Guide
Web push, newsletter or WhatsApp channel?
Search and social traffic fluctuate; the channels that bring readers back are yours. Which is fastest for breaking news, which gets read more, and where do you own the audience? Compare the three.
Subscribing
- Web push
- One-click permission, no email needed
- Newsletter
- Email address and confirmation
- WhatsApp channel
- Following the channel in WhatsApp
Speed
- Web push
- Instant
- Newsletter
- Scheduled (daily, weekly)
- WhatsApp channel
- Instant
Best for
- Web push
- Breaking news and interest-based stories
- Newsletter
- Daily digest, long reads
- WhatsApp channel
- Top headlines
Personalization
- Web push
- By category, city, topic
- Newsletter
- Lists and segments
- WhatsApp channel
- None; same message for all
Who owns the audience
- Web push
- You
- Newsletter
- You (email list)
- WhatsApp channel
- The platform
Traffic to your site
- Web push
- Straight to the article on click
- Newsletter
- Via link clicks
- WhatsApp channel
- Via link clicks
Cost
- Web push
- Grows with subscribers on external services
- Newsletter
- Service fee grows with sends
- WhatsApp channel
- Free
Measurement
- Web push
- Deliveries and clicks
- Newsletter
- Opens and clicks
- WhatsApp channel
- Limited
Devices
- Web push
- Desktop and Android; iPhone for sites added to the home screen
- Newsletter
- All devices
- WhatsApp channel
- Devices with WhatsApp
On iPhone and iPad, web push works on iOS 16.4 and later for readers who add the site to their home screen.
Web push vs newsletter vs WhatsApp channel
A web push notification is sent after a reader allows notifications in the browser with one click. It needs no email or phone number; breaking news reaches the screen even when the site is closed, and a tap goes straight to the article.
A newsletter sends the day's or week's top stories by email. It is not instant, but it builds a regular relationship with loyal readers and the list is fully yours. Promotional emails must follow local commercial messaging and consent rules.
A WhatsApp channel is a free, one-way broadcast channel. It is easy to set up, but the audience belongs to the platform; you cannot personalize, measurement is limited and platform rule changes can affect your reach.
Our advice: use them together
- Web push for breaking news
- Newsletter for the daily digest
- WhatsApp channel for broad announcements
- Always link back to your own site
On Ulakom
Web push built in, no external service
Monthly notification bill
Problem
External push services charge more as subscribers grow, and subscriber data sits on their servers.
With Ulakom
Web push is included in Ulakom; no external service, and the subscribers are yours.
Same alert for everyone
Problem
Sending every story to every subscriber makes people turn notifications off.
With Ulakom
Notifications are personalized by interests, followed topics and city.
Late alerts
Problem
Preparing alerts in a separate dashboard costs valuable minutes in breaking news.
With Ulakom
Send an alert to relevant readers in one click while publishing the story.
Unmeasured impact
Problem
Without knowing which alerts work, strategy is guesswork.
With Ulakom
See how many people each notification reached and how often it was clicked.
FAQ
Questions you might have
Not when they are few and relevant. Letting readers pick interests and notifying only on important developments keeps people subscribed.
Yes. On iOS 16.4 and later, readers who add the site to their home screen from Safari can receive web push. Android and desktop browsers need no extra step.
It is a good complement for broad reach, but you do not own the audience and there is no personalization or detailed measurement. Using it with web push and a newsletter is the healthiest approach.
On most platforms, yes. On Ulakom web push is built in; permission prompts, personalized sends and reports work without an extra service.
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