It can sometimes be a love-hate relationship, but Slack is a staple when it comes to workplace software. Whether you’re working in an office or remotely, Slack is a key tool for team communication.
One hidden Slack feature that not everyone knows about is custom emojis. Yep! You read that right. Gone are the days of default emojis. You and your team can add fun and unique custom emojis to your Slack workspace. There are so many reasons your team should embrace custom emojis in Slack, from team building to improving company culture. Plus, they’re pretty darn fun!
Whether you use Slack or another community platform, keep on reading. We’ll cover why you should use custom Slack emojis and how you can add them to your team’s workspace.
But first things first, let’s start with the basics.
What is Slack?
Slack is a messaging app for teams that lets you seamlessly communicate with your co-workers.
Most often used by companies for day-to-day communication, Slack is sort of like a cross between email and instant messaging for work. You can direct message individual teammates or you can use channels to communicate with the larger team.
It's become extremely popular in recent years among teams–for good reason! You can use it to send messages, share files, react to messages, and even conduct video calls in just a few clicks.
Slack has desktop and mobile apps that are compatible with most devices and integrates with a ton of other apps and services.
Slack's easy-to-use platform and excellent features has made it popular even among non-businesses. More and more online communities are choosing to use Slack as their main communication channel.
What are Slack emojis?
Emojis are small images that help us communicate. From emoticon faces and foods, to common symbols, emojis help us communicate–with or without words! Over the last few years, emojis have become a huge part of digital communication and culture. We can use them to share how we feel, what we’re doing, or even what we’re currently doing.
These days you’ll find emojis everywhere from social media to email. They’re so common that you’ll even find them in work environments, like on Slack!
Slack emojis are a fun way to add personality to your messages and react to what others are saying. You can use them to express how you're feeling, make a joke, or even just to show that you're paying attention.
There are hundreds of Slack emojis to choose from, and new ones are being added all the time. From static images to fun animated emojis, there’s a Slack emoji for every occasion. To find the perfect emoji, simply search for the keyword or browse through the categories.
And if you can't find exactly what you're looking for? You can add your own custom Slack emoji.
Why you should use custom emojis in Slack
Slack already has hundreds of emojis that you and your team can use. So why add more? Here are a few reasons why you should add custom emojis to your Slack workspace.
Improve team engagement
Let’s be honest, replying to every single Slack message is basically impossible. Emojis have made it possible for teams to respond to messages without going in and typing a response. This is particularly true with Slack, where you can react to a message with an emoji.
Using custom emojis can help your team engage with communications quickly and effectively. It also makes the process more fun. Your team is more likely to enjoy engaging with messages if they get to use the emoji or :coffee-parrot: emoji.
On Slack, you can even hop on the emojis other people have reacted with, helping build a sense of community.
Personalize communication and culture
Every team has access to the default Slack emojis. So why not add a bit of personality to your digital comms?
By creating your own emojis, you can add a touch of individuality. Whether it's a selfie, an inside joke, or just a fun way to express yourself, custom emojis can help personalize the workplace and make it feel more human.
For example, use the :birthday-parrot: emoji to wish someone a happy birthday! Or maybe :rickroll: when you’ve played a funny prank. You could even upload a headshot of a team member to recognize them for a job well done.
The opportunities to personalize your Slack workspace with emojis are endless.
Build your internal company brand and culture
We all love company-branded swag. So why not make company communications branded as well!
Your team spends so much time within Slack. Custom emojis are a great way for your employees to show their team spirit during their day-to-day communications. Some great ways to use custom emojis for brand building include:
- Custom logo emoji: Create a custom emoji of your brand’s logos.
- Brand your favorite emojis: Take your favorite existing Slack emojis and give it a brand twist. (For example, a dancing banana holding your logo or product!)
Improve workflows
Emojis can make Slack and workplace communication more fun and entertaining. But it can also make your team more productive.
Use custom emojis for things like out-of-office settings or indicate priority levels for messages. By using custom emojis, you can define workflows that are unique to your team.
For example, you can use the :success: emoji to indicate when you approve of something, or theemoji to show when a task is complete.
And when something has gone completely wrong? Well you might as well share your frustration with a: emoji or a :gull-scream: emoji.
Where can I find custom Slack emojis?
The options for custom Slack emojis are endless. There are a few key ways you can find new Slack emojis:
- Download free custom emojis: Get a custom emoji in seconds from customemoji.com. Choose from the hundreds of the most popular static and animated custom emojis.
- Create your own: If you have a knack for design or want an extra unique emoji, you can always create your own. Slack recommends 128x128 square images with transparent backgrounds. They can be up to 128 KB in size and must be a JPG, GIF, or PNG.
Choosing custom Slack emojis for your team
Custom Slack emojis are available to the entire workspaces. So it’s important that you’re choosing emojis that work well across teams!
There are a few things to consider when choosing custom Slack emojis for your team.
- Workplace culture: Is the general communication across your teams more casual or professional?
- Inside jokes: Is there anything that’s uniquely funny or relatable to people within your team?
- Current emojis: What emojis are currently being used the most?
- Emoji packs: Consider adding a full set of emojis. For example, if your team is a fan of party parrots, consider adding several party parrot emojis.
- Communication needs: For example, if you need an emoji that communicates urgency, like the :alert: emoji.
If you’re not sure where to start, get inspired with some of the most popular emojis here.
Finally, once you've settled on the perfect emoji, it's time to add it to Slack.
How to add custom emojis to Slack
Once you’ve decided what emojis you want to share with your team. You can upload them to your Slack workspace in just a few steps.
- Click the smiley face icon in your messages. (Where you typically add an emoji!)
- Click the ‘Add Emoji’ button at the bottom left.
- Click ‘Upload Image’ and select your new custom emoji.
- Give your emoji a name. (You can use the customemoji.com name or choose your own! Make sure the name is something relevant so your team can easily search for your emoji)
- Click ‘Save’ and get sharing!
By default, any members of your workspace can add emojis. However, owners and admins can restrict permissions if necessary.
Editing or deleting custom emojis in Slack
If you need to make changes to your custom emojis, it’s easy to edit or delete them.
- Click the arrow beside your workspace name in the top left.
- Click ‘Emoji’ at the top of the page.
- Search for the emoji you’d like to edit or delete.
- Click the x delete icon.
- Confirm by clicking ‘Delete Emoji’
Start customizing your Slack with emojis today
It seems simple, but custom Slack emojis can be a game-changer for your workspace. From improving employee engagement to building company culture, it’s one of the best ways to level up your Slack game.
Custom Slack emojis are easy to install and the impact is instant.
Ready to give custom Slack emojis a try? Explore hundreds of ready-to-upload custom Slack emojis today.
