--- title: Team Messaging 101 description: Using messenger for your team can be a learning curve. Here's how to make it easier. image: https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1DRqK337XdLABh_gHMXdaRw.jpeg --- [![Flock](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/FlockBlog_Logo/Flockblog-v2-inverted.svg) ](https://blog.flock.com/) [![Flock](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/FlockBlog_Logo/Flockblog-v2.svg) ](https://blog.flock.com/) × × ##### Try Flock today! [![Book a Demo](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4323997/498b9a75-5c2a-4bd1-b22d-1a22c7a2265a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4323997/498b9a75-5c2a-4bd1-b22d-1a22c7a2265a) - - - - [Using Flock](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/tag/using-flock) - [Case Studies](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/tag/case-studies) - [Productivity](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/tag/productivity) - [Communication](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/tag/communication) - [The Flock Way](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/tag/the-flock-way) - [Small Businesses](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/tag/small-businesses)   [Using Flock](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/topic/using-flock) [![Flock Editorial Team](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/09%20flock-logo-notext.png) ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/flock-editorial-team) [ Flock Editorial Team ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/flock-editorial-team) On May 20, 2016 [ Flock Editorial Team ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/flock-editorial-team) TOP STORIES 1. [Your entire GitHub universe, now in Flock](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/your-entire-github-universe-now-in-flock-6ea6c871e0b0) 2. [Audio calling and conferencing now in Flock!](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/bridge-the-gap-voice-calling-and-conferencing-now-in-flock-a040bc5a9815) 3. [Getting started with Notes and Code snippets](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/getting-started-notes-and-code-snippets-74bb5204b62b) 2 min read # Team Messaging 101 ![](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1DRqK337XdLABh_gHMXdaRw.jpeg) ## Handy tips to help you communicate better   ![](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1DRqK337XdLABh_gHMXdaRw.jpeg) It’s always the small things that make the biggest impact — even when it comes to [messaging](https://blog.flock.com/10-reasons-why-team-messenger-can-be-a-game-changer-for-you-37739a35054). But more often than not, we end up overlooking the tiny details. So here’s what we thought: Wouldn’t it be handy to have a curated list of good messaging etiquette? Yup, you’re welcome! - **Take private conversations out of channels**. The whole office does not need to know about your dinner plans. - **‘Hi’** and** ‘Sup’** are salutations, not conversations in themselves. Don’t leave a colleague hanging at just that. - **Update your status and profile picture.** After all, your friends at work would love to know a little about what’s going on with you. - Signing off for a bit? Set your status to** ‘DND’.** Or risk causing a panic attack among your team, when they can’t find you. - **Introduce yourself** before you start a discussion. Especially if you’re new to a group. - Use **@mentions** to direct the attention of a person in channel conversations.   ![](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/11tWnfKKIVLnKvrG-4jzGGg.png) - Brevity is the soul of wit. **Keep. Conversations. Short.** And to the point. - Use [**video calling**](https://blog.flock.com/best-business-video-conferencing) for long discussions, instead of messaging. It’s much more effective, and gets the job done, pronto!   ![](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1lVlMahdjbFl6gOdWbUljKA.png) - **Excuse yourself**, if you need to leave a conversation midway. Don’t disappear without a trace, never to return. - **Use private channels to create task or project specific channels. **Add only relevant members to this channel to avoid disturbing the rest of the team with your ramblings.   ![](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1F0nouoxILKK0o47EQkt74Q.png) - **DON’T YELL.** THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO PUT YOUR POINT ACROSS THAN LEANING ON THE CAPS LOCK KEY. - To cut the clutter, **pin conversations** that are most important or **mute conversations** that are just banter. - Use **smileys, stickers, or better off, GIFs.** Heaven knows the office could do with some cheer.   ![](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1oC6J_VxupUGbQSv8t1iTEQ.gif) - **Abbreviations are acceptable.** We know how busy you are. Just don’t *LOL* at everything I say. - **Avoid sharing large files in public channels.** You don’t want to be the reason for the abuse of the company’s bandwidth. *Remember: Your messaging app is your ally at work to get the job done. Always make the most of it.* [![Start Your Live Flock Demo Now](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4323997/5a4b180c-44ac-4d44-8e21-18d188620b81.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4323997/5a4b180c-44ac-4d44-8e21-18d188620b81)     [Using Flock](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/tag/using-flock) [![Getting started with Flock](https://blog.flock.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1FGGeBmQemKgHPEahWiU0lg.gif?width=710&name=1FGGeBmQemKgHPEahWiU0lg.gif)](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/getting-started-with-flock-509b13b5096) [Using Flock](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/topic/using-flock) [Getting started with Flock](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/getting-started-with-flock-509b13b5096) [![Mimi An](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202019-08-18%20at%208.30.02%20PM.png) ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/mimi-an) [ Mimi An ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/mimi-an) [ Mimi An ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/mimi-an) [![Mimi An](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202019-08-18%20at%208.30.02%20PM.png) ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/mimi-an) TOP STORIES 1. [Getting started with Flock](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/getting-started-with-flock-509b13b5096) 13 min read [![More Power to You, Team Admins](https://blog.flock.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1DLoOn02TpblzmtBGZwWbuw.jpeg?width=710&name=1DLoOn02TpblzmtBGZwWbuw.jpeg)](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/more-power-to-you-team-admins) [Using Flock](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/topic/using-flock) [More Power to You, Team Admins](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/more-power-to-you-team-admins) [![Kesava Mandiga](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/Kesava_Photo.jpg) ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/kesava-mandiga) [ Kesava Mandiga ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/kesava-mandiga) [ Kesava Mandiga ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/kesava-mandiga) [![Kesava Mandiga](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/Kesava_Photo.jpg) ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/kesava-mandiga) TOP STORIES 1. [More Power to You, Team Admins](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/more-power-to-you-team-admins) 2. [6 Essential Flock Apps for Developers](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/6-essential-flock-apps-for-developers-a14988932fc4) 6 min read [![Your entire GitHub universe, now in Flock](https://blog.flock.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1rLlebBhCRn8duIQx6OOObw.png?width=710&name=1rLlebBhCRn8duIQx6OOObw.png)](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/your-entire-github-universe-now-in-flock-6ea6c871e0b0) [Using Flock](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/topic/using-flock) [Your entire GitHub universe, now in Flock](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/your-entire-github-universe-now-in-flock-6ea6c871e0b0) [![Flock Editorial Team](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/09%20flock-logo-notext.png) ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/flock-editorial-team) [ Flock Editorial Team ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/flock-editorial-team) [ Flock Editorial Team ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/flock-editorial-team) [![Flock Editorial Team](https://blog.flock.com/hubfs/09%20flock-logo-notext.png) ](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/author/flock-editorial-team) TOP STORIES 1. [Your entire GitHub universe, now in Flock](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/your-entire-github-universe-now-in-flock-6ea6c871e0b0) 2. [Audio calling and conferencing now in Flock!](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/bridge-the-gap-voice-calling-and-conferencing-now-in-flock-a040bc5a9815) 3. [Getting started with Notes and Code snippets](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/getting-started-notes-and-code-snippets-74bb5204b62b) 3 min read [Subscribe](https://blog.flock.com/usingflock/team-messaging-101-99e0ec9a9a66#scroll-to-subscribe) ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1550869201801525&ev=PageView&noscript=1)