# Send Custom Messages to Guests

Custom messaging in Verkada Guest allows Workplace users to send on-demand updates to visitors via email or SMS. Users can message visitors signed in on the current calendar day or send messages to attendees for upcoming events.

***

## Enable Custom Messaging to Guests

{% hint style="danger" %}
You need **Org Admin** permissions to enable this feature.
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Workplace >** <img src="https://1436127735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZyuELZr7uIcXX3WnjX0N%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-48822faa8f94922c3e3013291711e6f32a179087%2F8cf36b4c0ec5a908ea1110c7b552bf45536bc9f2.png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> **Guest.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**On the left navigation, click Guest Settings.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**At the top, under Organization, select Messaging.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Toggle on Enable sending custom messages to guests.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

***

## Create custom messages

{% hint style="danger" %}
You need at least **Workplace Site Viewer** permissions to send custom messages in Guest.
{% endhint %}

### Send a message to visitors (current day)

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Workplace >** <img src="https://1436127735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZyuELZr7uIcXX3WnjX0N%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-48822faa8f94922c3e3013291711e6f32a179087%2F8cf36b4c0ec5a908ea1110c7b552bf45536bc9f2.png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> **Guest.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**On Guest Home, select Message Guests.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Choose which visitors to send the message to. Users can choose by Guest Type and filter by the statuses of all, signed in, and signed out.**

a. Title the message. The title will be used as the subject line for emails to guests.\
b. Write the message body.\
c. Select **Send.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="danger" %}
Custom messages are not supported for [School Guest Types](https://help.verkada.com/guest/schools/school-guest-types).
{% endhint %}

### Send a message to a specific visitor

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Workplace >** <img src="https://1436127735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZyuELZr7uIcXX3WnjX0N%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-48822faa8f94922c3e3013291711e6f32a179087%2F8cf36b4c0ec5a908ea1110c7b552bf45536bc9f2.png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> **Guest.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**On Guest Home, make sure the current day is selected.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select the desired visitor.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Under Actions, select Send message.**

a. Title the message.\
b. Write the message body.\
c. Select **Send.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Send a message for a Guest Event

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Workplace >** <img src="https://1436127735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZyuELZr7uIcXX3WnjX0N%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-48822faa8f94922c3e3013291711e6f32a179087%2F8cf36b4c0ec5a908ea1110c7b552bf45536bc9f2.png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> **Guest.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**On the left navigation, select Events .**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select the desired event.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**In the top right, click > Send message.**

a. Title the message.\
b. Write the message body.\
c. Select **Send.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Compose message content

Custom messages include a **Title** and **Message Body**.

* The **Title** appears as the subject line in emails (not included in SMS).
* All SMS messages begin with: ​`Message from {Site Name}`

You can include the following variables in messages:

* **Guest Name:** Full name entered at sign-in
* **Site Name:** Name of the Guest site in Command
* **Purpose of Visit:** Guest Type name
* **Guest Portal Link:** Unique link for each visitor (available only in the message body).

  ![](https://1436127735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZyuELZr7uIcXX3WnjX0N%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-74a67020c9804aa0ff2d853aa999bc15824de8ec%2F5507abfc7c0e7610f25d2a70a5ce525a80a4647f.png?alt=media)

{% hint style="warning" %}
Messages can include any Unicode character except emojis. The message body supports up to **150 characters**. Special characters and glyphs may count as multiple characters.
{% endhint %}

***

## Review custom message history

The **Message History** panel shows all messages sent within that site and identifies any failed SMS deliveries.

* Users can retry failed SMS messages once.
* Email deliverability is not tracked.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Workplace >** <img src="https://1436127735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZyuELZr7uIcXX3WnjX0N%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-48822faa8f94922c3e3013291711e6f32a179087%2F8cf36b4c0ec5a908ea1110c7b552bf45536bc9f2.png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> **Guest.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**On Guest Home, in the top right, select Messages.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

***

## FAQ

<details>

<summary>Is there a daily message limit?</summary>

Yes. Each Guest site can send up to 100 messages per calendar day.

</details>

<details>

<summary>If a message is sent by both email and SMS, does it count as one or two messages?</summary>

When the same message is sent to a visitor via both email and SMS, this counts as one message towards the message limit.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Can I send messages to invited visitors who haven’t registered?</summary>

No. Custom messages can only be sent to **registered**, **signed-in**, or **signed-out** event attendees.

</details>