Successfully built push notification system but they’re treated as spam

Overcoming Challenges in Implementing Effective Push Notifications for Web Applications

Developing a robust push notification system is a critical component of modern web applications, especially those centered around social media and real-time interactions. In this article, we explore common hurdles developers face when implementing push notifications, specifically issues related to notifications being flagged as spam, and offer practical insights into optimizing their delivery and appearance.

Building a Push Notification System with Next.js and Ably

Suppose you’re building a social media web application using Next.js, a popular React framework known for its server-side rendering capabilities. While Next.js excels in many areas, it doesn’t natively support WebSocket connections out of the box for server-push communication. Instead, many developers opt for third-party services like Ably, which provides reliable push notification APIs.

After successfully integrating Ably’s push notification service into your application, you may find that notifications are not behaving as expected. Despite configuring parameters such as icon, badge, ttl, tag, collapse_key, renotify: true, and silent: false, your notifications are being treated as spam or are not visible to users in the expected manner.

Common Challenges in Push Notification Delivery

This scenario highlights a common challenge among developers: ensuring that push notifications are delivered effectively and are not flagged by browsers or operating systems as spam. Several factors influence this, including:

Content and Frequency: Excessive or irrelevant notifications can trigger spam filters.
Notification Payload: Properly configuring the notification payload is essential for clarity and effectiveness.
User Engagement: Permissions and user interaction with notifications influence future delivery.
Browser and OS Policies: These may impose restrictions based on user behavior and notification origin.

Optimizing Your Push Notifications

To address these issues, consider the following best practices:

1. Ensuring Notifications Wake Devices and Appear Properly

To make your notifications wake up devices such as smartphones and appear prominently:

Set requireInteraction: This parameter, when supported, keeps notifications visible until the user dismisses them.
Use High-Quality Icons and Badges: Incorporate relevant icons and badges to catch user attention. Ensure these assets are optimized for different device resolutions.
Set Appropriate TTL (Time To Live): Confirm that your notifications have a reasonable TTL to prevent outdated messages from cluttering the notification tray.

2. Displaying Notifications in the Notification Bar with Your App Logo

Customizing the