TALON Help Center
Category: Advanced Features | Printed:

Announcement System

5 min read
Master the announcement system to create targeted member communications, manage platform notifications, and deliver important updates effectively. This comprehensive guide covers announcements, widgets, and the tagging system for precise audience targeting.

The announcement system consists of three interconnected components that work together to deliver targeted member communications.

Access Requirements

The announcement system requires Tier 1 or higher support access. These tools allow you to create content that appears on member dashboards, so use them responsibly and follow your organization's communication guidelines.

System Overview

The announcement system consists of three interconnected components that work together to deliver targeted member communications:

Announcements
Create and schedule important communications that appear prominently on member dashboards to notify users of updates, maintenance, or important information.
  • Rich text formatting with images
  • Scheduled start and end dates
  • Targeted delivery by group or plan
  • Live activation controls
Widgets
Add interactive elements and custom functionality to member dashboards, providing tools, resources, and shortcuts tailored to specific member populations.
  • Header, body, and footer text options
  • Image integration with hyperlinks
  • Custom or pre-built functionality
  • Employer and plan level targeting
Tags
Control visibility and targeting for announcements and widgets based on employer groups, health plans, or combined criteria for precise audience segmentation.
  • Employer group level filtering
  • Health plan specific targeting
  • Combined criteria support
  • Additive tag functionality

Creating Announcements

Announcements are powerful tools for communicating important information directly to members on their dashboard homepage. They appear prominently and can include rich formatting to capture attention.

Step-by-Step Announcement Creation
1
Access Announcements Section
Navigate to the Announcements tab in your dashboard. This is available to Tier 1+ support representatives and contains all existing announcements and creation tools.
2
Create New Announcement
Click "+ CREATE NEW" to add a new announcement. Enter a descriptive name/label for internal identification and click "OK" to begin creating the announcement content.
3
Configure Announcement Details
Set optional start and end dates for automatic scheduling. Create the announcement body with headings, text, and images. Apply tagging options if you want to target specific employer groups or plan members.
4
Save and Activate
Click "SAVE ANNOUNCEMENT" to preserve your content. Check the "Live" checkbox to activate the announcement and make it visible to members on their homepage.

Visibility Controls

By default, announcements are visible to every member across all employer groups and plans. Use the tagging system to restrict visibility to specific populations when needed.

Managing Widgets

Widgets provide interactive elements on member dashboards, offering both pre-existing and custom functionality. They can be targeted to specific employer or plan levels for personalized experiences.

Widget Creation Process
1
Navigate to Widgets
Access the Widgets section from your dashboard menu. This area shows all existing widgets and provides tools for creating new interactive elements.
2
Create New Widget
Click "+ CREATE NEW" and provide a descriptive name/label for your widget. Click "OK" to proceed to the widget configuration interface.
3
Configure Widget Elements
Set up your widget components: Header Text (widget title), Body Text (main content), optional Body Image with hyperlink, and optional Footer Text with hyperlink for additional actions.
4
Save and Activate
Click "SAVE WIDGET SETTINGS" to preserve your configuration. Check the "Live" checkbox to activate the widget and make it appear on member dashboards.

Understanding the Tagging System

Tags are essential for controlling which members see specific announcements and widgets. The tagging system provides precise audience segmentation based on employer groups and health plans.

Tag Targeting Logic

Tags work additively - when multiple tags are applied, ALL conditions must be met for content to be visible to a member. This allows for highly specific targeting combinations.

Tag Creation Process

Creating and Managing Tags
1
Access Tags Section
Navigate to the Tags section in your dashboard. This area manages all targeting criteria for announcements and widgets.
2
Create New Tag
Click "CREATE" to add a new tag. Choose your targeting criteria: employer groups, health plans, or both for combined targeting.
3
Configure Tag Parameters
Set up the specific filtering criteria for your tag, selecting the appropriate employer groups or health plans that should see the tagged content.
4
Apply Tags to Content
Use your created tags when setting up announcements and widgets to control visibility and ensure the right audience sees the right content.

Tagging Scenarios

Understanding different tagging scenarios helps you choose the right approach for your communication needs:

  • Universal Content: No tags needed - content appears to all members when set to "Live"
  • Employer-Specific: Use employer-level tags to restrict content to specific company groups
  • Plan-Specific: Apply plan-level tags to target members with specific health plan types
  • Combined Targeting: Use both employer AND plan tags for highly specific audience segments

Tag Management Best Practices

Use clear, descriptive tag names and document your tagging strategy. Regularly review and clean up unused tags to maintain system organization and prevent confusion.

Best Practices

Follow these guidelines to maximize the effectiveness of your announcement system:

  • Content Planning: Plan announcements and widgets strategically to avoid overwhelming members with too many simultaneous communications
  • Clear Messaging: Use concise, clear language and strong calls-to-action in your announcements and widgets
  • Visual Hierarchy: Utilize formatting options to create scannable content with clear headings and bullet points
  • Testing: Always test announcements and widgets with a small group before wide deployment
  • Scheduling: Use date ranges to automatically manage announcement lifecycles and prevent outdated content
  • Documentation: Keep records of active announcements, widgets, and their intended audiences for team coordination
Widget Configuration Guide Advanced Tagging Member Communication
© TALON - Help Center Documentation
For the latest version of this article, visit: help-announcement-system.html
Need help? Contact support at help@talon.com

On This Page

System Overview Creating Announcements Managing Widgets Understanding the Tagging System Best Practices

Need Help?