The use of emojis is on the rise. Our analysis revealed that in the first half of 2023, emojis garnered 7.5 billion mentions, marking a 30% increase from the previous six months.

Emojis are everywhere, aren’t they?

It’s no surprise – our brains are wired to prefer visual content. Research shows that we retain information better when visuals are involved. Visual aids are more memorable than text alone.

Social media platforms prioritize visual content because it drives the most engagement. Emojis provide an easy way for marketers to share visual content without needing animation, illustration, or photography.

And it works. Industry studies found that:

• Using emojis in tweets can increase Twitter engagement by over 25%
• Instagram engagement rate increased by 48% due to the use of emojis
• Facebook posts with emojis received 57% more likes and 33% more comments and shares

If you’re excited to start incorporating emojis into your marketing, keep reading.

6 Reasons Why Emojis Belong in Your Marketing

1. Emojis Make You Relatable 🤤🥵💪

According to a recent study, 58% of consumers are more likely to open emails with emojis in the subject line, and 64% of emoji users are more likely to open emails or notifications containing their favorite emoji.

Emojis have become an integral part of how your audience communicates. Speaking their language helps leave a lasting impact.

2. Emojis Humanize Your Brand 👵🏼🧕🏼🤰🏼👦🏾

Building stronger relationships on social media starts with showing your audience that there are real people behind the screen. Emojis encourage emotional reactions and break the monotony of business speak, helping you engage with your audience on a meaningful level.

3. They Draw Attention to Your Text 🚀

Emojis add personality to your text and provide a contextual understanding of emotions that text-only posts might lack. Think of emojis as the online equivalent of body language and social cues in face-to-face communication.

4. Emojis Show Empathy ❤️🫶🙌

An Adobe report found that 88% of global emoji users feel more empathetic toward someone using an emoji. Emojis lend emotional context to your messaging and help show empathy, which is why brands often use them in push notifications, social media posts, and customer service emails.

5. Emojis Break Language Barriers 🌎🤝🏽

Emojis serve as a universal language, bridging communication gaps across cultures. Brands using emojis on social media can resonate with more consumer groups, transcending language barriers. However, it’s important to consider how emojis translate across different cultures.

6. Emojis Connect with Millennials and Gen Z

Emojis help you speak your customers’ language, which is especially important if your customer base includes Millennials and Gen Z. Using Brandwatch Consumer Research, we analyzed emoji usage between December 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023. Our Social Panels showed mixed emoji usage across generations.

Emojis can enhance your marketing strategy by making your brand more relatable, human, and engaging.

Keep in mind that the preferred emojis and their meanings vary significantly between generations. For instance, Millennials often use the laugh-cry emoji (😂), while Gen Z considers it outdated and prefers the loudly crying face (😭) instead. Be mindful of these differences and tailor your messaging accordingly.

Using emojis effectively in your marketing can help you:

• Make your tweets stand out
• Engage with your audience
• Appear more relatable
• Showcase the human side of your brand
• Shine on social media 💥