Communication channels

With numerous ways to communicate with your target audience, it can be difficult to know what will be most effective. Our communications team will help you identify the best approach for sharing your messaging with students. Explore the avenues we support below, and when you’re ready, submit a project request.

Email

Email may be the best choice if you:

• have a message that’s relevant to broad OR targeted student groups (campus clubs, programs, etc.)
• need to convey a large amount of information in writing
• want to maintain a formal or semi-formal tone
• need to be able to show a record of your audience receiving the message

What to include

• a subject line that focuses on your messaging, avoiding phrases like “last chance,” “click here,” or “free”
• a “call to action”: a clear, direct instruction of what step the student should take to reach their goal
• a link to an NAU webpage that provides additional information, context, or actionable items for your email
• if possible, personalization that speaks to unique student experiences
• a personal signature, rather than a department name

Social media post

You may want to utilize social media if you:

• need to communicate broadly with the student population
• don’t care who sees your message
• want to be informal
• can keep your message concise and link to a relevant webpage for more information

What to include

• short and sweet core content
• a call to action
• a link to a relevant webpage

Explore our social media page.

SMS text message

You may want to text your audience if you:

• need to send an urgent message
• want to target specific students or groups
• can convey your message in 160 characters or less
• have a transactional message to send (not promotional)

Note: the SASI team currently supports limited SMS text messaging requests.

NAUgo push notification

You may want to send an NAUgo push notification if you:

• need to send a timely message
• want your message to appear on a student’s phone screen like a text
• want to segment your audience based on campus or another opt-in channel (e.g., parents, freshmen, etc.)
• can convey your message in 3–5 sentences
• can include a link to a relevant webpage with more information

Students who download the NAUgo app can select their persona (Flagstaff student, statewide student, or faculty/staff) and opt in to targeted communication channels for their population. Push notifications appear directly on a student’s phone screen and remain in the app’s message center for a designated time period. Download the app or explore the NAUgo website to learn more.

Digital advertisement

You may want to develop digital content if you:

• want your message to appear on campus plasma screens
• want your digital flyer to be accessible on student phones and computers
• need to incorporate clickable links

Print advertisement

You may want to develop printed content if you:

• want to mail postcards, handouts, or letters to students’ mailboxes
• want to hand out physical materials on campus or at events
• want to install banners, posters, flyers, or other materials in campus buildings

NAU Printing Services supports items such as postcards, business cards, bus shelter posters, and banners.

Video

You may want to produce a video if you:

• have a brief visual message to convey
• have a plan for hosting and distributing your message (e.g., website, social media)

University Marketing (UM) offers professional video production services. You can submit a request on the UM website. The SASI team also offers limited video services. If your video is directly related to Student Affairs, you can submit a request to meet with us and discuss developing your video.