15 Quick Slack Tips and Tricks for Beginners

• Blog
• September 22, 2022

Assuming you’re already familiar with the basics of using Slack (if not, check out this quick intro guide), here are a few tips and tricks to get the most out of this powerful communication tool.

1. Use Slackbot to automate simple tasks.

Slackbot is Slack’s built-in digital assistant and can be used to automate a variety of simple tasks, like sending Welcome messages to new team members or providing reminders about upcoming deadlines. To get started, just type ‘/bot’ followed by a command or question in the Slackbot message box. For example, try typing ‘/bot remind me to submit my expense report by end of day’ and Slackbot will respond with a reminder message at the specified time.

2. Take advantage of Slack’s search features.

Slack’s search function is incredibly powerful and can be used to find just about anything you need, whether it’s a specific message, file, or even a team member’s contact information. To search for something, just click on the search box in the top-left corner of the Slack interface and enter your query. By default, Slack will search through all public channels, but you can also specify a specific channel or direct message (DM) to search by clicking on the drop-down menu next to the search box.

3. Use shortcuts to save time.

There are a number of keyboard shortcuts that can be used in Slack to save time and increase productivity. For a full list of shortcuts, just type ‘/shortcuts’ in the Slack search box. Some of the most useful shortcuts include:

– ‘/m’ to create a new direct message
– ‘/t’ to open the search box
– ‘/d’ to open the emoji picker
– ‘/shift+up arrow’ to edit your last message

4. Set up notifications to stay on top of things.

Slack can send you notifications via desktop, mobile, or email so you never miss an important message or update. To customize your notifications, just click on your profile picture in the top-left corner of the Slack interface and select ‘Preferences’ from the drop-down menu. From here, you can choose which channels or DMs you want to be notified about, how you want to be notified (e.g., via push notification, email, or both), and what time of day you want to receive notifications.

5. Use Slack integration to get more out of the tool.

Slack integrates with a wide range of popular productivity tools, like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Trello. This means you can do things like view a Google Drive file directly in Slack or add a Slack channel to a Trello board. To find out more about Slack integration, just click on the ‘Integrations’ tab in the Preferences menu (mentioned in tip #4).

15 Quick Slack Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Tips for Organizing Your Slack Workspace

1. Use channels to keep conversations organized.

Channels are a great way to keep conversations organized in Slack. You can create different channels for different topics, projects, or teams. This can help you keep track of conversations and make sure that everyone is on the same page.

2. Use @mentions to get someone’s attention.

If you need to get someone’s attention in Slack, you can use the @mention feature. Just type “@” followed by the person’s username. This will send them a notification so they can see your message.

3. Use emoji to add some fun to your messages.

Emoji can add some fun and personality to your messages in Slack. You can use them to react to messages, add comments, or just express yourself.

4. Use Threads to keep messages organized.

If you’re having a conversation with someone in Slack, you can use Threads to keep your messages organized. This can be helpful if you’re discussing a project or topic and need to keep track of the conversation.

5. Use the search feature to find old messages.

If you need to find a specific message in Slack, you can use the search feature. Just type in a keyword or phrase and it will search through all of the messages in your workspace.

6. Use Snooze to temporarily hide messages.

If you need to take a break from Slack, you can use the Snooze feature to temporarily hide messages. This can be helpful if you’re feeling overwhelmed or just need some time to focus on other things.

7. Use Do Not Disturb to limit notifications.

If you don’t want to be bothered by notifications, you can use the Do Not Disturb feature. This will silence all notifications for a certain period of time. You can still see messages, but you won’t be alerted every time someone sends one.

8. Use Highlights to see important messages.

If you want to make sure you see important messages, you can use Highlights. This feature allows you to choose which messages get highlighted in your inbox. This can be helpful if you’re trying to stay on top of a specific project or conversation.

9. Use Bots to automate tasks.

Bots can be a great way to automate tasks in Slack. There are bots that can do things like track your time, create to-do lists, or send reminders. This can help you stay organized and productive in Slack.

10. Use Slash Commands to do things quickly.

If you need to do something quickly in Slack, you can use Slash Commands. These are shortcuts that allow you to do things like search for messages, create new channels, or post messages.

Tips for Managing Notifications in Slack

If you’re like most people, you probably find yourself constantly bombarded with notifications from Slack. Whether it’s a direct message from a coworker, or an @mention in a channel, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly being pinged. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help manage your notifications and take back control of your attention.

First, take a look at your notification settings. You can access these by clicking on your profile picture in the top left corner of Slack, and then selecting “Preferences” from the drop-down menu. Under the “Notifications” tab, you can choose how you want to be notified of new messages. If you find yourself getting distracted by Slack, you might want to consider turning off notifications for direct messages and @mentions, and only opting to receive notifications for certain keywords.

You can also set up Do Not Disturb mode to help you focus. Do Not Disturb mode can be accessed by clicking on your profile picture in the top left corner of Slack, and then selecting “Do Not Disturb” from the drop-down menu. Here, you can schedule times when you don’t want to receive any notifications from Slack. You can also choose to receive notifications from only certain people, or for only certain keywords.

Finally, if you’re in a channel with a lot of people, you can use the “Mute” option to stop receiving notifications from that channel. To mute a channel, click on the channel name in the sidebar, and then select “Mute #channel” from the drop-down menu.

By following these tips, you can take back control of your attention and manage your notifications in Slack.

Tips for Collaborating with Others in Slack

1. Use the @channel and @username mentions to get someone’s attention.

2. Use the /invite command to invite others to join your channel.

3. Use the /kick command to remove someone from your channel.

4. Use the /leave command to leave a channel.

5. Use the /archive command to archive a channel.

6. Use the /unarchive command to unarchive a channel.

7. Use the /rename command to rename a channel.

8. Use the /setpurpose command to set the purpose of a channel.

9. Use the /settopic command to set the topic of a channel.

10. Use the /pins command to pin messages in a channel.

11. Use the /unpin command to unpin messages in a channel.

12. Use the /remind command to set reminders in a channel.

13. Use the /files command to view files in a channel.

14. Use the /search command to search for messages in a channel.

15. Use the /help command to view a list of all available commands.

Tips for Maximizing Your Productivity in Slack

If you’re like most people, you probably spend a lot of time in Slack. Whether you’re chatting with colleagues, sharing files, or just stay up-to-date on what’s going on in your company, Slack can be a great way to be productive. But if you’re not careful, Slack can also be a huge time waster. Here are 15 tips to help you get the most out of Slack and maximize your productivity:

1. Use Slack’s search function.

If you’re looking for something specific in Slack, don’t waste time scrolling through old messages. Use the search function to find what you’re looking for quickly and easily.

2. Take advantage of Slack’s integrations.

Slack integrates with a lot of popular productivity tools, which can help you save time and get things done more efficiently. For example, you can integrate Slack with Asana to create and manage tasks directly from Slack, or you can integrate Slack with Zapier to automate tasks like creating new Asana tasks from Slack messages.

3. Use Slackbot to automate tasks.

Slackbot is a helpful little robot that can do a lot of things, like remind you of deadlines, add events to your calendar, or even track packages for you. You can also use Slackbot to create custom responses to certain keywords or phrases. That way, you can get information without even having to ask for it.

4. Create custom emoji.

Emoji are a great way to add personality to your messages and react to things quickly. But did you know that you can create your own custom emoji in Slack? Just head to your Slack team’s settings and click on “Customize Slack.” From there, you can add your own emoji and use them in your messages.

5. Use Slack’s shortcuts.

Slack has a bunch of helpful keyboard shortcuts that can help you do things faster. For example, you can use the “slash” shortcut to quickly access Slack’s search function, or use the “command + k” shortcut to create a new channel.

6. Use threads.

If you’re having a conversation with someone in Slack and it starts to get off-topic, use threads to keep things organized. That way, you can stay on track and avoid getting lost in a sea of messages.

7. Set a status.

If you’re going to be away from your computer for a while, or if you’re working on something that might take up all of your attention, set a status in Slack so people know not to disturb you. That way, you can avoid getting interrupted and can focus on what you’re doing.

8. Use Do Not Disturb.

If you really need to focus and don’t want to be bothered by any notifications, you can turn on Do Not Disturb mode. This will silence all notifications for a set period of time, so you can focus on what you’re doing without being interrupted.

9. Use Snooze.

If you’re in the middle of something and can’t respond to a message right away, you can snooze the message. That way, you’ll get a notification later when you’re able to respond.

10. Use stars wisely.

Slack allows you to star messages, which can be helpful if you need to come back to a message later. But be careful not to overuse this feature, or you’ll end up with a lot of messages that are starred and it will be difficult to find the ones that are actually important.

11. Use notifications wisely.

Notifications can be helpful, but they can also be distracting. If you’re getting too many notifications, or if you’re getting notifications for things that aren’t important, it’s time to adjust your notification settings. That way, you’ll only be notified of things that are actually important, and you won’t be distracted by things that aren’t.

12. Keep your messages clear and concise.

When you’re writing a message in Slack, take a moment to think about what you’re trying to say. Is it necessary? Is it clear? Is it concise? If not, take a moment to edit your message so that it is. This will save time for both you and the person you’re communicating with.

13. Know when to take the conversation offline.

There are some things that are better suited for a face-to-face conversation, or a phone call, or even an email. If you find yourself in a long Slack conversation that isn’t going anywhere, it might be time to take the conversation offline.

14. Be considerate of others.

When you’re using Slack, keep in mind that there are other people who are trying to use it, too. So be considerate of others and don’t do things that would be disruptive, like playing music through your computer’s speakers, or sending a lot of messages in a short period of time.

15. Take breaks.

Slack can be addictive, but it’s important to take breaks so you don’t get too wrapped up in it. Get up and walk around, or step away from your computer for a few minutes. This will help you clear your head and come back to your work refreshed and ready to be productive.