You can message one person, a group, or everyone at your event, right away or at a scheduled time. Each message can also go out as a push notification.

Group messages

Group messages let you message one person or a group. Each group gets its own thread, and anyone in the group can reply.

1. Click the compose button at the top of the message list.
   
2. Click in the recipient field and search for people to add.
   
3. Write your message and send it. It shows in the thread.
   

Attendees see a list of their threads with the latest message on top, and tap a thread to read and reply.

Scheduled messages

Use scheduled messages to reach a specific group or to send later.

1. Click View Scheduled Messages on the message threads page.
   
2. Click New.
   
3. Fill in the Subject and Body.
4. Choose your options: send as a push notification, pick a delivery time, or limit who gets it.
   
5. Click Save to review your delivery options.
6. Click Queue to send at your scheduled time, or send now if you didn't pick a time. If you don't queue it, it won't send.
   

Who gets it

• Send to All Participants: everyone at your event. Each attendee sees it as a thread between them and the event, so it's also a good way to take questions.
• Send to a Specific Participant: one person.
• Send to Participants Matching Filters: pick by session, group or participant type. You can pick one session per message.

How filters combine:

• Several groups: people in any of them get it.
• Several participant types: people with any of them get it.
• Different filter types together (for example, a session and a group): only people who match both get it.

You can edit drafts and queued messages from the Scheduled Messages list.

Push notifications

• Push notifications are cut off at 255 characters. Keep the subject short; the CMS warns you when it's long.
• To send a message without a push, uncheck Push Notification before you send.
• To get a push, attendees have to be on your attendee list, be logged in, and allow notifications on their phone.

Announcements

Use Announcements for news you want attendees to see, like a welcome message. Add an Announcements panel to your home screen so it's the first thing people see.

• To import announcements, click Import on the Announcements page, or go to Import Content and pick NewsStory.
• Featured shows an announcement's image larger in the list.

Announcements can also go out as a push. Set Publish at to schedule it, check Push, and add Push message text (leave it blank to use the title). Under Recipient Setup, send to all participants or to participants matching filters.

Attendee-to-attendee messaging

Attendees can message each other once you turn it on. See How to enable Attendee to Attendee Messaging.

FAQ

Why didn't some attendees get my push?

They have to be on your attendee list, be logged in, and allow notifications on their phone. Have them log out and back in. If your app hasn't been updated in a long time, contact Certain Support.

The notification permission prompt shows the wrong name.

It uses the Name under Icon in Manage Icon/Store Details.

Can attendees reply to our messages?

Yes, if replies are turned on for scheduled messages. Replies show as a thread with you.

Can I link to an agenda item in a message?

Yes. Find your app's link schema under Manage Icon/Store Details (below your app name), in the App Management box. Then take the session's CMS address and add the Agenda feature ID after the word "events" with a dash. For example, cms.certaintouchpoint.com/apps/1234/gatherings/5678/events/91011 becomes [your schema]://open.uri/apps/1234/gatherings/5678/events-[feature ID]/91011. See In-App Links.

Can attendees get a copy of scheduled messages by email?

Yes. In Features/Menu > Messages, turn on Send copies of Scheduled Messages to an attendee's email address.

Can I export replies to messages?

Not at the moment. You can submit an enhancement request.

Why does the unread indicator stay on?

It clears when each message is opened, not when the list is opened.

Can I change the message bubble color?

Attendee reply bubbles follow your Toolbar Color. Organizer bubbles can't be changed.

Next step: If messages or pushes still aren't arriving, contact Certain Support with the message time and an attendee who didn't get it.