App Promotion Strategy

7 Parse Alternatives for App Marketing

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I’m positive that you simply have been shocked when Fb determined to close down Parse, the much-loved cellular Backend as a Service (BaaS). It’s anybody’s guess why Fb determined to shut it down, however almost definitely it’s as a result of they wish to give attention to extra worthwhile components of their enterprise.

 

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Let’s face it, as a enterprise mannequin, BaaS has a number of issues working towards it.

From an app advertising and marketing perspective, Parse stuffed a giant want. It was an reasonably priced, easy-to-use backend database service that additionally supplied a key advertising and marketing performance…push notifications.

In fact, there are a number of standalone options that will provide you with the flexibility to ship push notifications in your app. However to have it out there on in a single bundle, is superior.

So if you’re at present utilizing Parse and are questioning what to do subsequent, this information will assist you determine your choices. This submit is a bit totally different from most that you simply would possibly learn on the market, in that we’re going to focus extra on the advertising and marketing concerns, when deciding the next move.

1. MONGODB / OPEN SOURCE PARSE SERVER

If utterly overhauling your backend in lower than one yr is chopping it too shut, then there’s a bridge that you could put into place proper now, as a substitute of deciding on a brand new resolution straight away. Parse has open sourced their Node.js code and can can help you obtain it and set it up by yourself self-hosted server.

Needless to say the one issues that his resolution don’t help are:

  • Push notifications
  • Config (on-the-fly app parameter updates)
  • Analytics

You should utilize companies like Heroku or Digital Ocean to host this resolution.

Fb recommends that you simply migrate your Parse information to a self -hosted MongoDB by April 28, 2016. Then full the setup of a self-hosted Parse Server by July 28, 2016.

This will provide you with sufficient time get issues operating appropriately and practice your workers. For extra detailed directions on how to do that migration, you’ll want to learn the Parse Migration Information.

Since push notifications usually are not included on this resolution, you’ll need to implement one other third celebration service. We offer a number of of the highest choices, additional down this record.

2. KINVEY

Kinvey is without doubt one of the pioneers of cellular BaaS and definitely value a glance if you wish to migrate to a different service. Like Parse, they provide a beneficiant free tier, push notifications and analytics.

Since they’re one of many extra established corporations on this house, additionally they can help you combine with different platforms with their out there information and identification connectors. You possibly can learn extra right here about migrating from Parse to Kinvey.

3. FIREBASE

One other large title that comes up within the Parse options dialogue is Firebase. They provide backend internet hosting for each cellular and internet apps.

As a substitute of attempting to supply an umbrella resolution, Firebase focuses on the applying and database internet hosting. So in case you want advertising and marketing capabilities, you’ll need to make use of Firebase along with one thing like Batch (talked about beneath).

4. AMAZON AWS MOBILE HUB

In all probability the most important profit to going with AWS Cell Hub is that you could be fairly positive that the service shall be round for awhile. There aren’t any ensures in fact, however Amazon has so much invested within the server internet hosting sport.

They will host the whole lot from internet functions to easy recordsdata, and also you in all probability know somebody who makes use of no less than certainly one of their cloud server companies. I personally use two of them.

You possibly can implement push notifications by way of the Amazon SNS.

PARSE ALTERNATIVES FOR PUSH NOTIFICATION

You probably have your utility and database resolution coated, and easily wish to add notifications, then these companies are what you want. Check out every one and see which resolution can be finest in your wants and finances.

If you wish to discover ways to maintain customers extra engaged with push notifications and consumer retention methods, learn this submit.

5. BATCH

The Batch staff was fast to answer the Parse shutdown announcement and have a easy two-step course of for getting individuals to maneuver over. It’s a very sensible technique to get extra individuals to their service.

They’ve additionally made it very easy to combine Batch with Firebase. You possibly can learn the information to discover ways to do it.

6. PushWoosh

PushWoosh is one other firm that’s providing a simple migration path from Parse to their service. They’re one of many main messaging suppliers and definitely value a glance.

Along with their notification companies, they supply analytics, buyer segmentation and scalability.

7. City Airship

City Airship is without doubt one of the early success tales on the planet of consumer retention and so they proceed to develop their product line with digital wallets. Their Starter Plan affords limitless push and in-app notifications.

You additionally rise up to 10 advertising and marketing automation guidelines for as much as 1,000 customers. So it’s an effective way to check out the service and discover out if it really works for you.

To get an inventory of different push notification suppliers, click on right here.

ANALYTICS SOLUTIONS

In fact, no advertising and marketing dialogue can be full with out mentioning analytics…

Whereas Parse does provide an analytics resolution, that in all probability isn’t what you might be utilizing. Even whether it is, switching to one thing like Flurry, Google or Mixpanel is fairly simple.

So we gained’t get into analytics migration, we’re positive you have got it coated. Simply you’ll want to obtain your earlier Parse historical past, so you have got one thing to reference later.

To get an in-depth evaluation of the favored analytics platforms on the market, learn this submit.

CONCLUSION

There are quite a lot of BaaS options on the market and now we have solely touched on the options what’s going to assist most corporations. For instance, in case you have a sport, listed below are some sport particular options that you could be wish to look into.

Additionally contemplate the opposite different, creating your personal backend. Providers like Parse made it simple to get the entire options you want below one roof.

However with the shutdown of Parse and different comparable companies, it is perhaps time to lastly face the music. Having your personal backend resolution gained’t go away you scrambling subsequent time one other service decides to shut down.

Many startups create their very own backend database/utility resolution, however use third celebration companies to deal with extra specialised capabilities like push notifications. This could will cut back your publicity to Parse-like danger sooner or later.

Lastly, keep in mind that this isn’t 2009.  Advertising and marketing has gotten extra subtle and the secret is personalization. So as a substitute of sending out generic push notifications, put a while into determining the way to phase your customers and even present a singular expertise to every particular person particular person.