This page is for currently established opt-in message administrators within Rhody Connect. Please also refer to the Opt-in Channel Guidelines page for Push Notification Specifications.

Message Best Practices

journalism inverted pyramid

 
Aim for messages that:
  • Keep the user within the app
  • Are actionable
  • Are educational/meaningful
  • Are user-centric

Make sure that messages are created with an inverted pyramid structure to load the most important content towards the beginning of a title. This will make a better hook for a reader.

How does the inverted pyramid method affect your message?

The Title must be less than 120 characters. It should have the most newsworthy/interesting information first and then any additional information second. Organizing your title this way helps assure the best chance of a user clicking on a message, even if some of the content is cut off.

Example: 
  • Less effective: “Come join Rhody the Ram for a FREE pizza party to celebrate the end of the school year!” 
  • More effective: “FREE Pizza Party – Celebrate the end of the school year with Rhody the Ram!”

The Description should contain important details of your event and any relevant general information. Try to keep this short to not overload the user’s cognitive load and use line breaks or other custom code for easier skimming of content.

 

How to Create a Push Notification Message

    1. Log in to the Modo App Center with your Modo Labs login information.
      Please note: This is a different login than your URI login and password.
    2. Select Communicate from the top grey banner.
    3. On the left side of the screen, navigate down to the desired section and select the heading to view the channel(s) available to you. 
    4. Select the appropriate channel for the message you are sending.
    5. Select create message
    6. A new screen will load. Complete the form to create your message.
      • Content: 
        • Title: Add a short and catchy title for your message. 
        • Body: Create your message’s content. You may customize your message with HTML code.
        • Tag: Default value can be updated (lowercase, no spaces) 
        • Category: Select the appropriate message category. Visit Modo Support for examples of each.
        • Link Title (Optional): If you have a clickable link – this will become the phrase that is clickable. This should not be generic phrases like “Click Here” or “Link”.
        • Link Subtitle (Optional): If you have a clickable link – this is some optional additional text that displays
        • Link URL (Optional): If you have a link to add to your message select the appropriate method below:
          • Paste in an External Link: Click in the text area and paste in the URL, your link will be highlighted in blue. Click the blue URL and it will insert itself into the Link URL text area.
          • Page in the Rhody Connect app: Click in the text area and scroll until you find the area you are looking for.
        • Image (Optional): Upload an image to your message.
          • Image must be in JPEG or PNG format, minimum width 800 pixels, maximum file size 2 megabytes.
          • Images should be a square or horizontally-oriented image. Use of an event flyer is discouraged because small text will be difficult to read.
        • Alt Text (Optional – but required if you add an image): Add in a short description of your image. This should not contain the phrase “image” or “image of…”
      • Target Audience (Public Channel messages only):
        • Select the users you wish to receive our message. Messages will be sent to those users currently on the selected persona; their actual status may be different (e.g., a staff member using the Student persona) 
      • Notifications: How do you want your followers to receive your message (neither, one, or both can be checked):
        • Push Notification: This will push a notification to your follower’s phone regardless of whether the app is open. Tapping the notification will open the full message in Messages.
        • In-app banner displayed on (select a single page or all pages within a module): Creates a banner which will display at the top of the selected page or grouping of pages. Tapping the banner will open the full message in Messages. There will be no push notification when using this option alone.
        • If no option is selected, the message will simply be added to the Messages page and the Messages badge that shows the number of new messages will increment.
      • Timing:
        • Start at: When should this message be sent?
        • End At: When should this message stop showing to your followers? (defaults to 1 week)
        • Time Zone: *do not change*
    7. Click Save button once you are happy with your message. 
    8. The message is saved and a formatted preview will display on the page. Click one of the three available buttons: 
      • Close: This will delete your message permanently. You are able to reopen a message immediately after closing as a sanity check, but once you navigate away from the page, the message is officially gone.
      • Edit: Edit your message if needed. Double check your message settings when updating as some fields get reset upon editing.
      • Send: This will send your message to your followers at the scheduled time.
    9. Click Submit button, then Approve button when ready to publish your message. (If message approval is not required, a send button will display instead.)
 

Customizing your Message

HTML Code

How to Add Emojis

Be sure to not use emojis as a replacement for words as they may not be interpreted correctly by all users. 

  1. Open the Emoji Unicode Table and find an emoji you want to use in your message.
  2. Highlight the emoji with your mouse.
  3. Copy the icon you want to use and paste it into your message’s title or body content. Your emoji should immediately display.
  4. Continue your message and Save.
  5. On the Preview page, verify the emoji formatted correctly.