Effective Emojis in SMS Campaigns
TL;DR:
- Stick to one or two emojis per SMS to avoid looking spammy
- Choose emojis that match your brand's tone and personality
- Place emojis strategically to highlight offers or grab attention
- Test different approaches with audience segments before rolling out
- Remember that emoji effectiveness varies between demographics
Adding emojis to your SMS campaigns can boost engagement, but only when done right. Get it wrong and your messages look unprofessional or cluttered.
Choosing the Right Emojis
The emojis you pick need to fit your brand's personality. If you run a playful, casual business, emojis probably work well. If you're a law firm or financial services company, you'll want to be much more selective.
Think about what each emoji communicates. A fire emoji works for flash sales, but might confuse people in other contexts. A tick mark suggests verification or completion. Keep it simple and relevant.
Brand Alignment
Your emoji choices should feel natural for your brand. A children's toy shop can get away with more colourful, playful emojis than an accountancy firm. When in doubt, err on the side of caution.
Strategic Placement
Don't scatter emojis randomly through your message. Use them to draw attention to specific parts, like:
- At the start to grab attention
- Next to your call-to-action
- To highlight special offers or deadlines
One well-placed emoji often works better than several scattered ones.
Testing Your Approach
Different audiences respond differently to emojis. What works for 20-something customers might not work for business professionals in their 50s.
Start with small test segments before committing to emojis across your entire list. Run A/B tests comparing messages with and without emojis to see what gets better results.
Audience Segmentation
If you have different customer segments, test emojis separately with each group. You might find that emojis work brilliantly with one segment but hurt your results with another.
Track your open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates to see the real impact. Don't just assume emojis are helping without checking the data.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Overusing emojis is the biggest mistake. Messages packed with emojis look unprofessional and can trigger spam filters.
Using inappropriate emojis for your context is another issue. A laughing emoji might seem friendly, but could be misinterpreted if you're discussing serious topics.
Some emojis display differently across different devices and platforms. What looks like a simple smiley face on your phone might appear as a question mark on someone else's.
FAQs
Can emojis be added to all SMS messages?
Most SMS platforms support emojis, but they might display differently depending on the recipient's device. Always test how your messages appear across different phones.
Is there a limit to how many emojis can be included in an SMS message?
There's no technical limit, but stick to one or two for professional communications. More than that and you risk looking unprofessional.
Do emojis work well across all business types and demographics?
No. Emojis work better for some businesses and audiences than others. Always test with your specific audience before making assumptions.
Jargon Buster
Emojis: Small digital icons used to express ideas or emotions in text messages and digital communications.
A/B Testing: Sending two different versions of a message to see which performs better.
SMS: Short Message Service – the technical name for text messaging.
Wrap-up
Emojis can make your SMS campaigns more engaging, but they're not automatically better. The key is using them strategically and sparingly.
Test different approaches with your audience, keep track of what works, and always prioritise clarity over creativity. A simple, clear message often beats a cluttered one full of emojis.
Learn about QuickSMS: https://www.quicksms.com/