Push notifications
Send push notifications to clients through your branded app.
Push notifications are short messages that appear on a client's phone screen even when the app isn't open. They're a high-visibility channel for time-sensitive announcements.
Requirements
- Your studio must have the branded mobile app add-on and the Marketing Suite
- Clients must have notifications enabled for your app on their device
When clients are prompted to opt in
Clients see a pop-up on their mobile device asking them to turn on push notifications when they take certain actions in your branded app:
- After they book a class
- After they book an appointment
- When they tap into the community bulletin board
Push notifications are not a replacement for email or SMS reminders. Booking and class reminders can only be sent by email or SMS.
How clients turn on push notifications manually
If a client dismissed the opt-in pop-up, they can still turn push notifications on from inside your branded app.
Tap the profile picture
Have the client tap their profile picture in the app.
Open Communication Settings
From their profile, they go to Communication Settings.
Toggle on all notifications
Under Push Notifications, they toggle on All notifications.
For marketing push notifications specifically, the client must tap Save after toggling for the change to register.
Also have the client confirm that notifications are allowed for your branded app in their phone's system (device) settings.
Check a client's opt-in status
You can review a client's notification preferences from the dashboard:
- Push opt-in status — Open the client's profile in Arketa to see whether they've opted in. Clients who haven't opted in won't receive push notifications.
- Email preferences — On the client's profile, scroll down the main summary page to view their communication preferences, including transactional email settings.
- Push notification subscribers — Use the notifications/subscriber view in the admin dashboard to see everyone who has opted in to push notifications.
Increase opt-ins
To get more clients receiving your push notifications:
- Send a broadcast email or SMS reminding clients to enable push notifications in the app.
- Give clear instructions for enabling notifications in both the app and their phone's device settings.
Troubleshoot low subscriber counts
If a push notification campaign shows limited subscribers, confirm that clients have:
- Enabled marketing push notifications in the app.
- Saved their preferences after toggling — marketing push only registers once the client taps Save.
Send a push notification broadcast
See push notification broadcasts for the full workflow on creating and sending a push notification to your client list.
Push vs SMS vs email
| Channel | Best for | Requires |
|---|---|---|
| Push | Flash sales, class openings, last-minute changes | Branded app, client opt-in |
| SMS | High-urgency personal messages | Marketing Suite, client opt-in |
| Detailed content, newsletters, promotions | Marketing Suite recommended |
Push notifications get the highest open rates of any channel — but only reach clients who have your branded app and have opted in to notifications.