Finding the balance for using emojis in corporate communications

There's a fine line between using emojis in a visually appealing way and making your text look unserious by using them incorrectly. Check out our tips to find the optimal balance here.

by

Leonie Berghoff

February 1, 2021

A laughing emoji stimulates the same areas in the human brain as seeing a real person laugh. (Owen Churches et al.) Probably everyone knows it: emojis simply make a text seem friendlier, no matter whether private messages or also description texts in social media. When using emojis for corporate communications, there are a few things to keep in mind. So, when used correctly, emojis can make your social media post seem more engaging and friendly. In addition, emojis immediately jump out at you in a mass of text. On the one hand, this increases the likelihood that the text will be read and also ensures that the content remains in the memory for longer.

We have established three rules that help to use emojis correctly to generate the highest possible interaction.

  1. Use single emojis

You should avoid using a string of emojis, as this quickly comes across as unserious. Instead, use individual emojis after appropriate sentences (after the punctuation mark.). You can also put emojis before a sentence instead of bullet points.

  1. Always choose emojis that match the content

Since you should use emojis sparingly, use only those that fit the content exactly. This way, you can ensure that the emojis clarify your message and make it stick in your mind longer.

  1. Adapt the number of emojis to the platform you are using

Our recommendations (should depend on the length of the post):

LinkedIn: use sparingly (2-5 emojis).

Facebook: Feel free to use one more emoji than on Linkedin (3-6 emojis)

Instagram: More personal platform = more emojis! (6-7 emojis)