cricket

channels vs dms — when to use which

channels are for context. dms are for one-offs. the wrong choice clutters everyone's notifications or buries something the team needs.

3 steps~2 min
  1. 1

    use a channel when more than two people benefit

    anything about a job, a customer, or a process belongs in a channel. that way the next person who joins the team can scroll up and learn the context without a sit-down.

  2. 2

    use a dm for one-offs and personal stuff

    asking someone to grab lunch on the way back, sending a doctor's-appointment note, anything that isn't business context — dm it. don't pollute channels.

  3. 3

    convert a dm to a channel when it grows

    if a dm with one teammate has turned into ongoing project chat, copy the gist into a new channel and pull the right people in. dms don't scale to a team.

    tip

    the test: "would the next person who joins the team need to see this conversation?" if yes, it belongs in a channel. if no, it's a dm.

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