Top push ad networks

Icons for Push Notifications: Best Practices & Tips

push notifications icons

Adding well-crafted icons to your notifications can skyrocket their effectiveness. Icons can grab attention, reinforce your message, and help boost click-through rates (CTR). Let’s dive into the best practices for using push notification icons, along with some tips.

What is a Push Notifications Icon

An icon enters the set of elements that together make up a push notification. 

All components of a push notification:

  • Main image. This element explains the sense of the offer or illustrates the profits of an offer for users;
  • Icon. Ordinarily, the icon displays a brand logo or picture related to the offer. The recommended push notification icon size is 192×192; 
  • Headline. It is the key message that can include a CTA;
  • Description. The element gives more details about the offer and supports the headline. 

Now, let’s overview the topic of our article – push notification icons

Push notification icons are small visual elements that accompany the text in a push notification. These icons can be app logos, action-specific images, or personalized symbols that enhance the notification’s message. Icons are crucial in grabbing users’ attention, providing context, and encouraging them to engage with the notification.

Icons act as visual triggers that help users quickly recognize the app and understand the notification’s purpose. As mobile users are often flooded with notifications, a well-designed icon can make all the difference in standing out from the crowd. Here’s why they matter:

  1. Instant recognition. Icons help users quickly identify the app or service sending the notification. A familiar logo or symbol associated with the brand ensures users know where the message is coming from;
  2. Increased engagement: According to studies, push notifications with rich media – interactive elements, such as GIFs and video previews – improve click-through rates by 25% compared to text-only notifications;
  3. Visual appeal. An engaging icon makes the notification more visually appealing and likely to be noticed, especially when users quickly scroll through their notifications;
  4. Reinforcement of message. Icons can visually represent the content of the notification, making it easier for users to understand what it’s about without reading the full message. For example, a shopping cart icon signals a sale, while a chat bubble indicates a new message.

Are you eager to create wonderful and well-performed push ads? Hurry to learn more about best practices for creating push notifications!

5 Best Practices for Making Push Notifications Icons

Let’s review best practices for using push icons. Take note of our tips to make your push ad messages noticed. 

1. Make a design for quick recognition

Users respond well to icons they recognize. Therefore, you can confidently design your icons to resemble those used by popular apps or brands. Icons of widely recognized companies like WhatsApp, Gmail, or FB Messenger can create a sense of familiarity and trust, making users more likely to engage with your notification. For example, WhatsApp’s green speech bubble or Tinder’s flame icon are easily identifiable and instantly signal to the user what kind of message is coming through.

Push notification icon examples

push notification icon

Tip: If you advertise a recognizable product or service (Amazon, Nike, etc.), use their logo. 

2. Use icon badges

Icon badges are the small circles or dots that appear on app icons when there’s a new notification delivered. These badges act as visual reminders that there’s something new or important awaiting the user, encouraging them to open and interact with the notification.

Such a subtle nudge can significantly boost the likelihood of a user clicking on the notification. For example, a badge showing an unread message count will prompt the user to check their messages or notifications more frequently.

Push notification icon examples

push icon

Tip: Combining icon badges with well-designed push notifications is an excellent strategy to keep users engaged with your app. Badges should be clear and not overly intrusive; they work best when used sparingly for notifications that matter – such as new messages, updates, or sales.

3. Adopt interactive icons: using GIFs and video previews 

Interactive icons, such as GIFs or video previews, are an emerging trend in push notification design that can dramatically enhance user engagement. These dynamic elements are more eye-catching than static icons, and they offer a unique way to convey movement, emotion, or urgency. When a push notification includes an interactive icon, it stands out from the usual flood of messages.

Instead of a static image, interactive icons can be animated in the form of GIFs or short video snippets. These icons can quickly communicate additional context for the notification. For example:

  • A spinning shopping cart for a limited-time sale notification;
  • A countdown timer GIF to show the user how much time is left for a special offer;
  • A flashing notification badge to highlight a new message or alert.

Push notification icon examples: 

4. Make your icons for push notifications simple and clear

The icon should be simple and coupled with the main image. To ensure your offer essence stands out, align your visuals seamlessly with your niche. 

Here are examples of good push notification icons: 

5. Test different icons for better results

A/B testing your push notification icons can provide insights into what works best for your audience. Test various designs, from minimalist symbols to more detailed images, and see which resonates more with your users. 

Tip: Some ad networks have in their ad inventory the Creative Management feature (this feature can have another name depending on the platform). The option automatically rotates creatives by their performance. Anyway, check out the stats and report to see which creatives are performing the best.

Tips for Crafting Successful Push Notifications

An icon is only one of the elements of push notifications, so it’s worth mentioning recommendations on creating push notifications altogether. 

Here are distinctive generic tips to consider:

  • Clarity and simplicity. Ensure your message is crystal clear, concise, and easy to understand. Avoid unnecessary complexity to swiftly convey your point;
  • Visual charm. Utilize high-quality images that align with your message. Visual aesthetics are powerful for capturing attention and stimulating user interaction;
  • Urgency and exclusivity. Infuse a sense of urgency and fear of missing out (FOMO). Showcase time-limited offers or exclusive deals to ignite prompt action.
  • Direct CTA. Forge a clear and compelling call to action (CTA). Users should know precisely what step to take, enhancing their engagement;
  • Uniformity. Uphold consistency in visual elements and tone across your push creatives. This continuity fosters brand recognition and trust;
  • Striking balance. Keep your creatives informative yet succinct. Overloading users with excessive information can be overwhelming;
  • Compliance. Abide by advertising guidelines and regulations, particularly in sensitive verticals like adult and gambling. Staying compliant prevents legal pitfalls.

There are also some pitfalls in creating push ads – read the article about popular push campaign mistakes to avoid them. 

Final Thoughts

Push notifications don’t seem like a big deal, but they’re powerful for grabbing users’ attention. While sites like Icons8 provide great icons, we recommend choosing visuals that align closely with your offer. One easy approach is using icons directly from ad networks. For instance, RichAds allows you to download icons for push notifications absolutely for free! Galaksion – another ad network – has a creative library tailored for affiliates. These platforms can help make your notifications stand out and resonate with your target audience.

Anna Mardas
Anna Mardas brought together her background as a copywriter in digital marketing. Now, she's got a solid grasp on affiliate marketing, especially when it comes to understanding the following niches: Gambling, Adult, Dating, Sweepstakes and Crypto. Anna stands out for her thorough research and insightful reviews of ad networks, offering her readers valuable knowledge.

Adding well-crafted icons to your notifications can skyrocket their effectiveness. Icons can grab attention, reinforce your message, and help boost click-through rates (CTR). Let’s dive into the best practices for using push notification icons, along with some tips.

What is a Push Notifications Icon

An icon enters the set of elements that together make up a push notification. 

All components of a push notification:

  • Main image. This element explains the sense of the offer or illustrates the profits of an offer for users;
  • Icon. Ordinarily, the icon displays a brand logo or picture related to the offer. The recommended push notification icon size is 192×192; 
  • Headline. It is the key message that can include a CTA;
  • Description. The element gives more details about the offer and supports the headline. 

Now, let’s overview the topic of our article – push notification icons

Push notification icons are small visual elements that accompany the text in a push notification. These icons can be app logos, action-specific images, or personalized symbols that enhance the notification’s message. Icons are crucial in grabbing users’ attention, providing context, and encouraging them to engage with the notification.

Icons act as visual triggers that help users quickly recognize the app and understand the notification’s purpose. As mobile users are often flooded with notifications, a well-designed icon can make all the difference in standing out from the crowd. Here’s why they matter:

  1. Instant recognition. Icons help users quickly identify the app or service sending the notification. A familiar logo or symbol associated with the brand ensures users know where the message is coming from;
  2. Increased engagement: According to studies, push notifications with rich media – interactive elements, such as GIFs and video previews – improve click-through rates by 25% compared to text-only notifications;
  3. Visual appeal. An engaging icon makes the notification more visually appealing and likely to be noticed, especially when users quickly scroll through their notifications;
  4. Reinforcement of message. Icons can visually represent the content of the notification, making it easier for users to understand what it’s about without reading the full message. For example, a shopping cart icon signals a sale, while a chat bubble indicates a new message.

Are you eager to create wonderful and well-performed push ads? Hurry to learn more about best practices for creating push notifications!

5 Best Practices for Making Push Notifications Icons

Let’s review best practices for using push icons. Take note of our tips to make your push ad messages noticed. 

1. Make a design for quick recognition

Users respond well to icons they recognize. Therefore, you can confidently design your icons to resemble those used by popular apps or brands. Icons of widely recognized companies like WhatsApp, Gmail, or FB Messenger can create a sense of familiarity and trust, making users more likely to engage with your notification. For example, WhatsApp’s green speech bubble or Tinder’s flame icon are easily identifiable and instantly signal to the user what kind of message is coming through.

Push notification icon examples

push notification icon

Tip: If you advertise a recognizable product or service (Amazon, Nike, etc.), use their logo. 

2. Use icon badges

Icon badges are the small circles or dots that appear on app icons when there’s a new notification delivered. These badges act as visual reminders that there’s something new or important awaiting the user, encouraging them to open and interact with the notification.

Such a subtle nudge can significantly boost the likelihood of a user clicking on the notification. For example, a badge showing an unread message count will prompt the user to check their messages or notifications more frequently.

Push notification icon examples

push icon

Tip: Combining icon badges with well-designed push notifications is an excellent strategy to keep users engaged with your app. Badges should be clear and not overly intrusive; they work best when used sparingly for notifications that matter – such as new messages, updates, or sales.

3. Adopt interactive icons: using GIFs and video previews 

Interactive icons, such as GIFs or video previews, are an emerging trend in push notification design that can dramatically enhance user engagement. These dynamic elements are more eye-catching than static icons, and they offer a unique way to convey movement, emotion, or urgency. When a push notification includes an interactive icon, it stands out from the usual flood of messages.

Instead of a static image, interactive icons can be animated in the form of GIFs or short video snippets. These icons can quickly communicate additional context for the notification. For example:

  • A spinning shopping cart for a limited-time sale notification;
  • A countdown timer GIF to show the user how much time is left for a special offer;
  • A flashing notification badge to highlight a new message or alert.

Push notification icon examples: 

4. Make your icons for push notifications simple and clear

The icon should be simple and coupled with the main image. To ensure your offer essence stands out, align your visuals seamlessly with your niche. 

Here are examples of good push notification icons: 

5. Test different icons for better results

A/B testing your push notification icons can provide insights into what works best for your audience. Test various designs, from minimalist symbols to more detailed images, and see which resonates more with your users. 

Tip: Some ad networks have in their ad inventory the Creative Management feature (this feature can have another name depending on the platform). The option automatically rotates creatives by their performance. Anyway, check out the stats and report to see which creatives are performing the best.

Tips for Crafting Successful Push Notifications

An icon is only one of the elements of push notifications, so it’s worth mentioning recommendations on creating push notifications altogether. 

Here are distinctive generic tips to consider:

  • Clarity and simplicity. Ensure your message is crystal clear, concise, and easy to understand. Avoid unnecessary complexity to swiftly convey your point;
  • Visual charm. Utilize high-quality images that align with your message. Visual aesthetics are powerful for capturing attention and stimulating user interaction;
  • Urgency and exclusivity. Infuse a sense of urgency and fear of missing out (FOMO). Showcase time-limited offers or exclusive deals to ignite prompt action.
  • Direct CTA. Forge a clear and compelling call to action (CTA). Users should know precisely what step to take, enhancing their engagement;
  • Uniformity. Uphold consistency in visual elements and tone across your push creatives. This continuity fosters brand recognition and trust;
  • Striking balance. Keep your creatives informative yet succinct. Overloading users with excessive information can be overwhelming;
  • Compliance. Abide by advertising guidelines and regulations, particularly in sensitive verticals like adult and gambling. Staying compliant prevents legal pitfalls.

There are also some pitfalls in creating push ads – read the article about popular push campaign mistakes to avoid them. 

Final Thoughts

Push notifications don’t seem like a big deal, but they’re powerful for grabbing users’ attention. While sites like Icons8 provide great icons, we recommend choosing visuals that align closely with your offer. One easy approach is using icons directly from ad networks. For instance, RichAds allows you to download icons for push notifications absolutely for free! Galaksion – another ad network – has a creative library tailored for affiliates. These platforms can help make your notifications stand out and resonate with your target audience.

Anna Mardas
Anna Mardas brought together her background as a copywriter in digital marketing. Now, she's got a solid grasp on affiliate marketing, especially when it comes to understanding the following niches: Gambling, Adult, Dating, Sweepstakes and Crypto. Anna stands out for her thorough research and insightful reviews of ad networks, offering her readers valuable knowledge.

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