So you want to write your first article as an Ambassador - brilliant! Articles are one of the most powerful things you can create on Unibuddy: unlike a chat reply, which only one prospective student sees, an article can be read by hundreds of people weighing up whether this is the right place for them.
Here's everything you need to get started - and remember to scroll down to the bottom of the page to head to the next module - creating video content.
1. Pick something to write about
The best articles come from your own experience. You don't need a "big" topic, just an honest one. A few places to start:
Student Life: what campus life is actually like: clubs, socials, the day-to-day rhythm of term time.
Academics: your course, class sizes, teaching style, how you prepared (or wish you had).
Campus Resources: support services you've actually used and valued: library, careers, health, counselling.
Student Success: an achievement, how you got there, or a setback you overcame.
Location: the city or area, your favourite local spots, what it's really like to live there.
Tip 1: Write about the thing you find yourself telling friends and family about unprompted. If you're genuinely interested in it, that will come through in the writing - and readers can tell the difference between an article written to a brief and one written because you actually wanted to share something.
Tip 2: Think about what you searched for or wished someone had told you when you were applying. If you were once the prospective student Googling "what's freshers actually like at [university]," you already know exactly what this article should answer.
2. Write it well
A few best practices to keep in mind:
Open with a hook. A question works well to pull readers in; put yourself in their shoes and ask the thing they're actually wondering.
Be specific, not generic. "The food here is great" tells a reader nothing. "The £3 halloumi wrap from the Student Union on a Tuesday" tells them everything. Specific detail is what makes content feel authentic rather than like marketing copy.
Keep it skimmable. Prospective students are often reading on their phone, comparing multiple universities, in a hurry. Short paragraphs, plenty of white space, and a subheading every few paragraphs make your article easy to scan - even readers who don't read every word will get the gist.
Write like you talk. Short sentences beat long ones. If a sentence needs a second read to make sense, split it in two. Your job is to sound like a real person, not a brochure.
Use visuals. Photos or video bring the story to life and break up the text: a picture of the actual study spot or club you're describing does more than another paragraph of description.
End with a call-to-action. Link to further info, a place to visit, or a clear next step - give the reader somewhere to go once they've finished reading.
3. Choose a title that earns the click
Article titles work differently to video captions - they need to make a scrolling reader stop and click, and then set accurate expectations for a longer read. A few formats that work well:
Numbers: "3 Hidden Study Spots on Campus."
"How to" / "A guide to": for advice-led posts.
"My story" / "My experience of": for personal accounts.
Tip: Write your title last. It's much easier to sum up an article once you know what it actually covers, rather than trying to write to a title you picked before you started.
4. Publish, find, and edit your content
To publish: Unibuddy Ambassador App → Create → Article → select a topic → add title and cover photo or video → add text → Preview → Request to Publish.
Your article goes live once your Admin approves it.
(On desktop: Ambassador Dashboard → Content → Create Content — same steps as in the app.)
Cover photo sizing: blog header images should be 610x300px, PNG or JPEG.
To find your content later: Unibuddy Ambassador App → Resources → My Content (or on the dashboard: Resources → Content → My Content).
To edit: Unibuddy Ambassador App → Resources → Content → My Content → open → Edit Post → save changes. (On desktop: Ambassador Dashboard → Content → My Content → open → Edit → save changes.)
Good to know
Posts don't go live immediately, Admin approval is required first.
Content Topics are set by Admins - if you're unsure which Topic to use, or none of the available ones fit, just ask your Admin.