What Are Slack Templates? Everything You Need to Know

What are Slack templates?

Slack templates are your shortcut to getting things done faster and with less hassle. Think of them as ready-made toolkits that bring together everything you need — like canvases, lists, and workflows — all in a convenient, easy-to-use format right within your Slack channels. 

Instead of building out every step from scratch, you can pick a template that matches your task, fill in the details, and get started right away.

These templates are designed to handle the everyday tasks that keep teams moving — like launching new projects, onboarding new team members, or gathering feedback. By taking care of the setup work, templates let you skip the busywork and focus on what truly matters: collaborating, creating, and achieving your goals.

Key benefits of Slack templates:

• Save time: No need to build channels or workflows from the ground up.
• Stay organized: Everything you need is in one place — canvases, lists, and workflows.
• Improve consistency: Templates ensure tasks are completed the same way every time.

Slack templates help take care of the small but necessary tasks, so you can focus on getting more important work done.

Types of Slack templates

Slack templates come in different types to fit a variety of tasks. Each type of template uses specific tools to make work easier and more organized. The main types of Slack templates include canvas templates, list templates, and workflow templates.

1. Slack canvas templates

Canvases are like digital documents that live inside a Slack channel. They help teams keep notes, documents, and important information in one place. With Canvas templates, you can easily set up project briefs, meeting notes, or onboarding checklists.

Example uses:

• Project overview canvas: Keep track of project goals, deadlines, and resources.
• Meeting notes canvas: Share agendas, notes, and action items after meetings.

2. Slack list templates

Lists are used to track tasks, to-dos, and other important details. List templates provide a ready-to-use structure for organizing and managing tasks in a clear and simple way.

Example uses:

• Task tracker list: Keep track of who is responsible for each task and its status.
• Onboarding checklist list: Ensure new team members complete all necessary steps.

3. Slack workflow templates

Slack workflows help automate repetitive tasks, like sending reminders or updating project statuses. Workflow templates give you a pre-built sequence of steps that save time and reduce manual work.

Example uses:

• Daily stand-up workflow: Automatically prompt team members to share updates each morning.
• Feedback request workflow: Send reminders to collect feedback at the end of a project.

You can combine these canvases, lists, and workflows to create a simple and effective way to handle routine tasks.

How to get started with Slack templates

Slack templates are designed to make setting up new channels and processes quick and easy. Instead of creating everything step-by-step, templates give you a ready-to-use setup that includes canvases, lists, and workflows. 

Here’s how they work:

1. Creating a channel with a template

When you need to start a new project or process, you can create a channel using a template in just a few steps:

1. Click More in the sidebar.

2. Select Templates to browse the template gallery.
3. Pick a template that fits your task (e.g., Project Starter Kit).
4. Slack will create the channel with pre-built canvases, lists, and workflows.
5. Add the final details and invite your team members.

2. Adding a template to an existing channel

You can also add templates to channels that you’ve already created. This allows you to enhance your current workflows without starting over. Simply:

1. Open the channel where you want to add a template.
2. Click on the three dots at the top of the channel to access the Templates.

3. Select the template and Slack will add the canvases, lists, and workflows automatically.

3. Customizing templates

Once the template is set up, you can customize it to fit your needs. For example:

• Update canvases: Add your own documents, notes, or instructions.
• Modify lists: Change tasks or reorder items to match your workflow.

Edit workflows: Adjust automated steps, like reminders or notifications.

Popular Slack templates for different use cases

Slack offers a variety of templates to help teams handle everyday tasks. These templates cover common activities like project management, onboarding, and collecting feedback. 

Here are some of the most useful Slack templates to choose from:

• Team support
• New hire onboarding
• External partner starter kit
• Marketing campaign starter kit
• Time off request process.

When to Use Slack Templates: Best practices

For tasks you repeat often

Slack templates are perfect for tasks you find yourself doing over and over again. If you regularly set up project channels, run team meetings, or onboard new team members, templates can save you time. Instead of starting from scratch, you can use a ready-made template and focus on the actual work.

To keep processes consistent

Consistency matters, but it can be hard to achieve when everyone does things their own way.

When different people handle tasks in different ways, things can get messy. Templates help everyone follow the same process, making work smoother and easier to manage.

For instance, using a feedback template means responses are always collected and organized in the same way.

To automate routine tasks

Low-value tasks like sending reminders or updating lists can take up more time than they should. Slack templates, especially those with workflows, can automate these small tasks for you. This gives you more time to focus on the work that really matters.

When you need custom solutions

Not every template in Slack’s gallery will fit your team perfectly—and that’s okay! You can easily customize templates to match how your team works. Add instructions, reorder tasks, or tweak workflows to make the template truly yours.

FAQs About Slack Templates

1. How do Slack templates make project management easier?

Slack templates streamline project management by giving you ready-to-use tools like task lists, project briefs, and automated updates. Instead of spending time setting everything up, you can launch a project in minutes and keep your team aligned from the start.

2. Can I use Slack templates for cross-team collaboration?

Absolutely! Slack templates work well for cross-team projects. For example, you can create a shared channel with a Project Starter Kit template. This ensures everyone—no matter which team they’re on—has access to the same information, tasks, and workflows.

3. Are Slack templates useful for small teams?

Yes, even small teams can benefit from Slack templates. Templates help keep tasks organized, reduce repetitive work, and make sure everyone follows the same process. They’re especially helpful for teams that juggle multiple roles and responsibilities.

4. What’s the difference between a Slack template and a workflow?

A Slack template is a complete setup that can include canvases, lists, and workflows. A workflow, on its own, is just an automated process that handles tasks like sending reminders or collecting updates. Templates bring these tools together for a more complete solution.

5. Are there industry-specific Slack templates?

Slack’s template library includes options that fit many industries, like marketing, engineering, and customer support. You can also create custom templates tailored to your specific industry’s needs. Feel free to experiment!

6. Who can you Slack templates?

Slack templates are available to all members by default on paid plans.

It’s a wrap

Slack templates help you get started quickly, stay organized, and reduce routine tasks. They’re easy to use, flexible, and designed to make your work life simpler. Try them out and see how they can make your team’s work more efficient and less stressful.

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