What is a Notification?
A notification is an alert or update about activities in the Communicate App. Notifications keep you informed about changes to campaigns and communications, new assignments, comments from team members, and other important updates.
In the Communicate App, notifications appear in the notification center (bell icon in the top navigation) and can be customized in User Settings → Notifications. You can choose, for each notification type, whether to receive in-app notifications, email notifications, or both. They help you stay aware of what's happening in your communication workflow without constantly checking different parts of the app.
Why Do Notifications Matter for Church Communications?
Notifications matter because they keep team members informed and engaged. In church communication teams, notifications help:
- Stay informed: Know immediately when something important happens
- Respond quickly: Get alerts about assignments, questions, or changes that need attention
- Track activity: See what's happening across your team's communication work
- Avoid missed deadlines: Receive reminders about upcoming campaigns or communications
Without notifications, team members might miss important updates, assignments, or deadlines. Notifications ensure that relevant information reaches the right people at the right time.
How Do Notifications Work in Communicate?
In the Communicate App, notifications are organized into three categories:
Communications Notifications:
- New communications scheduled
- Communications rescheduled
- Communication status updates (draft, active, complete)
- Draft due soon (2 days before)
- Assignments on communications
- New comments on communications
Campaign Notifications:
- New campaigns created
- Campaigns rescheduled
- Campaign status updates (draft, active, archived)
- Campaign starting soon (7 days before)
- Campaign ending soon (3 days before)
- Assignments on campaigns
- New comments on campaigns
Mentions Notifications:
- Mentions in comments — when someone @mentions you in a comment
Managing Notifications:
- Access notification preferences in User Settings → Notifications (Beta)
- For each type, toggle In-app and Email on or off
- Default: email on for assignments, new comments (campaign/communication), and mentions in comments; off for other types
- Changes take effect immediately; emails include "View details" and "Manage notification preferences" links
Viewing Notifications:
- Click the bell icon in the top navigation to open the notification center
- A badge shows your unread count
- Notifications appear in order (newest first)
- Click notifications to open the relevant campaign or communication
- Mark notifications as read individually or all at once
When Should You Use Notifications?
Notifications are automatically sent based on activities in the app. You should:
- Enable relevant notifications: Turn on types that are important for your role
- Disable unnecessary ones: Turn off types that create noise without value
- Check regularly: Review your notification center to stay current
- Customize preferences: Adjust settings based on your responsibilities and workflow
Notifications are especially valuable for team members who are assigned work, participate in discussions, or need to track campaign and communication status changes.
Related Terms
- Assignment - Triggers notifications when work is assigned
- Comment - Triggers notifications when team members comment
- Campaign - Status changes and scheduling trigger notifications
- Communication - Status changes and scheduling trigger notifications
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I control which notifications I receive?
A: Yes, you can customize your notification preferences in User Settings → Notifications. Toggle individual notification types on or off based on what's relevant to your role.
Q: Do notifications appear outside the app?
A: Yes. In User Settings → Notifications you can enable Email for any notification type. When enabled, you receive email notifications with a title, body snippet, "View details" link, and "Manage notification preferences" link. In-app notifications remain available in the notification center (bell icon) regardless of email settings.
Q: What happens if I disable a notification type?
A: You'll stop receiving that type of notification, but you can still see all activities by checking the relevant sections of the app (Calendar, Campaigns, etc.). You can re-enable notification types anytime.
Q: Can I see notifications for items I'm not directly involved with?
A: Notification preferences determine what you see. Some notifications (like new campaigns or communications) may appear for all team members, while others (like assignments) only appear for the assigned person.
Q: How long do notifications stay in the notification center?
A: Notifications remain in your notification center until you archive them. You can archive individual notifications or clear all at once. Archived notifications may still be accessible if needed.
Q: Will I receive notifications for my own actions?
A: Generally, you won't receive notifications for actions you take yourself (like assigning work to yourself). Notifications are primarily for activities from other team members or system events.