Business Emojis: How to Use Them Effectively in Marketing

Have you ever noticed how often emojis pop up in your daily life? Texting family and friends, chatting with colleagues, posting on social media—they’re everywhere. 

However, did you know that you can use them not only in casual conversations but also as a powerful tool in marketing? Surprisingly, emojis can be a fresh add-on to your business communication and boost social media engagement. Curious to explore the world of emojis for marketing? Let’s dive in!

 

What Is an Emoji? 

An emoji is a small digital icon that represents humans’ emotions, facial expressions, ideas, and objects. It’s commonly used in digital communication alongside or in place of text. They cover a wide range of categories—emotions, objects, professions, food, animals, and more.

 

Why Use Emojis in Marketing?

🌍 Reach a wider audience

Emojis are a great way to communicate for customers and brands alike. Adding them to your social media posts can make your content more eye-catching, helping your message get noticed in crowded feeds. 

Studies show that 51% of customers are more likely to engage with a brand’s posts that include emojis. Don’t miss the chance to connect with your customers and attract new followers by using business emojis.

❓ Avoid misunderstandings

Emoji is a universal language of communication, cutting through language barriers. While a few may have different interpretations, most are easily understood across cultures. When used thoughtfully, business emojis can reinforce your brand’s message, even for those who may not speak your language.

🙋 Humanize your brand 

Nowadays, brands prefer to use emojis in their marketing messages because they help make them look more friendly and reliable. 

⚠️ Use Emojis Wisely

While emojis can enhance your messaging, overusing them can backfire, leading to confusion or appearing unprofessional. Avoid them in sensitive contexts, like crisis communication, and stick to well-known, universally understood emojis to ensure your message lands as intended. 

 

How to Choose the Right Business Emojis 

Using the right emojis can enhance your marketing and help your brand connect with audiences in a more relatable way. But to make emojis work for you, it’s important to choose them carefully. Here are some practical tips to guide you:

✅ Stick to Your Brand Image

With hundreds of emojis available, it might be tempting to use them all. But brand consistency is key. Choose business emojis that reflect your brand’s style, voice, and identity.

Here are a few emoji ideas for different industries:

• Beauty brands might use emojis like 💄💋✨ to highlight their products and reinforce a glamorous, playful tone.
• Tech companies often benefit from a more professional feel, using emojis like 💻📱⚙️ that reflect innovation and digital expertise.
• Travel agencies can embrace their adventurous spirit with ✈️🏝️🗺️ to evoke excitement and wanderlust in their audience.

🌐 Avoid Misinterpretation

Emojis can be interpreted differently depending on cultural context. What seems friendly in one region might be confusing—or even offensive—in another.

Take the waving hand emoji (👋), for instance. In most places, it simply means “hello” or “goodbye.” But in China, it’s often used to signal the end of a relationship or friendship.

Similarly, while the thumbs up emoji (👍) is generally seen as positive, in countries like Greece or across parts of the Middle East, it can be interpreted as rude or offensive.

 

Examples of Business Emojis in Marketing

#1 Social media

Social media emojis can significantly boost your engagement. Studies show that Instagram posts with emojis see 48% more engagement. Also, posts using emojis have a 33% higher share and comment rate. If you're running a campaign or limited-time offer, using promotion emojis like ⏰📢🛍️ can help highlight your message and draw more attention to your sales content.

Businesses often opt to use emojis on their social media pages, even if they don’t use them elsewhere. For example, Hootsuite, a well-known social media management platform, consistently uses emojis in its posts to add personality and draw attention.

Image source: Facebook

 

#2 Email

Emojis in email marketing can also work really well. Research shows that emails with emojis in the subject line are 56% more likely to be opened than those with plain text.

You can use emojis in both the subject line and the body of the email to make it more eye-catching and engaging.

A fun example: Penguin Random House used emojis creatively for World Emoji Day (July 17th), designing a playful and memorable email campaign that stood out in inboxes.

Image source: Really Good Emails

 

#3 Push notifications

Short and attention-grabbing by nature, push notifications benefit from a sprinkle of emojis. A well-placed emoji can increase engagement and help break the monotony of text, making your message more compelling, especially on mobile devices, where space is limited.

Image source: PushWoosh

 

#4 Ads

In the crowded world of digital advertising, business emojis can help your message stand out. While you should use them carefully and align them with your brand tone, emojis in Google Ads or Facebook Ads can draw attention and boost click-through rates. Just be sure to test and monitor their effectiveness with your audience.

Image source: WordStream

#5 Flipbooks

If you want to implement emojis in your marketing creatively and wow your audience, you might try flipbooks. They’re digital, interactive, and bring a modern touch to your documents. All you need to do is convert your PDF into a flipbook and share it with your audience any way you want: via social media, email, or message.

For example, Finolhu Resort created a vibrant travel magazine in the form of a flipbook, filled with colorful design elements, emojis, and even animated GIFs. As you flip through the pages, it’s clear that this playful and engaging digital experience stands out far beyond a traditional static PDF.

Finolhu Resort Guide

FAQ

What is emoji marketing?

Emoji marketing is a creative and effective way to communicate with your audience. By incorporating carefully chosen business emojis that align with your brand identity, you can make your content more engaging, relatable, and attention-grabbing, helping you reach a wider audience and boost interaction across various marketing channels.

Do emojis work in email marketing?

Absolutely! Emojis in subject lines or the body of an email can help your message stand out in a crowded inbox. They draw the reader’s eye and add a friendly, visual element to otherwise text-heavy content. Just make sure to use emojis that are relevant to your message, and don’t overdo it. Overuse or unrelated emojis can confuse readers and make your subject lines harder to understand.

Do emojis increase engagement?

Yes, and the numbers back it up. Several studies have shown that adding emojis to your content, especially in social media and email marketing, can significantly improve engagement rates. That’s why more brands are embracing emojis as part of their communication strategy—to add personality, build connection, and create a more approachable tone.

How to use emojis in social media?

Incorporating emojis into your social media posts is a great way to boost visibility and interaction. You can use them to emphasize key points, add personality, or break up long text.