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SFU corporate channel submission guidelines
Before you submit content for amplification on SFU's corporate channels, familiarize yourself with the requirements for each platform:
SFU.ca homepage
Channel
Purpose
- Highlight stories of engagement that build pride in SFU and our people, students, faculty alumni etc.
- Highlight latest SFU programs, initiatives, news and events
- Connect with donors and alumni
- Crisis communication hub
Audience
Primary
- Students and prospective students
- Alumni
- Donors
- Stakeholders
Secondary
- Faculty/staff
Frequency
- Main feature 2-3 times a week
- Smaller feature 1-2 times a week
Your post
Requirements
- Must be a news story with a headline hosted on SFU News or another SFU site and include a photo that meets technical and visual guidelines.
What does well?
- Stories about SFU’s involvement in the community, for example the Terry Fox Run
- Our innovative programs, for example RADIUS
- Stories about the President, for example his trip to China
- Stories that build pride in SFU, Maclean’s ranking, Convocation, 50th Anniversary etc.
Photos
Requirements
- Include a photo 1920 px wide and 72 dpi
Video
N/a
SFU News
Channel
Purpose
- Provide relevant, timely news content for members of the SFU community and for those wishing to learn more about the university’s achievements and latest happenings.
- Curate a diverse breadth of stories that reflect SFU’s engaged vision and priorities
- Inform, engage, build pride and spark discussion among our audiences.
Audience
Primary
- Current students
- Staff
- Faculty
Frequency
- Published daily Monday-Friday
Your post
Requirements
- The following topics are featured in SFU News
Students:
- Equipping students for career readiness and success
- Student journey, including lifelong learning
- Experimental teaching and education approaches
- International engagement
- International partnerships and networks for students
- Graduate and student success stories
Research:
- Impact-driven research
- Innovative research and development that benefits a variety of industries
- How the curriculum supports and fosters entrepreneurship
- Research that helps to create new companies, new technologies and new jobs
- National and international reputation rankings
Community engagement:
- Aboriginal engagement
- Initiatives that foster intercultural understanding
- Campus-wide/institutional events and initiatives that build community engagement and recognition
Faculty and staff:
- Awards and honours
- Staff profiles
- Call for nominations
- Campus community focused news
Photos
Requirements
- Include a photo 1920 px wide and 72 dpi
- Avoid headshots when possible
Videos
Questions to ask:
- Why would you audience be interested in this story?
- If this is a institutional/corporate piece, is there a way the subject can be made relevant to a broader audience?
- Is there a personal angle/protagonist to focus this story around?
- Is the story unique? Has it been done before? How can it be done differently?
- What subjects are trending at the moment? What is relevant? Examples include: holidays, global current affairs/news – such as politics, technology, climate change
A few other tips:
- The story must be visual i.e. have strong visual components outside of a “talking head”.
- Consider including a personal story. Viewers tend to relate more to the video if there is a personal angle driving the content, not simply stats and figures.
- Think about a broader audience when pitching a video story idea.
- Think about who will be interviewed. Minimum one interview per video, maximum three interviews.
Channel
Purpose
- Increase SFU’s positive reputation, provincially and nationally among opinion leaders and the general public
- Deliver content in the hands of the right people at the right time for the right reason
- Convert the SFU community into brand ambassadors
- Create online engagement opportunities and share what we learn with relevant audiences.
- Disseminate safety information during a crisis
Audience
Primary
- Government
- Policy makers
- Opinion leaders
Secondary
- SFU community - students, faculty, staff
- Prospective students
- Alumni
Frequency
- 2-4 times a day
Your post
Requirements
- Shorter is better, keep posts to 40-100 characters
- Include link
- Include photo/video
- Include call to action
- Ask questions
What does well?
- Photos/videos
- Articles about the impact and achievements of students and alumni community.
- Students services and resources, for example: UPass, campus closures, mental health services etc.
- Stories about SFU’s ranking and achievements, for example: Maclean’s ranking
- Stories about notable SFU guests, for example: Bill Nye convocation visit
Photos
Requirements
- Aspect ratio 1.9:1
- Size 1200 px x 630 px
Video
- Length: keep it short; less than 90 seconds. Videos views drastically decline after 30 seconds.
- Aspect ratio: 1280 x 720
- We require the raw files to share video directly to the feed. Videos shared this way gain higher engagement than those shared from YouTube.
Channel
Purpose
- Share timely SFU news/events.
- Build pride in SFU by sharing stories of engagement.
- Engage with SFU community and partners.
- Share timely info to protect the safety and security of the SFU community.
Audience
Primary
- Government
- Policy makers
- Opinion leaders
Secondary
- SFU community - students, faculty, staff
- Prospective students
- Alumni
Tertiary
- Media
Frequency
- 5–8 times a day
Your post
Requirements
- Less than 280 characters
- Use relevant hashtags
- Use key words
What does well?
- Timely SFU news and events, for example TEDxSFU, President’s travels, #consentmatters, convocation
- Stories about SFU’s contributions to the community
- Stories about the impact our students/alumni/faculty/staff are having on the community
- Timely safety and security messaging, for example: campus closures due to storms or power outages
Photos
Requirements
- Aspect ratio 2:1
- Min: 440 px x 220 px
Video
- Length: up to 30 seconds
- Size: less than 512MB
Channel
Purpose
- Convert the SFU community into brand ambassador
- Deliver content in the hands of the right people at the right time for the right reason
Audience
Primary
- SFU community: students, faculty, staff
- Prospective students
- Alumni
Frequency
- 2 times a day
Your post
Requirements
- Include 5-7 relevant hashtags
What does well?
- Dramatic photos
- Photos from the field (research, co-op, etc.)
- Behind-the-scenes
Photos
Requirements
Posts
- Aspect ratio 1:1
- Min: 640 px x 640 px
Stories
- Aspect ratio 9:16
- 1080 px x 1920 px
Video
Requirements
- Length: up to 60 seconds
- Size: 15MB max.
- Format: Landscape/horizontal
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