DMP) entails leveraging data acquired from your online presence and other available second- or third-party data.

This includes viewing behavior, interests, affinities, intent, a previous purchase, and more. Many publishers utilize this data to supplement their continuing direct-sales bundle offered to agencies and brands, therefore increasing ad revenue.

Though it is a time-consuming process, direct ad revenues are gold, ensuring more revenue and your own campaign. To do so, create a media kit or a dedicated webpage presenting specific advertising and marketing information for your website.

Then, create your advertising rate card to list the prices for your inventories. Lastly, you can create a material specification document to clarify the terms and conditions.

But most importantly, identify your target audience and value propositions. Stand out amongst your competitors and be persistent.

Metrics to track:

Direct ads CPM (Cost per thousand impressions), CTR (Click-through rate), RPM (Revenue per thousand impressions), ROI (Return on investment).

What can be covered:

Revenue Stream #2: Subscriptions And Memberships

With the help of your most loyal customers, digital subscriptions and membership can help you create additional revenue.

Consumers have a lot of options when it comes to what they read, so if you can persuade them to commit to you through a paid membership, you've earned audience engagement as well as extra money.

Furthermore, digital subscriptions shift the emphasis away from page visits, preserving the integrity of your articles and preventing clickbait headlines.

The regularity with which someone reads local news is one of the most important factors in determining whether or not they would subscribe. Consumers who read national news and wire-sourced material are five to ten times less likely to join up than people who read local news and wire-sourced stuff.

Incorporating a lot of local information may result in increased subscribers, often up to ten times as many. People want to see the worth of your brand and its relevance to their needs.

Metrics to track:

Subscriber acquisition rate, Subscriber churn rate.

What can be covered:

Revenue Stream #3: Podcast Monetization

Today, there are two major disparities in how podcasts earn money for publishers. When combined, they generate a consistent revenue stream that might help you in earning an income from podcasting.

The most common techniques now fall under the area of direct monetization. Direct podcast monetization occurs when the show itself is sold. You may make money by generating unique content, reusing it, and providing paying members special access.

The flip side of the coin is indirect podcast monetization. This is when you utilize your podcast to promote other products. Your podcast becomes a medium for product promotion and demand generation among your audience.

According to the Pressgazette, the total US podcast market revenue reached $960 million in the year 2020. And the IAB report says, the industry expects podcast advertising to grow by 15% this year.

Metrics to track:

Downloads per episode, audience engagement post ads, exclusive promo codes used, traffic redirected.

What can be covered:

Revenue Stream #4: Ecommerce For Publishers

Ecommerce monetization options are increasing for publishers. Publisher eCommerce revenue today includes commissions and fees from affiliate or partner marketing content, curated eCommerce marketplaces, and branded products.

According to an Insider Intelligence study conducted in December 2020, publishers anticipate that eCommerce will become a larger income source in 2021.

The majority of US publishers (62 percent) projected eCommerce to be one of their top three revenue streams in 2021, with 36 percent expecting it to be their top revenue source. Furthermore, affiliate advertising rated in the top three revenue streams for 31% of respondents, with 9% expecting it to be their top revenue source.

Metrics to track:

Conversion rate, audience churn via eCommerce, product feedbacks, cart abandonment rate, net promoter score, acquisition cost, the average order value of a visitor.

What can be covered:

8 Tips to Boost Your Revenue As A Publisher

Optimize Your Ad Sales

Create a common list of audiences that spans the key industries represented by your advertiser clients. Use bespoke setups for high-value marketers or those who do not fit inside the regular set. Work with the client to develop a plan that is appropriate for the specific campaign — message, cross-screen, sequential, and so on.

Monetize Your Data

You have the option of selling directly to buyers or making the data available to any buyer via a DSP data provider set. If you don't want to sell under your own brand, another alternative is to join an anonymized data exchange.

Use Affiliate Marketing

When it comes to passive income, affiliate marketing is another great option to supplement your income. This revenue-sharing strategy entails connecting to valuable brands or products and receiving a share based on the people who make a purchase. According to Business Insider, affiliate marketing accounts for 15% of the digital media industry's revenue.

Use Digital Subscriptions

Many publishers choose the metered approach, in which casual readers are allowed to read a set number of articles per month before being required to subscribe. This strategy assists in converting your most engaged readers into paying clients without alienating casual readers with a hard barrier.

Even if they are unlikely to subscribe, it allows them to "taste" your products and read a few articles.

Use Push Notifications

While many companies send web push notifications, the strategy has to be a bit different for publishers. The objective is to entice users to return to the site, where they may consume relevant content and engage with it.

With a tool like Monsy, you can use a simple banner floating on a side of your webpage and optimize your ad revenue. Publishers can easily capture their audience and efficiently market to them across multiple platforms.

Prioritize Audience Segmentation

The amount of segments you create is entirely up to you. You may segment your viewers and target them with sports-related advertisements if you offer a sports section.

If a big chunk of your readers is from a certain geographic region, you may wish to promote local events or companies. Segmentation may give your readers a more customized experience while also assisting you in selling advertising more effectively.

Discover New Audiences

Audience extension, which allows your advertisers to reach their audience after they've left your website, is one approach to reach new audiences. This type of audience extension strategy allows for more precise audience targeting and can help you land more advertising clients.

Create Customized, Personalized, and Relevant Content

When you know a certain percentage of your audience is interested in specific content you can start to market towards them. Then make sure it is reaching the right people to whom it would be most relevant. And if two or more topics are relevant to one person, show both of the content to them.

Final Words

The publishing industry's paradigm shift demonstrates that for digital publishing firms, innovation and out-of-the-box thinking are the way ahead for building a strong brand and establishing confidence among audiences.

But diversifying your revenue doesn’t necessarily have to be hard work.

If you are just looking for a tool to assist you to enhance customer satisfaction along with generating more revenue with your traffic, you can give Monsy a shot.

Monsy offers top-performing ad formats for publishers and guarantees an 85% revenue growth. Get started today and watch your revenue grow in no time!

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