Every person has a wide range of emotions, but how do you convey those in digital messages? Enter the emoji 🤩!
Ever since the first emoji was created in 1999, these tiny images have taken the digital world by storm. In 2010, Unicode adopted the emoji as a universally accepted language for instant messaging while allowed Apple to create the first emoji keyboard for iPhones in 2011. Since then, these icons have grown into 2,823 different types ranging from smilies, people, animals and colorful hearts.
Today, emojis are used not just in instant messaging. They have made their way into email marketing, digital advertisements and social media posts. So, what are some best practices of how your business can use emojis in your marketing efforts? Here are a few of our best practices:
Enhance not confuse. 😕
Emojis are meant to enhance the emotion of your messaging. Ask yourself, does this emoji complement the message I am trying to send? If you feel like it doesn’t, you’re probably right. Confusing your consumer is the last thing you want to do so it is best to keep the emojis simple and complimentary to your message.
Is it a good time to use one? 🤔
Some messages need to be sent with a serious tone. You would not want to use an emoji in a public apology about a recent mistake your company made or with anything controversial among your consumers.
The force is not necessary with this one. 😎
Emojis should feel natural when they show up in content. For example, in text messages, people may use a smile 😁 for when they are excited about something and an eye roll for when they are annoyed 🙄. You wouldn’t want to use a face that doesn’t convey the right emotion with the content you are creating. Think; don’t force!
Stay on brand. 👍
Use emojis relevant to your brand, and there are TONS to choose from. From shoes to animals to food, there is something relevant for your business. For example, if your business is a fitness brand, you can use emojis like 💪for a #fitnessfriday workout. Using the same emojis for your brand establishes consistency and connection between your brand and consumers.
Don’t be a crazy emoji wizard. 🔮🚫
Confused? Thought so! Try to limit your emojis to 1-2 per post instead of a long stream of emojis that leave people confused about your message.
Do your research. 🤓
Know what an emoji means before you attach it to a message. Emojipedia has the correct Unicode meanings behind every emoji in their system. You can also search for the idea you are trying to convey to see if there is an emoji out there to match it.
Placement, placement, placement! 🏘️
Which looks better?
- The soccer game begins at 1 p.m. today! Be there or be Square. ⚽◼️⏰
- The ⚽game begins at 1 p.m. today! Be there or be ◼️.
Always think about where you are placing your emoji. Limit yourself to 1-2 emojis or replace words for emojis if you believe your target audience will understand the message.
Have fun with it. 🤪
Emojis are a wonderful tool to use to bring fun and excitement into your content. As long as you use them in the correct manner, they can enhance your content and make it fun to read.
