Docs/Retention Engine/Multi-Channel Setup

Multi-Channel Setup

Configure push notifications, email, and in-app messaging for comprehensive player communication.

12 min read

Overview

Ilara supports multiple messaging channels, each with unique strengths. Use them together for maximum reach and engagement.

Channel	Best For	Typical Open Rate
Push	Urgent, time-sensitive	15-30%
Email	Rich content, newsletters	20-40%
In-App	Active players, tutorials	60-80%
SMS	Critical alerts (optional)	90%+

Push Notifications

Setup

Configure push providers in Settings → Integrations → Push:

Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM): Android and iOS
Apple Push Notification Service (APNs): iOS native
Web Push: Browser notifications

Push Configuration

json

POST /v1/integrations/push/fcm
{
  class="code-string">"provider": class="code-string">"fcm",
  class="code-string">"credentials": {
    class="code-string">"project_id": class="code-string">"your-firebase-project",
    class="code-string">"private_key": class="code-string">"...",
    class="code-string">"client_email": class="code-string">"..."
  },
  class="code-string">"default_channel": class="code-string">"game_notifications",
  class="code-string">"default_sound": class="code-string">"notification.wav",
  class="code-string">"default_icon": class="code-string">"ic_notification"
}

Sending Push

Push Notification Campaign

json

{
  class="code-string">"channel": class="code-string">"push",
  class="code-string">"template": {
    class="code-string">"title": class="code-string">"{{player.name}}, your energy is full!",
    class="code-string">"body": class="code-string">"Time to continue your adventure.",
    class="code-string">"image_url": class="code-string">"https:class="code-commentclass="code-string">">//cdn.example.com/energy-full.png",
    class="code-string">"action_url": class="code-string">"/game/play",
    class="code-string">"data": {
      class="code-string">"event_type": class="code-string">"energy_full",
      class="code-string">"deep_link": class="code-string">"game:class="code-commentclass="code-string">">//play"
    }
  },
  class="code-string">"android": {
    class="code-string">"channel_id": class="code-string">"game_notifications",
    class="code-string">"priority": class="code-string">"high"
  },
  class="code-string">"ios": {
    class="code-string">"sound": class="code-string">"default",
    class="code-string">"badge": 1
  }
}

Email

Setup

Configure email providers in Settings → Integrations → Email:

SendGrid: Transactional and marketing
Mailgun: Developer-focused
Amazon SES: High volume, cost-effective
Postmark: Transactional focused

Email Configuration

json

POST /v1/integrations/email/sendgrid
{
  class="code-string">"provider": class="code-string">"sendgrid",
  class="code-string">"api_key": class="code-string">"SG.xxxx",
  class="code-string">"from_email": class="code-string">"[email protected]",
  class="code-string">"from_name": class="code-string">"Your Game",
  class="code-string">"reply_to": class="code-string">"[email protected]"
}

Email Templates

Email Campaign

json

{
  class="code-string">"channel": class="code-string">"email",
  class="code-string">"template": {
    class="code-string">"subject": class="code-string">"Your weekly adventure recap, {{player.name}}!",
    class="code-string">"html_template_id": class="code-string">"weekly-recap-v2",
    class="code-string">"template_data": {
      class="code-string">"player_name": class="code-string">"{{player.name}}",
      class="code-string">"games_played": class="code-string">"{{stats.games_this_week}}",
      class="code-string">"achievements": class="code-string">"{{stats.achievements_earned}}",
      class="code-string">"leaderboard_rank": class="code-string">"{{stats.rank}}"
    },
    class="code-string">"preheader": class="code-string">"You played 12 games this week!"
  }
}

In-App Messages

In-app messages appear inside your game to active players. Highest engagement but only reaches players who open the game.

Message Types

Type	Description	Use Case
`modal`	Full-screen overlay	Important announcements, offers
`banner`	Top/bottom banner	Soft promotions, tips
`slideup`	Slide from bottom	Quick notifications
`carousel`	Swipeable cards	Feature showcases

In-App Campaign

json

{
  class="code-string">"channel": class="code-string">"in_app",
  class="code-string">"template": {
    class="code-string">"type": class="code-string">"modal",
    class="code-string">"title": class="code-string">"Special Weekend Offer!",
    class="code-string">"body": class="code-string">"Get 2x gems on all purchases this weekend.",
    class="code-string">"image_url": class="code-string">"https:class="code-commentclass="code-string">">//cdn.example.com/weekend-offer.png",
    class="code-string">"buttons": [
      {
        class="code-string">"text": class="code-string">"Shop Now",
        class="code-string">"action": class="code-string">"deep_link",
        class="code-string">"url": class="code-string">"game:class="code-commentclass="code-string">">//shop"
      },
      {
        class="code-string">"text": class="code-string">"Maybe Later",
        class="code-string">"action": class="code-string">"dismiss"
      }
    ],
    class="code-string">"dismissible": true,
    class="code-string">"display_duration": 0
  },
  class="code-string">"trigger": {
    class="code-string">"type": class="code-string">"session_start",
    class="code-string">"delay_seconds": 5
  }
}

Channel Priority & Fallback

Configure channel priority to optimize delivery:

Multi-Channel Campaign

json

{
  class="code-string">"name": class="code-string">"Re-engagement Campaign",
  class="code-string">"segment_id": class="code-string">"lapsed-7-days",
  class="code-string">"channel_strategy": {
    class="code-string">"mode": class="code-string">"cascade",
    class="code-string">"channels": [
      {
        class="code-string">"channel": class="code-string">"push",
        class="code-string">"wait_hours": 0,
        class="code-string">"skip_if_opened": true
      },
      {
        class="code-string">"channel": class="code-string">"email",
        class="code-string">"wait_hours": 24,
        class="code-string">"skip_if_opened": true
      },
      {
        class="code-string">"channel": class="code-string">"in_app",
        class="code-string">"wait_hours": 72,
        class="code-string">"skip_if_opened": false
      }
    ]
  }
}
 
class=class="code-string">"code-comment">// Cascade: Try push first, if not opened in 24h send email,
class=class="code-string">"code-comment">// if still not opened show in-app when they return

Strategy Modes

Mode	Description
`single`	Send to one channel only
`broadcast`	Send to all channels simultaneously
`cascade`	Try channels in order with fallback
`smart`	AI picks best channel per player

Frequency Capping

Prevent notification fatigue with frequency limits:

Frequency Caps

json

{
  class="code-string">"frequency_caps": {
    class="code-string">"global": {
      class="code-string">"max_per_day": 3,
      class="code-string">"max_per_week": 10
    },
    class="code-string">"per_channel": {
      class="code-string">"push": { class="code-string">"max_per_day": 2 },
      class="code-string">"email": { class="code-string">"max_per_week": 3 },
      class="code-string">"in_app": { class="code-string">"max_per_session": 1 }
    },
    class="code-string">"quiet_hours": {
      class="code-string">"enabled": true,
      class="code-string">"start": class="code-string">"22:00",
      class="code-string">"end": class="code-string">"08:00",
      class="code-string">"timezone": class="code-string">"player_local"
    }
  }
}

SDK Integration

Unity - Register Push Token

csharp

class=class="code-string">"code-comment">// Register device for push notifications
IlaraClient.Instance.RegisterPushToken(
    token: FirebaseMessaging.GetToken(),
    platform: class="code-string">"fcm"  class=class="code-string">"code-comment">// or class="code-string">"apns"
);
 
class=class="code-string">"code-comment">// Handle in-app message display
IlaraClient.Instance.OnInAppMessage += (message) =>
{
    ShowInAppMessage(message);
};
 
class=class="code-string">"code-comment">// Check for pending in-app messages
await IlaraClient.Instance.CheckInAppMessages();

Best Practices

Don't over-message: Respect frequency caps strictly
Match channel to message: Urgent = push, Rich = email, In-game = in-app
Personalize: Use player data for relevance
Test deliverability: Monitor bounce rates and opt-outs
Respect preferences: Honor opt-out requests immediately

Next Steps

AI Message Generation — Personalize content
Send Time Optimization — Optimal delivery timing
Churn Prediction — Target at-risk players

Send Time Optimization

Churn Prediction