Slack is a great tool for keeping your internal team on the same page—sharing updates, brainstorming ideas, or sending that well-timed GIF to lighten the mood. But it’s not just a tool for in-house communication. It’s also a powerful way to connect with external users, including clients, consumers, or partners.
Thanks to features like Slack Connect, you can extend your reach beyond the walls of your company and open the doors to collaboration with your audience. Imagine creating a space where your customers can ask questions, share feedback, or even get exclusive updates in real time.
Slack can become more than a messaging tool—it can transform into a vibrant community that brings your brand closer to the people who matter most. The team at Socialfly has launched Slack platforms for numerous clients, including the Entreprenista community, and we wanted to share our key learnings and best practices for building and maintaining an engaged audience.
Let’s dive into Slack best practices to help you make your space a hub for collaboration, connection, and creativity! We’ll also offer Slack engagement ideas to help you keep things fresh.
Creating an engaged Slack community isn’t just a “nice-to-have” feature—it’s a strategic move that can drive real value for your business. By fostering a lively and interactive Slack space, you’re not just connecting with your audience—you’re building relationships that lead to loyalty, trust, and deeper collaboration.
When your Slack space is buzzing with activity, it becomes a dynamic hub where ideas, feedback, and discussions flow freely. Whether you’re using Slack to support your customers, co-create solutions with clients, or cultivate an audience of brand advocates, engagement ensures that your community thrives. Here’s why that matters:
Brainstorm Slack engagement ideas with your team regularly to keep things fresh. If you’re wondering how to create a Slack channel community that’s engaged, keep reading.
As you’re thinking about how to create a Slack channel for your brand or organization, keep these things in mind:
How do you want to translate your brand values into your new Slack platform? If your audience counts on you for original food recipe content, imagine different ways to provide a similar experience through this channel. This can include having separate channels for ingredient stories, quick and easy recipes, themed multi-course meals (such as “Date Night,” or “Taco Tuesday”), and a channel for your audience to share their own creations.
This will help you determine which channels or features will interest your audience most. Ask your test group for feedback on what is and isn’t working and stay open to any suggestions concerning how to enhance the overall Slack experience. They will be the ones using it after all, so you want to make sure they find value in the platform and treat it as a content destination.
Then draft language that describes exactly what your audience is signing up for when they join your community. When Socialfly launched Slack channels for our client Entreprenista, for example, our team chose to send personalized emails with signup links to each member of the community, including all episode guests and female founder features.
This gave us the opportunity to answer individual questions and provide additional information when needed. It’s also a great way to remind your community you’re thinking of them and are excited to connect further on a new platform!
Given how quickly content can be shared and spread on Slack channels, it is important to designate moderators in advance who have a thorough understanding of your brand’s mission and values. These individuals will keep the ship steering in the right direction.
Your moderators can:
Slack is an intuitive and powerful tool for staying connected with your community during times when it’s not possible to congregate in person. Stay nimble with your strategy and carve out time to step back and determine which channels are working best for your community. If your audience feels like their wishes and needs are being heard and addressed, they will feel valued and, in turn, become more engaged with the platform.
Getting your Slack community buzzing with activity starts with creating a space that feels welcoming, valuable, and fun. Start by setting the tone with a clear purpose for the Slack group. Let your members know why they’re there—whether it’s for sharing industry insights, getting exclusive updates, or collaborating on challenges.
Once that’s in place, kick off conversations by posting engaging questions, polls, or discussion topics. Icebreakers, like “What’s one thing you’re excited about this week?” can get people comfortable sharing right away.
Another great way to encourage engagement is by celebrating and recognizing your community members. Highlight their contributions, such as insightful comments or helpful answers, with shoutouts or badges. You can also gamify participation by creating fun challenges or offering incentives, like discounts or early access to your products.
Finally, don’t forget to keep the energy alive. Post regularly, respond to messages promptly, and create channels for specific interests so members can connect in meaningful ways. When people see that you’re active and invested, they’ll feel more encouraged to join in!
Keeping your Slack community engaged starts with offering creative, value-packed, and entertaining channels where people actually want to hang out. Here are some Slack channel ideas tailored to a variety of brands and audiences that will add a little extra spark to your Slack space.
Set up a channel where members can interact directly with your team or industry experts. Whether it’s your CEO answering questions about your company’s mission or a guest expert sharing insights on a trending topic, AMAs create a buzz of activity and give your audience direct access to valuable knowledge.
Rotate AMA topics regularly to keep things fresh. For example, a fitness brand might bring in personal trainers to discuss workout tips, while a tech company might host AMAs with engineers or product managers to dive into upcoming releases. Promote AMAs in advance to build anticipation and ensure maximum participation!
This channel is perfect for sharing bite-sized insights, hacks, and pro tips related to your brand or industry. A beauty brand could share makeup tutorials or skincare routines, while a software company could post productivity hacks or shortcuts for using its tools.
Encourage community members to contribute their own tips, too! By allowing your audience to share their expertise, you’re building a culture of collaboration and making everyone feel like a valuable part of the group.
Celebrate achievements—big or small! This channel is all about positivity and sharing good news. Members can post their personal or professional wins, while you share success stories, like how a customer achieved great results using your product or service.
This type of channel works particularly well for coaching or education brands, as it builds momentum and keeps everyone motivated. Be sure to chime in with congratulations to make members feel supported and acknowledged.
Create a space for people to share their creativity or accomplishments. A food brand could encourage customers to share photos of their dishes made with your products, while a fashion brand could invite users to showcase their outfits or styling tips.
The key is to make this channel fun and interactive—run contests, feature the best submissions on your social channels, or offer prizes to top contributors. It’s a fantastic way to drive engagement and strengthen your community’s connection to your brand. Just remember to have a monitor frequently checking the channel for anything inappropriate or off topic.
This is a practical channel for brands looking to provide stellar customer support in real time. Members can ask product questions, troubleshoot issues, or seek advice directly from your team. Bonus points if other community members jump in to help each other—it’s a natural way to create a sense of collaboration and shared knowledge.
Brands in tech, SaaS, or any product-based industries will find this channel especially useful. Make sure your team monitors it actively to ensure questions are answered quickly and efficiently.
A channel for sharing knowledge is always a hit. Post book recommendations, helpful articles, podcasts, or webinars that align with your brand’s niche. For example, a wellness company could share mindfulness podcasts, while a marketing brand might post the latest industry reports.
Take it a step further by hosting monthly discussions about a specific resource or inviting authors and creators to lead conversations. It’s a simple way to add value and establish your community as a go-to hub for learning.
Sometimes, people just need a quick break to recalibrate. Create a lighthearted channel for memes, funny videos, or general banter. Think of it as the water cooler of your Slack community, where members can relax and share non-work-related moments.
Brands that foster creativity or fun—like lifestyle, entertainment, or gaming companies—will find this channel particularly effective for creating a casual and welcoming vibe. Don’t underestimate the power of a little fun in building camaraderie and keeping people engaged.
So, you’ve figured out how to create a Slack channel, assigned moderators, and launched what appears to be a promising channel. But how exactly do you go about measuring engagement on Slack? Here are some things to keep an eye on:
Keep an eye on the number of messages sent daily, weekly, or monthly. A high volume of messages usually indicates an active and engaged community. If you notice a drop in activity, it may be time to introduce fresh discussion topics, host an AMA, or post a poll to reignite the conversation.
Track the percentage of members actively logging in and participating versus those who are inactive. Tools like Slack analytics or third-party integrations can give you this data. If your active member count is low, consider outreach strategies like direct messages or announcements to remind members of the value of engaging in your community.
Analyze which channels are generating the most traffic and engagement. Are members favoring your #TipsAndTricks channel or flocking to your #Random-Fun space? Understanding these preferences allows you to focus on creating more of the content your members enjoy and fine-tuning channels that are underperforming.
Fast response times from your team show members that their contributions and questions are valued. Aim to reply to queries within a few hours to maintain momentum and keep members engaged. If response times are slipping, consider assigning moderators or setting up notifications to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
Measure how often members post their own messages, share insights, or answer questions. A Slack community where members interact with one another—not just your team—is a strong indicator of high engagement. Encourage contributions by asking for opinions, sharing open-ended prompts, or hosting challenges that invite participation.
Polls and surveys are quick engagement tools that can also give you valuable insights. Monitor how many members participate and pay attention to their responses. If participation is low, make polls fun and easy to answer, and consider offering incentives like shoutouts or small rewards for joining in.
Retention is about keeping your members engaged over the long term. A low retention rate may indicate that members aren’t finding ongoing value in the community. Combat this by frequently introducing new features, topics, or events, and by personally reaching out to inactive members to re-engage them.
Ready to take your Slack community to the next level? The social media management team at Socialfly is here to help. We’ve helped numerous clients build collaborative communities on Slack, and we can help your brand, too.
From designing a strategy to providing Slack engagement ideas to monitoring and managing your channels, we’ll ensure your Slack space becomes a thriving hub that strengthens your brand’s connection with clients and customers. Get in touch today to get started.
