Permission modals

Permission modals are user-friendly permission request modals for notifications, location, and other sensitive features. They help you request necessary permissions from users in a clear and non-intrusive way, improving user experience and increasing permission acceptance rates.

Key features of Permission modals:

• Browser permission requests — Request push notification permissions, location access, camera, microphone, and other browser-level permissions
• User-friendly messaging — Explain why permissions are needed and how they benefit the user experience
• Optimal timing — Display permission requests at the right moment in the user journey to maximize acceptance rates
• Customizable design — Match your brand identity with fully customizable styling and messaging
• Multiple permission types — Support various permission types including notifications, geolocation, camera, microphone, and more
• Smart targeting — Use render conditions to show permission requests to the right users at the right time
• Permission status tracking — Monitor permission acceptance rates and user responses

Common use cases for Permission modals:

• Push notification permissions — Request permission to send push notifications to users, increasing engagement and retention
• Location access — Request geolocation permissions for location-based features, maps, or personalized content
• Camera and microphone — Request access for video calls, photo uploads, or voice features
• Storage access — Request permission to store data locally for offline functionality
• Device sensors — Request access to device sensors for enhanced user experiences
• Progressive permission requests — Gradually request permissions as users engage with specific features

Step-by-step guide: Creating your Permission modal

Follow this complete guide to create, customize, and track your Permission modal from start to finish.

Step 1: Create your Permission modal

1. Navigate to your Configuration in the HoodEngage dashboard
2. Go to the Modals & Forms tab
3. Click Add Modal
4. Select Permission modal as the modal type
5. Choose to either:
   • Use an existing template — Select from pre-built permission request templates
   • Create from scratch — Build a custom permission modal

Add Modal

Step 2: Configure content and design

1. Select permission type:

   • Push notifications — Request permission to send browser notifications
   • Location — Request geolocation access
   • Camera — Request camera access
   • Microphone — Request microphone access
   • Storage — Request local storage permissions
   • Other — Request other browser permissions

2. Craft your message:

   • Headline — Create a clear, benefit-focused headline
   • Body text — Explain why you need the permission and how it benefits the user
   • Value proposition — Highlight what users get by granting permission (e.g., “Get instant updates”, “Personalized content”)

3. Customize the design:

   • Choose colors and styling that match your brand
   • Add your logo or branding elements
   • Configure button styles (Allow/Deny buttons)
   • Set modal size and layout
   • Adjust typography and spacing

4. Preview your modal — Use the preview feature to see how it will appear to users

Step 3: Set up triggers and display conditions

Configure when and where your Permission modal should appear. For detailed information about all available activation triggers and render conditions, see Triggers, Conditions, Frequency & Limits.

Step 4: Configure frequency and limits

Set how often your Permission modal should be displayed to users. For detailed information about frequency options and limits, see Triggers, Conditions, Frequency & Limits.

Step 5: Activate and test

1. Save your modal — Click Save to store your configuration
2. Assign to configuration — Ensure the modal is assigned to the correct configuration
3. Test the modal:
   • Visit your website
   • Trigger the modal based on your settings
   • Verify the display and messaging
   • Test the permission request flow
   • Verify that native browser permission prompt appears after user clicks “Allow”
   • Test on both desktop and mobile devices
   • Test different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.)

Step 6: Monitor permission acceptance and feedback

Once your Permission modal is live, track its performance:

1. View permission metrics:
   • Navigate to Insights → Feedback

Feedback page - Modals list

• Find your Permission modal in the list
• View key metrics: Views, Permission requests, Acceptance rate, Denial rate

2. Analyze acceptance rates:

   • Track how many users see the permission request
   • Monitor how many users grant vs. deny permissions
   • Identify trends in permission acceptance
   • Compare acceptance rates across different triggers and conditions

3. Optimize your approach:

   • Test different messaging to improve acceptance rates
   • Experiment with different triggers and timing
   • Adjust design and value propositions based on results
   • A/B test different permission request strategies

4. Export data:

   • Export permission data in CSV or JSON format
   • Download for further analysis
   • Track permission status over time

Value for users

When users grant permissions through your Permission modal, they receive:

• Personalized notifications — Receive relevant updates and alerts even when away from the site
• Location-based features — Access to location-specific content and services
• Enhanced functionality — Use camera, microphone, and other device features for better experience
• Offline capabilities — Access to features that work without constant internet connection
• Improved user experience — More tailored and convenient interactions with your platform

Best practices

• Explain the value — Always explain why you need the permission and how it benefits the user
• Timing matters — Request permissions after users have engaged with your site, not immediately
• User gesture required — For push notifications, ensure the request is triggered by a user action (click, scroll, etc.)
• Don’t be pushy — Respect user choice and don’t repeatedly ask for denied permissions
• Progressive requests — Request permissions gradually as users engage with relevant features
• Clear messaging — Use simple, clear language that users can understand
• Test across browsers — Different browsers handle permissions differently
• Follow browser guidelines — Ensure compliance with browser requirements (especially Chrome’s user gesture requirement)