Emojis are a fun way to add personality and emotion to your Slack messages. The default emoji set in Slack contains over 2,000 options, but you can also create custom emojis to reflect your team’s unique style.
Table of Contents
Why Use Emojis in Slack
Here are some of the key benefits of using emojis in Slack:
- Express Emotions: Emojis help convey tone and emotion that can be lost in text-based communication. A thumbs up or smiley face emoji can express positivity and approval.
- Enhance Company Culture: Custom emojis featuring company logos, products, or inside jokes help teams develop rapport and camaraderie.
- Improve Engagement: Messages with emojis tend to get more attention and responses. Emojis make communication more fun and lively.
- Personalize Communication: Emojis allow team members to express their individual personalities. Custom emojis featuring pets, hobbies, or avatars make conversations feel more personal.
How to Add Emojis in Messages
Adding emojis to Slack messages is simple. Here are the steps:
- Click on the smiley face icon in the message composition box to open the emoji picker.
- Browse for an emoji by category or search by keyword.
- Click on an emoji to add it to your message.
You can also type emoji codes, like :smile: or :thumbsup: to add emojis to messages. See the full list of codes.
How to Create Custom Emojis
To create a custom emoji:
- Click on your workspace name in the top left corner.
- Select Customize [Workspace Name].
- Click on Add Custom Emoji.
- Upload an image or GIF (square images under 128KB work best).
- Give the emoji a name (no spaces or special characters).
- Click Save.
- The emoji will now appear in the emoji picker for all workspace members to use.
Tips for custom emojis:
- Use images related to company culture, products, or team jokes.
- Keep filenames short with no spaces, periods, or special characters.
- Square images less than 128KB in size render best as emojis.
How to Add an Emoji Pack
Along with custom emojis, you can install pre-made emoji packs in Slack:
- Click on the smiley icon in the message composer.
- Select Add Emoji.
- Click the Emoji Packs tab.
- Browse packs and click Add Pack to install.
Emoji packs contain multiple themed emojis you can use in messages. There are packs for holidays, foods, animals, and more.
Using Emojis Effectively
Emojis are fun, but use them intentionally so they add value to conversations. Here are some best practices:
- Use sparingly: One or two per message is usually enough. Too many becomes distracting.
- Don’t over-explain: Let the emojis speak for themselves rather than describing what they mean.
- Match the tone: Make sure emojis fit the tone of the conversation.
- Be inclusive: Consider if certain emojis might exclude team members.
- Keep them relevant: Only use emojis related to the message and conversation topic.
Pro Tip: You can add an emoji next to your Slack username to showcase your personality. Click on your profile picture > Edit Profile > add emoji in name field.
Why Personalized Emojis Matter
Emojis might seem silly or unnecessary to some, but they serve an important purpose. Thoughtful use of customized emojis improves remote communication by:
- Fostering better connections between distributed team members through shared expressions.
- Adding clarity and context that is often missing in written communication.
- Humanizing interactions by allowing team members to express personality and emotion.
- Boosting morale through lighthearted content that brings teams together.
In a remote-first workplace, the ability to craft a personalized experience is vital for creating an inclusive culture. Custom emojis check that box while keeping things fun and adding a dash of creativity.
So go ahead, upload that hilarious image of your coworker reacting to the printer jamming again. Add your department’s inside joke as an emoji. Install a pack featuring your company mascot. Follow Slack’s lead by getting a little weird. Your teammates will thank you.
