Problem statement

Some customers are leaving the site due to difficulty distinguishing new research from old and finding relevant content. This has led to lower engagement, especially in forums, and an increase in membership cancellations.

What makes a good notification?

• Relevant – Delivers information that matters to the user. Avoids unnecessary or spammy alerts
• Timely – Arrives at the right moment, not too late or too early
• Clear & Concise – Uses straightforward language without unnecessary details
• Actionable – Provides a clear next step or value, whether it's engaging with content, responding to a message, or checking an update
• Non-intrusive – Respects user preferences and doesn’t overwhelm with frequency
• Personalized – Tailored to user behavior, preferences, or past interactions
• Consistent – Follows a predictable structure to build user trust and expectation

What is the structure of a good notification?

• The notification center should be discoverable and accessible and a part of the main navigation
• Notifications should be anchored to the notification center via an icon and count indicator to alert the user to new messages
• Well-structured — utilizes hierarchy (e.g., bold titles, icons) to highlight key information effectively.
• Small in size — a compact summary view
• Group notifications older than a day. For example, This Week, Last Week, Previous
• Rank by date/urgency/action
• Allow the user to dismiss and pause the notification

We chose the following features for MVP

• User Subscribed Notifications – New and related research based on user preferences
• Community Generated – Community forums, ask the experts, news feed likes, and comments
• System – Resetting passwords, updates
• Push Notifications – Pushed by the server rather than by a request from the client
• Passive Notification – Weather updates, no action required
• Smart Notifications – The system can sense user interaction levels

Features for future release

• Pop-up notifications — prompt user to take action
• Sound alert

The need for ongoing user testing

• We should track customer interaction or feedback to make sure notifications stay relevant
  
• Does the copy, format and frequency of notifications drive the desired action?
• Do the notifications drive readership and participation with the site?
• How much time passes between sending the notification and the user’s return to the site?
• How long before users act on a notification?
• Are the notifications annoying to the user, how about the frequency of notifications?