Everbridge 360™ Community Subscriptions & Messaging FAQ

This document provides answers to frequently asked questions about Community Subscriptions and messaging in Everbridge 360™.

Community Engagement customers can send messages to SMS opt-ins who subscribe by texting a ZIP code to 888-777. These opt-ins are included as part of the broader SMS subscription audience.

For an overview, see the knowledge article EB360: What are Everbridge 360™ Community Subscriptions?

Getting Started

What are Community Subscriptions?

Community Subscriptions allow members of the public to anonymously opt in to receive ongoing updates from an organization by texting a keyword to a short code. Messages can then be sent to these subscribers using Everbridge 360 Communications.

What benefits do Community Subscriptions provide?

Community Subscriptions enable organizations to send targeted communications, organize subscribers into topic-based lists, and optionally apply geographic targeting.

Subscription Setup

Where are Community Subscriptions configured?

Community Subscriptions can be accessed from:

• Contacts + Assets → Community Subscriptions
• Communications → Configure a Subscription List

What is a private subscription?

A private subscription requires a password to join. Subscribers must enter the password after opting in.

Are opt-in subscribers visible in Everbridge?

No, opt-in subscribers remain anonymous within the platform.

SMS Keywords

What is an SMS keyword?

An SMS keyword is a unique word that recipients text to a short code to subscribe to a topic.

How do recipients opt in using a keyword?

Recipients text the keyword to a short code such as 888-777 or 333-111. Short codes are assigned during onboarding.

Are keywords unique?

Yes, each keyword can only be used once across all organizations.

Where are keywords managed?

Keywords are managed in Everbridge within the Community Subscription area, which is part of the Contacts + Assets section.

If you need step-by-step guidance, refer to: EB360: Managing Community Subscriptions & Keywords.

What is ZIP code opt-in?

Recipients text their ZIP code to 888-777 and are subscribed to receive messages from all public safety organizations that have permission to send messages to that ZIP code.

How are messages sent to ZIP code opt-ins?

ZIP code subscribers can be messaged by selecting "Subscribers in my area" within Communications.

Messaging & Delivery

How are messages sent to Community Subscriptions?

Messages are sent through Everbridge 360 Communications by selecting Subscriptions as recipients when configuring a communication.

Can messages be targeted by location?

Yes, geo-filtering can be applied using the Select Areas option when adding recipients.

What happens to subscribers without location data during geo-filtering?

Subscribers without location data will receive all messages, regardless of geo-filtering.

What delivery methods are supported?

Supported delivery methods include SMS, email, and voice.

What phone numbers are used to send messages?

Opt-in subscribers receive messages from 888-777 or 333-111.

What delivery methods should be enabled by default?

Recommended default delivery methods include:

• SMS 1
• Email Address 1
• Phone 1 (optional)