

This could indicate that the user could return a message shortly. If the dot is orange, then the user is logged into the Slack app or a Slack tab is opened in a browser, but they are idle and inactive. If there is a green dot to the left of the account name, then you know that the user is online and currently active on the computer or mobile device. Other users should also set their status so that you know how long it should take to receive a reply.Ī quick way to identify if a user is available is to look at their user account in Slack. You can set this status on your Slack account to let users know that they should not expect a quick answer from you. It's not unusual for several users to go on vacation, call in sick, or go to a meeting where they cannot answer messages right away. Direct messaging in Slack is just as easy as posting a new message in the server's channels.īefore you can direct message a user, you should check their status indicates that the user is available. It's also a way to send a message that won't be seen by other users on the server.

It's a way to talk directly to one person without interrupting a busy channel. You can use direct messages to keep in contact with just one or several users outside of a Slack server's list of channels. Slack refers to private messages as "direct messages" similar to other social media platforms on the Internet. Direct (or private) messaging is another advantage of using Slack for business communications.
