Push notifications and text messaging both send short, timely alerts to members' phones, so they can look alike. The biggest difference is who they reach: push notifications reach members who use the Member Splash app, and texts reach members who have opted in to texts from their phone number. This article explains how they differ and when to use each one.
At a glance
Push Notifications | Text Messaging | |
Plan | Every plan, through the Member Splash app | Premium plan only |
Where to find it | Communications > Push Notifications | Communications > Text Messaging |
Who can send | Admins whose user role has the Push Notifications capability turned on | Admins whose user role has the Text Messaging capability turned on. On for Board and Manager by default. |
Who it reaches | Members who installed the app and turned notifications on, on phones and browsers | Members with a cell phone number on file who opted in by replying YES. No app needed. |
How members sign up | Allow notifications when they install the app, or turn them on later from the Account screen in the app | Consent at the login prompt or the bell icon on their Members tab, then reply YES to a confirmation text |
Who you can send to | All push subscribers or a segment | All opted-in members, a segment, or a single member |
Message length | A title up to 80 characters and a message up to 250 characters | Up to 160 characters total. Your club prefix counts toward the 160. |
When it sends | Immediately, any time of day | Between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM in your club's time zone. Emergency weather or safety alerts can go out any time. |
Scheduling | Not available. Notifications send as soon as you confirm. | Yes, pick a date and time |
Templates | Not available | Yes, for closures, hours, events, renewals and more |
Content rules | Best kept to urgent club news | Club operations only. No promotions, fundraising, sponsors, phone numbers or short links. Breaking the rules can pause your club's texting. |
Before it sends | You confirm the send | You enter a one-time code texted to your phone |
What members see | An alert from your club. Tapping it opens your club's announcements in the app. | A text from a Member Splash number, starting with your club's prefix |
Results | Delivered, Failed and Pruned counts for each notification | Delivery rate, plus results for each recipient |
Who can send them
To send push notifications or texts, your user role needs that capability turned on. Board admins can change this for other roles:
Go to Admin > User Roles.
Click the role in the list on the left, for example Manager or Staff.
Turn on Push Notifications, Text Messaging, or both. Changes save right away.
Changes apply to everyone with that role. Learn more in About Admin User Roles and Capabilities.
When to use each one
Use push notifications when
Many of your members already use the Member Splash app.
You want members to tap through to the full announcement in the app.
You need to reach members outside the 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM texting window with news that isn't an emergency.
Your club isn't on the Premium plan.
Use text messaging when
You need to reach members who don't use the app.
You want to schedule an alert ahead of time, like a season opening or board meeting reminder.
You need to reach one member.
You're sending a weather or safety alert. An emergency override text can go out at any hour.
Send both for urgent news
Each tool reaches a different group of members. For anything urgent, like a lightning closure, sending both reaches the most members. You create and send each one separately: one from Communications > Push Notifications and one from Communications > Text Messaging. Check the Members with push card on the Push Notifications screen and the Subscribers tab in Text Messaging to see how many members each one reaches.
Use Member Mail for everything else
For newsletters, fundraisers, promotions, sponsor news, or anything longer, use Member Mail. Texts can't include promotions or fundraising, and longer messages fit better in an email. See Member Mail 101.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't I see Push Notifications or Text Messaging in my menu?
Your user role doesn't have that capability turned on. Ask a Board admin to turn it on in Admin > User Roles. Text Messaging also requires the Premium plan.
If I send both, will a member get the same alert twice?
Yes, if they use the app and have opted in to texts. Push notifications and texts are created and sent separately, so a member only gets both when you send both.
Can I send one message as both a push notification and a text?
No. Build the push notification in Communications > Push Notifications and the text in Communications > Text Messaging.
Does opting in to one sign a member up for the other?
No. Members turn each one on separately.
Do members need the app to get texts?
No. Texts go to any member with a cell phone number on file, as long as they have replied YES.
Can I schedule a push notification?
No. Push notifications send as soon as you confirm. To schedule an alert, use text messaging.
Can I send a push notification to one member?
No. To reach one member, send a text to a single recipient or contact them directly.