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2024-05-01

Getting Started with Slack Emojis: A Complete Guide

Communication in the workplace has evolved significantly over the years, and Slack has been at the forefront of this revolution. One of the most beloved features of Slack is its emoji support, which brings personality and nuance to digital conversations.

Why Emojis Matter in Workplace Communication

In text-based communication, it's often difficult to convey tone and emotion. That's where emojis come in. They add context, show reactions, and inject personality into your messages. In a remote or hybrid work environment, emojis can help build team culture and create connections between team members who might never meet in person.

According to a recent study by Slack, teams that use emojis in their workplace communication report:

  • 54% better relationships with colleagues
  • 50% more positive impression of their company culture
  • 19% faster communication

Types of Slack Emojis

Slack comes with a wide range of built-in emojis, but what makes it special is the ability to add custom emojis. Here's a breakdown:

Default Emojis

Slack includes all standard Unicode emojis available on most platforms. You can access these by clicking the emoji button in the message composition area or by typing : followed by the emoji name.

Custom Emojis

This is where things get fun! Slack workspaces can add their own custom emojis, which might include:

  • Company logos
  • Team member faces
  • Inside jokes
  • Reaction GIFs
  • And much more!

How to Use Slack Emojis

In Messages

Adding emojis to your messages is simple:

  1. Click the emoji icon in the message box
  2. Search for the emoji you want
  3. Click to insert it into your message

You can also type : followed by the emoji name (e.g., :smile:) to quickly insert emojis.

As Reactions

Emoji reactions are a quick way to respond to messages without creating a new message:

  1. Hover over a message
  2. Click the "Add reaction" icon (smiley face)
  3. Select your emoji

Reactions are great for acknowledging messages, showing support, or expressing how you feel about something without cluttering the conversation.

Creating Custom Slack Emojis

While Slack's default emojis are great, creating custom emojis for your workspace takes communication to the next level. Here's how:

  1. Prepare your image: Custom emojis work best as square images with a transparent background. 128×128 pixels is the recommended size.

  2. Upload to Slack:

    • Click on your workspace name in the top left
    • Select "Customize Slack"
    • Click the "Add Custom Emoji" button
    • Upload your image and give it a name
    • Click "Save"

  3. Use your custom emoji: Your new emoji will be available immediately! You can find it by typing : followed by the name you gave it.

Best Practices for Slack Emojis

Keep it Professional

While emojis add fun to the workplace, remember that Slack is still a professional tool. Avoid offensive or inappropriate emojis that could make colleagues uncomfortable.

Don't Overdo It

A strategically placed emoji can enhance communication. Too many can become distracting and reduce readability.

Create Meaningful Custom Emojis

The best custom emojis are those that resonate with your team culture. Consider creating emojis that:

  • Celebrate team wins
  • Represent company values
  • Feature team members or inside jokes
  • Serve specific communication purposes

Advanced Emoji Techniques

Emoji Workflows

Many teams use specific emojis to indicate the status of work or requests:

  • ✅ Task completed
  • 👀 Looking into it
  • 🚧 Work in progress
  • 🚫 Blocked or unavailable

Emoji Polls

You can create quick polls by posting a message and asking team members to react with specific emojis to vote.

Custom Emoji Art

Some Slack enthusiasts create elaborate "emoji art" by combining multiple custom emojis in a pattern.

Conclusion

Slack emojis are more than just fun additions to your messages—they're powerful communication tools that can improve team culture, clarify intent, and make digital communication more human. By understanding how to use them effectively, you can enhance your Slack experience and build stronger connections with your colleagues.

Ready to take your Slack emoji game to the next level? Check out our other articles on creating stunning custom emojis for your workspace!