# Communities: Announcement Channel and Notification > Learn how to create Announcement Channels in Communities, manage posting permissions, and understand the latest notification enhancements for members… - Source: https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/memberships-and-communities/communities/communities-announcement-channel-and-notification - Section: Memberships & Communities / Communities - Reading time: 3 min - Images: 3, each explained below --- Learn how to create Announcement Channels in Communities, manage posting permissions, and understand the latest notification enhancements for members. This guide walks through setup, permissions, and how notifications work so you can keep your community informed without important updates getting buried in conversations. --- **TABLE OF CONTENTS** - [What are Announcement Channels?](#what-are-announcement-channels) - [Before You Begin](#before-you-begin) - [Quick Start: Create Your First Announcement Channel](#quick-start-create-your-first-announcement-channel) - [Role-Based Permissions](#role-based-permissions) - [Notification Enhancements](#notification-enhancements) - [Related Articles](#related-articles) --- # **What are Announcement Channels?** Announcement Channels are read-only community channels designed for important updates. Unlike standard discussion channels, only Community Owners and Admins can publish announcements while members can view, react, and stay informed without adding replies. This makes Announcement Channels ideal for product updates, maintenance notices, onboarding information, event reminders, and other important communications. --- ## **Key Benefits of Announcement Channels** Announcement Channels help keep important information organized while reducing distractions from ongoing discussions. - **Admin-only posting:** Prevent members from posting in announcement channels. - **Improved visibility:** Keep important updates separate from conversations. - **Public or Private access:** Share announcements with everyone or selected members. - **Pinned announcements:** Highlight critical information at the top of the channel. - **Flexible configuration:** Convert an Announcement Channel back into a standard discussion channel at any time. --- ## **Before You Begin** Announcement Channels can only be created by Community Owners or Community Admins. Before creating one, make sure: - You have Owner or Admin permissions. - You already have a Community created. - You know whether the channel should be Public or Private. --- ## **Quick Start: Create Your First Announcement Channel** Creating an Announcement Channel only takes a few minutes. 1. Navigate to **Communities** and open the desired community. 2. Open **Channel Management**. 3. Click **Create Channel**, or edit an existing channel. 4. Enable **Announcement Channel**. 5. Choose whether the channel should be **Public** or **Private**. 6. Save your changes. 7. Publish your first announcement. ![Quick Start: Create Your First Announcement Channel (image 1 of 3)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155077627309/original/Gz84p4-EyqnybVissPt6-uo2soL9c6UyZw.png) **Quick Start: Create Your First Announcement Channel (image 1 of 3)** This screenshot appears in the "Quick Start: Create Your First Announcement Channel" section of "Communities: Announcement Channel and Notification". The text alongside this image reads: Navigate to Communities and open the desired community. Open Channel Management. Click Create Channel, or edit an existing channel. Enable Announcement Channel. Choose whether the channel should be Public or Private. Save your changes. Publish your first announcement. Immediately after, the guide continues: Choose who can access the Announcement Channel. - Where to go: Navigate to Communities and open the desired community. Open Channel Management. Click Create Channel, or edit an existing channel. Enable Announcement Channel. Choose whether the channel should be Public or Private. Save your changes. Publish your first announcement. - Controls: Communities, Channel Management, Create Channel, Announcement Channel, Public, Private - Next: Choose who can access the Announcement Channel. Full procedure: 1. Navigate to Communities and open the desired community. 2. Open Channel Management. 3. Click Create Channel, or edit an existing channel. 4. Enable Announcement Channel. 5. Choose whether the channel should be Public or Private. 6. Save your changes. 7. Publish your first announcement. --- ## **Configure Channel Visibility** Choose who can access the Announcement Channel. ### **Public** Visible to every member of the community. ### **Private** Visible only to members you invite. ![Private (image 2 of 3)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155077630086/original/N7eAjo2btlljzBn5wIwuIPKVaKtgyW67TA.png) **Private (image 2 of 3)** This screenshot appears in the "Private" section of "Communities: Announcement Channel and Notification". The text alongside this image reads: Visible only to members you invite. For context, this section explains: Navigate to Communities and open the desired community. Open Channel Management. Click Create Channel, or edit an existing channel. Enable Announcement Channel. Choose whether the channel should be Public or Private. Save your changes. Publish your first announcement. Immediately after, the guide continues: Open the Announcement Channel. Create a post. Publish the announcement. Pin the post if you’d like it to remain at the top. - What this covers: Visible only to members you invite. - Next: Open the Announcement Channel. Create a post. Publish the announcement. Pin the post if you’d like it to remain at the top. --- ## **Post Your First Announcement** After creating the channel: 1. Open the Announcement Channel. 2. Create a post. 3. Publish the announcement . 4. Pin the post if you’d like it to remain at the top. Only Owners and Admins can publish announcements. Members will see the channel as read-only. ![Post Your First Announcement (image 3 of 3)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155077630197/original/Onl7z3xO8Gij8x-yvEwPV8fcSYwgfl3G5Q.png) **Post Your First Announcement (image 3 of 3)** This screenshot appears in the "Post Your First Announcement" section of "Communities: Announcement Channel and Notification". The text alongside this image reads: Members will see the channel as read-only. Immediately after, the guide continues: Members cannot create posts inside an Announcement Channel. - What this covers: Members will see the channel as read-only. - Next: Members cannot create posts inside an Announcement Channel. Full procedure: 1. Open the Announcement Channel. 2. Create a post. 3. Publish the announcement. 4. Pin the post if you’d like it to remain at the top. --- ## **Member Experience** Members cannot create posts inside an Announcement Channel. Instead they can: - Read announcements - React to posts (if reactions are enabled) - View pinned announcements They will not see a message composer. --- ## **Role-Based Permissions** Role-based permissions ensure only authorized users can publish announcements. | **Role** | **Can Post** | **Can Pin Posts** | **Can Read** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Owner | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | Admin | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | Member | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | You can disable Announcement Mode at any time to convert the channel back into a standard discussion channel. --- ## **Notification Enhancements** The latest Communities update also introduces improved notifications that help members stay engaged with new content and achievements. --- ## **Announcement Notifications** When an announcement is published, members receive notifications based on their notification preferences. Notifications may include: - In-App notifications - Push notifications Members must have notifications enabled on their device to receive push notifications. --- ## **Level Upgrade Notifications** Members receive notifications whenever they level up inside a community. Notification types include: - In-App - Push --- ## **Level-Based Course Unlock Notifications** When a member reaches the required level for a course, they’ll automatically receive: - In-App notification - Email notification - Push notification --- ## **Time-Based Course Unlock Notifications** Courses scheduled to unlock at a future date automatically notify members through: - In-App notification - Email notification - Push notification --- ## **Frequently Asked Questions** **Q: Can members post inside an Announcement Channel?** No. Only Community Owners and Admins can publish announcements while the channel is configured as an Announcement Channel. **Q: Can I convert an Announcement Channel back into a regular discussion channel?** Yes. Disable the Announcement Channel setting in Channel Management to restore normal posting permissions. **Q: Can I create multiple Announcement Channels?** Yes. You can create multiple Announcement Channels within the same community. **Q: Can Announcement Channels be private?** Yes. Configure the channel as **Private** to limit visibility to invited members. **Q: Do pinned announcements stay at the top?** Yes. Pinned announcements remain at the top of the channel until they are unpinned. **Q: Are announcement notifications sent automatically?** Members receive notifications based on their notification preferences and supported notification channels. **Q: Will members receive push notifications?** Yes, if push notifications are enabled for both the community and the member’s device. --- ## **Related Articles** - [How to Set Up, Customize, and Manage Communities](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/memberships-and-communities/communities/how-to-setup-customize-and-manage-your-communities) - [Content Management in Communities](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/memberships-and-communities/communities/communities-how-to-manage-content)  - [Community Notification Preferences](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/memberships-and-communities/communities/communities-announcement-channel-and-notification) --- Documentation for GHL Customer Care. Support: support@ghlcustomercare.com