How to Send Push Notifications From a Website-Based Android App

Once you have successfully configured your website-to-app converter to include Push Notification capabilities (usually via a provider like OneSignal or Firebase), the next step is actually using them.

Push notifications are the single most effective way to re-engage users who have closed your app.

But if your app is just a WebView displaying your website, how do you actually write and send a message to their phones? Here is a guide on how to send push notifications from a website-based Android app.

The Manual Method (Using a Dashboard)

The easiest and most common way to send a push notification is to send it manually through your push provider's dashboard.

Assuming you used OneSignal (the industry standard for web-to-app conversions), here is the process:

1. Log into your OneSignal.com dashboard.
2. Select your application.
3. Click on the Messages tab, then select New Push.
4. Title: Write a short, attention-grabbing title (e.g., "🔥 50% Off Flash Sale!").
5. Message: Write the body of your message (e.g., "For the next two hours, all summer apparel is half off. Tap here to shop now.").
6. Launch URL (Crucial): This is the most important part for a website-based app. You want the user to land on the specific sale page, not your homepage. Paste the specific URL of your website's sale page here. When the user taps the notification, the WebView will instantly load this URL.
7. Click Review and Send.

Within seconds, every user who has your app installed will receive a vibration and a notification on their lock screen.

The Automated Method (Using WordPress/Shopify)

If you run a blog or an e-commerce store, manually logging into OneSignal every time you publish an article gets tedious. You can automate this process.

Automating with WordPress

If your website is built on WordPress, you can send push notifications directly from your WordPress dashboard.

1. Install the official OneSignal Push Notifications plugin on your WordPress site.
2. Link the plugin to your OneSignal account using your API keys.
3. Now, whenever you write a new blog post, you will see a checkbox before you publish: "Send notification on post publish."
4. When you hit publish, it automatically sends a push notification to all your app users with a link directly to that specific article.

Automating with Shopify

If you are running a Shopify store, you can automate notifications for abandoned carts or shipping updates.

1. Look for the OneSignal app in the Shopify App Store.
2. Connect your accounts.
3. Set up automated workflows (e.g., "If a user leaves an item in their cart for 24 hours, send a push notification saying 'You forgot something!'").

Segmenting Your Audience

As your app grows, you shouldn't send every message to every user. If you send too many irrelevant messages, users will delete your app.

Use your push provider's dashboard to segment your audience. You can create segments based on:

• Time Inactive: Send a special discount code to users who haven't opened the app in 30 days.
• Geographic Location: Send a notification about a local pop-up shop only to users in that specific city.

Conclusion

Sending push notifications is incredibly simple once the native Android configuration is complete. Whether you choose to craft manual campaigns for massive sales or automate the process through your website's CMS, mastering push notifications will dramatically increase your app's return on investment.