Getting started with Slack Connect

Two chat boxes shaped as puzzle pieces fitting into one another with purple accents

0 min read

Why use Slack Connect?

Designed to replace email—or however you collaborate with external organizations, customers and clients—Slack Connect makes the work that happens with outside partners faster, more productive and more secure.

4x
Faster deal cycles for a sales team working with clients
50%
Reduction in weekly meetings for a technical team working with third party contractors
2x
Decreased turnaround time for creative reviews and approvals for a marketing team and creative agency.

For the most part, working in channels or exchanging direct messages will look and feel just like the Slack you’re already used to. But in Slack Connect, you’ll be communicating with stakeholders from different companies. Everyone can discuss work, share files and drive business results in a shared space.

Book a free 20-minute call with a Slack expert to help you get started working with your external partners in Slack.

Thousands of companies already connect and collaborate in Slack Connect

We hear back from our customers that we’re like an extension of their team, and part of that feeling definitely comes from the fact that we use Slack.
Kami RicheyDirector of Customer Experience, FastlyFastly Customer Story

How to get started with Slack Connect

Just like with Slack, you can choose to use either direct messages or channels to communicate.

If you are working with one other person—say on a contract or proposal—send them an invite to a direct message. You’ll be able to start messaging in Slack as soon as your partner accepts.
If you need to work with more than one person—perhaps on a longer term initiative or campaign—you can send an invite to collaborate in a channel by following the steps below. Depending on your settings, the invitation may need to go through admin approval.

1. Create the channel

Click the + button next to Channels in your sidebar. Name the channel, and click Create.

Animated gif showing a cursor mark creating a new channel in Slack

2. Send the invite

Follow the prompt to share the channel outside your workspace. Send your partner an email invite right from Slack, or copy the link provided and email the invite directly.

Animated gif showing a cursor mark copy an invitation link in Slack and pasting it in an email

3. Wait for your partner to accept

Pour yourself a cup of tea. Once your partner clicks the link, they’ll be taken back to Slack, where they can accept the invite and set up the channel on their end.

Animated gif showing a cursor mark click on an invitation link in an email, which takes it to Slack to accept the invitation

4. Get admin approval

Depending on your settings, the invitation will be sent to an admin on both teams for approval. Admins can manage channels invitations by clicking on their workspace name > Administration > Manage shared channels.

Animated gif showing a cursor mark approve a pending request to share a channel in Slack

Still need some guidance?

Take a look at this video where we walk you through each step.

Get started

Join the network of global companies collaborating together in Slack Connect.

Learn more about the benefits of using Slack to work with external partners
To share a channel, you’ll need to be on a paid plan. For more info, check out our pricing and plans.