Contact Methods

Your rotation schedule can be contacted in three different ways through the Tellspin Slack bot. Each method has its own advantages and use cases, allowing you to efficiently reach your on-call team members directly in Slack.

1. User Groups or Handle

User groups are the most natural way to contact your on-call rotation, as they work similar to mentioning a normal Slack user (e.g. @devs). When you mention the user group, Tellspin automatically ensures the message reaches the current person on-call.

Unfortunately, Slack doesn't allow user groups to be used with Slack Connect channels. However, you can still use @Tellspin in these channels with either the keyword or channel-based contact methods described below.

Slack limits who can use user groups by default. If you're not a Slack admin or you are using Slack on the free tier, you'll need to use a keyword or channel contact method instead.

2. Channel-Based Contact

You can scope a rotation schedule to a specific Slack channel. This method simplifies the process as you don't need to remember or include a keyword. Simply mention @Tellspin in the designated channel, and it will forward your message to the person on-call.

For example: "@Tellspin the API is down" (in your designated channel)

@Tellspin in a channel
@Tellspin in a channel

3. Keywords

Keywords provide a flexible way to contact your rotation schedule from anywhere in Slack and serve as an excellent alternative to user groups. To use this method:

  1. Send a message to @Tellspin (the Tellspin bot) in any channel
  2. Include your customized keyword
  3. The bot will automatically forward your message to the on-call user

For example: "@Tellspin oncall-dev I need help with the database"

Using Keywords with @Tellspin
Using Keywords with @Tellspin

Using Slack Connect or shared channels

Tellspin works seamlessly in Slack Connect channels (channels shared between organizations). While user groups aren't available in Slack Connect, you can use either keywords or channel-based contact methods to reach your on-call team:

  • Set up channel-based contact for your Slack Connect channel and contact @Tellspin Slack bot in that channel
  • Use "@Tellspin your-keyword" in any Slack Connect channel

This ensures you can maintain your on-call workflows even when collaborating with external organizations.

Choosing the Right Contact Method

  • User Groups: Best for teams with Slack admin privileges or paid Slack plans
  • Keywords: Ideal for teams on free Slack plans or those wanting flexibility across channels
  • Channel-Based: Perfect for dedicated support or on-call channels where all messages should reach the on-call person

Choose the contact method that best fits your team's workflow and Slack workspace setup.

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