Best Practices and Templates for Notifications

What's my access level?

Access Level: Administrator

This article is intended for users with Administrator access in Suitable. If you don’t have this role, some of the steps outlined below may not be available in your account.

Ineligible Roles: Student, Contributor, Advisor, and Publisher

New: You can now send News or Nudges and Linked Announcements by email, so your kickoff and weekly messages can go straight to students' inboxes from Suitable.

Looking for ways to keep students engaged with your program? Use these best practices and ready-to-use templates for push and email notifications.

Keep in mind... 

Students act on messages that are short, timely, and clearly about them. Pair a steady schedule with a targeted distribution list, and your notifications will feel useful, not noisy.

Choosing push, email or both 

• Push Notification: best for short, timely reminders to students who use the mobile app, such as an event starting soon.
• Email Notification: best for longer updates, students who are new to Suitable, and anything students may want to find again later, such as a kickoff message or a weekly agenda.
• Both: best for important deadlines and announcements you want every student to see.

Note: Email is available for News or Nudges and Linked Announcements once your institution has email turned on. Emails count toward your monthly email limit. Learn more in Types of Notifications Available.

Writing tips 

• Headline or subject line: lead with what the student gets or needs to do. Keep it short so it is not cut off on a phone.
• Pre-header (email only): add the detail that makes students open the email, such as the date or the reward.
• Message: one main message and one action per notification.
• Button label (Linked Announcement emails): say what happens next, such as "RSVP for the Career Fair", not "Click here".
• Timing: schedule notifications instead of sending them right away, so you have time to fix mistakes.

Program best practices 

• Create a dedicated program email. Send questions to one shared inbox that graduate assistants or student workers can manage.
• Introduce Suitable during orientation. Add a QR code that links to the mobile app on flyers and slides.
• Build a program web page. Explain who the program is for, what it is, where the office is, when it helps most, why it exists, and how students reach their goals with it.
• Hold drop-in office hours. If your program has a requirement, such as a grade or graduation, give students a set time to ask questions.

Communication timeline 

1. Send a kickoff email. Use an Email Notification to explain how to download the mobile app and sign in at app.suitable.co. Include program information and a link to a "Getting Started" badge if you have one.
2. Host a kickoff event or info session. Invite faculty and staff too, so students can put a face to the program. Plan a separate session for transfer students.
3. Set a steady schedule. Send a weekly, biweekly, or monthly update with upcoming events, students to recognize from the leaderboard, and an achievement to work on.
4. Keep the momentum. Send push notifications to students who use the mobile app, and share highlights on the social media channels you manage.

Weekly events template 

Create a News or Nudges notification, sent as an Email Notification or Both, and use this template for a weekly agenda. Learn how in Creating and Sending a Notification.

Subject line: This week on [Pathway Name]

Pre-header: [Number] events you can attend for points

Message:

[Day, Date]
- [Event 1]
- [Event 2]

[Day, Date]
- [Event 1]
- [Event 2]

Complete each event on [Pathway Name] to earn points.

This notification appears on a phone like this:

More templates 

Almost there (achievement)

Headline: You are so close to [Achievement Name]
Message: [School Mascot] is cheering you on. Here is how to finish: [steps to finish].

Achievement completed

Headline: Congratulations on your achievement 🎉
Message: You just completed another achievement on your student development journey. Share it on LinkedIn to show employers what you have done: [steps to share].

Activity completed

Headline: Way to go 🌟
Message: You just completed an activity in [Pathway Name]. Keep it up and watch your progress grow.

Upcoming event

Headline: Join us for [Event Name]
Message: [One sentence on why students will enjoy it]. [Date, time, and place]. Complete it on [Pathway Name] to earn points.

Good to know 

Reuse last week's message instead of starting over. On the Past tab, select the three dots on the notification, then select Duplicate to New Notification. Update the details and schedule it.

Get more from Suitable 

Send each template only to the students it is meant for. Learn how in Creating a Distribution List for Notifications.

If you have additional questions, chat with us below or send us an email at support@suitable.co .