When you want to reach members on their phones, ClubRight offers two related channels: push notifications and smart notifications. This article explains how each one works, what they need to function, and when to use one over the other.
What is a push notification?
A push notification is an instant alert that appears on a member's phone. They are sent through the ClubRight Member App, so members only receive them if they have the app installed and notifications enabled.
Push notifications are short and grab attention immediately, but they only reach members who have the app. Members without it, or with notifications disabled, will not see the message.
What is a smart notification?
A smart notification (shown as Smart Message in the group send composer and Smart in the individual send composer) is a clever fallback. ClubRight sends the message as a push notification first. If the member does not have the app installed or has notifications disabled, the message is delivered as an email instead.
This means smart notifications reach everyone, regardless of whether they have the app, without you needing to manually check who can receive what.
When to use which
Use a push notification when the message is urgent or app-specific (for example, a class starting in 30 minutes), and you are confident your audience uses the app.
Use a smart notification when reach matters more than channel preference. It is the safest default for general announcements such as opening hour changes, event reminders, or facility closures.
Where these channels appear
Both push and smart notifications are available as delivery channels in:
The Group Messages wizard, when sending to many members at once. See Sending a group or bulk message.
The individual message composer, when sending to one member. See Sending a message to an individual.
Smart Workflows, when configuring an automated workflow message. See Smart Workflows: getting started with automation.
Note: if you have members who do not currently have the ClubRight Member App installed, encourage them to download it so they receive push notifications. Smart notifications will reach these members by email automatically, but the app provides a richer experience.
š” Helpful tip: for most general member announcements, smart notifications are the right default. You get the immediacy of push for app users and the reliability of email for everyone else, in a single send.
Have more questions about notifications?
If you have a question that is not covered here, our Customer Success team is happy to help. Reach out via the orange chat button at the bottom right of your ClubRight dashboard.
Related help articles