Using Announcement Channels and Notifications in Communities
Announcement Channels and Notifications in Communities
This guide explains how to use announcement channels and enhanced notifications within your CRM Communities. These features help community administrators share important information while keeping members engaged with timely updates.
What Are Announcement Channels?
Announcement channels are special read-only spaces in your community where administrators can post important messages. Unlike regular channels where members can chat, only admins and owners can post in announcement channels. This ensures that critical updates don't get lost in everyday conversations.
Benefits of Using Announcement Channels
- Keep important messages visible and organized
- Prevent announcements from being buried in active discussions
- Maintain control over who can post important updates
- Option to pin key messages at the top of the channel
- Flexibility to switch between announcement and regular channel formats
- Choose between public visibility or private access for specific members
Creating an Announcement Channel
Setting up an announcement channel is straightforward:
- Go to your community dashboard and access Channel Management Settings
- Click Create Channel or select an existing channel to modify
- Toggle the Enable as Announcement Channel option
- Choose whether the channel should be Public (all members) or Private (selected members only)
- Save your changes
Once activated, only community administrators and owners will be able to post messages. All other members will see the channel as read-only.
Channel Access and Flexibility
Announcement channels use role-based access to maintain organized communication:
- Admins and Owners: Can post messages and pin important announcements
- Regular Members: Can view announcements but cannot post or comment
- Flexibility: You can convert an announcement channel back to a regular channel at any time
Enhanced Notification Features
Your community now includes several notification types to keep members informed:
Level Upgrade Notifications
Members receive in-app and push notifications when they advance to a new level within the community, helping to gamify engagement and encourage participation.
Level-Based Course Unlock Notifications
When members unlock new courses based on their achievement level, they receive alerts through in-app messages, email, and push notifications.
Time-Based Course Unlock Notifications
Members are notified when courses become available according to a preset schedule, with alerts delivered via in-app messages, email, and push notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can members post in announcement channels?
No, only administrators and owners can post. However, you can convert the channel back to a regular discussion channel if needed.
Do announcements trigger push notifications?
Yes, if members have enabled notifications for that specific channel.
How many announcement channels can I create?
There's no limit to the number of announcement channels you can create within a community.
Do pinned messages stay visible?
Yes, pinned announcements remain at the top of the channel for all members to see.
Can I restrict who sees an announcement channel?
Yes, you can set the channel to private and invite specific members only.