Definition
Message, Chatter is a feature within Salesforce Chatter, the platform's built-in social collaboration tool. It enhances team communication by enabling users to share updates, collaborate on records, and stay informed about important changes in their organization.
Real-World Example
At their company, a data analyst at MarketPulse leverages Message, Chatter to uncover trends and patterns hidden in their CRM data. By configuring Message, Chatter, they create visualizations that tell a clear story about business performance. The executive team uses these insights to adjust strategy mid-quarter and the company exceeds its revenue target by 12%.
Why Message, Chatter Matters
Chatter Messages in Salesforce are private, direct communications between users within the Chatter platform. Unlike Chatter posts on record feeds or group feeds that are visible to anyone with access, Chatter Messages are one-to-one or small group conversations that only the participants can see. They function similarly to direct messages in platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams. Users can send text, share files, and include links in private messages. Chatter Messages are accessible through the Messages tab in the Chatter section and appear in the global Chatter notification feed.
As organizations grow, Chatter Messages become an important channel for sensitive internal communications that should not be visible on public record feeds. Sales reps use them to discreetly ask managers for deal guidance, HR teams communicate about confidential matters, and executives discuss strategy without broadcasting to the entire organization. However, Chatter Messages have limitations: they do not support the same rich formatting as Chatter posts, they are not searchable by admins through standard reports (though they are accessible via the API for compliance), and they do not integrate with Einstein Activity Capture. Organizations in regulated industries should be aware that Chatter Messages may need to be included in eDiscovery and data retention policies.
How Organizations Use Message, Chatter
- MarketPulse Analytics — MarketPulse Analytics' sales team uses Chatter Messages for real-time deal coaching. When a rep encounters an unexpected objection during a call, they message their manager directly through Chatter for talking points. The manager responds within minutes without the conversation appearing on the Opportunity feed where the broader team or partners might see it.
- Beacon Healthcare Group — Beacon Healthcare's HR team uses Chatter Messages for confidential employee relations discussions. When a manager needs guidance on a performance issue, they message the HR business partner directly. This keeps sensitive conversations out of public Chatter groups and ensures only the involved parties have access to the discussion thread.
- Stratos Engineering — Stratos Engineering's project managers use Chatter Messages to coordinate with external consultants who have limited Salesforce access. The PMs send daily briefings and file attachments via Chatter Message rather than email, keeping all communications within Salesforce and creating an auditable trail. This eliminated the 'lost in email' problem that previously caused 2-3 missed deadlines per quarter.