We have a question❓Have you seen all the fun, animated emojis popping up in emails lately?
It's not just a trend, it's clear people are really enjoying them! These little icons aren't just cute, they're actually super helpful. People are loving how much they add to messages, and this popularity has even led to tons of people asking how to incorporate these cool icons into their own emails.
So, due to popular demand, here's your go-to guide on using emoticons in emails. Ready to dive in? Here's what you'll discover:
- Why animated emoticons are revolutionizing email subject lines;
- How one site saw a 20% spike in open rates with emoticons;
- A super simple guide to start using emoticons today;
- A full list of emoticons you can start using right now.
Let's jump right in!
Why animated emoticons are your email's BFF
Emoticons are more than just cute, they're cognitive quick-fixes:
- Speedy recognition: Your brain processes these symbols 60,000 times faster than text. This means your email stands out in a crowded inbox, making it more likely to be opened;
- Emotional connection: Studies, like the one from Flinders University, show that emoticons evoke responses similar to seeing a human face. This makes your emails feel more personal and emotionally engaging.
From a simple smiley 🙂 to a dynamic arrow → or a heartfelt ❤, these symbols can transform your email's appeal.
Still skeptical? Consider this:
- Dating dynamics: A study by Match.com revealed that users who included emoticons in messages had more romantic success. The takeaway? Emoticons make you more likable, charming, and interesting, even in emails.
It's not just cute, It's smart
The way we access emails is shifting:
I even researched this article on my phone because, well, coffee shop life without a laptop charger happens! But here's the kicker:
- Familiar yet fresh: People are accustomed to emoticons on social apps but not in emails. This familiarity, combined with novelty in email context, makes your message stand out.
Real results: A case study
Let's talk real-world impact:
Optivo.de's experiment: Rene Kulka tested animated emoticons in email subject lines. His findings?
- A 20% increase in unique open rate;.
- It was their best performing email of the year;
- More engagement in terms of responses and comments when linked to a blog post.
All this from just adding a little animated flair to the subject line!
Ready to give your emails that extra zing? Stay tuned for how you can implement these emotive little helpers in your next email campaign!
What about the classic emojis?
Now, you might have heard mixed reviews about using emojis in emails from platforms like MailChimp, but here's the scoop:
- Emojis and engagement: Studies, like one from eConsultancy, suggest that even a simple Unicode emoji at the beginning of your email subject can spike those open rates. Imagine seeing a friendly snowman ☃️ and getting up to 65.75% more opens!
Relevance is Key: Your emoji must match your message:
Spot on:
- ♥ Save 20% This Valentine's Day
- 🍕 2-for-1 on all Pizzas this Friday
- 🎁 Here’s your free gift for subscribing!
- ✈ Win a trip to Peru!
- ⭐ You're a winner!
Off the mark:
- ⚽ Save Money On Tennis Gear This Winter
- 💊 50% Off All Guitar Lessons
- 🐍 Why Gluten Could Make Your Breath Smell…
- 🎵 What It Means When Your Husband Cheats On You
- 💄 You just won free forum access
See the difference? Also, there's chatter about using multiple emojis or getting creative with them, but the jury's still out on whether that's a winning strategy.
Research and test
Before you dive into the emoji pool:
- Know your audience: Every email list is unique. What works for one might not work for another. Here's what to consider:
- Email client: Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo? Each displays emojis differently.
- Device: Desktop or mobile? This affects how emojis appear.
Other inboxes might use a simpler, yet effective, set of emoticons.
- Segmentation: Maybe your audience uses both. Tailor your approach.
- Platform capabilities: Services like MailChimp might support smartphone-like emojis, but their appearance can vary across inboxes.
They might not appear in all inboxes yet:
But when they do, they're incredibly impressive:
- Perception: Some might see emojis as spammy or clickbait. It's crucial to gauge your audience's reaction.
Testing Ideas:
- Style: Which works better, copy-paste emojis or built-in ones?
- Context: Which subject lines do emojis enhance?
- Quantity: Is one emoji enough, or do two or three work better?
- Segmentation: Should you customize emojis for mobile vs. desktop users?
- Favorites: Which single emoji resonates most with your audience?
There are tons of ways to test, but you'll only find what works by rolling up your sleeves, sending those emails, and analyzing the results.
And now, for the smoothest segue ever, let's get into how you can actually get these emojis into your subject lines.
The super simple guide to spicing up your subject lines with emojis
Alright, enough with the theory — let's get down to business with some hands-on tips for making your email subject lines irresistible with emojis.
The unicode method ★
- What to do: These are text-based emojis, easy to use and universally compatible;
- How: Go to a Unicode emoji page or just Google "Unicode Emoticons". Pick your emoji, copy, and paste it right into your email subject line.
The animated method
- What to do: While not all email clients support them, animated emojis can be a game-changer where they do work;
- How: Check out the blog post by Rene (from our case study) for a list. Instead of copying the animation, copy the small square above it.
It'll look like a square in your subject line:
But once sent, it turns into animated ones:
The MailChimp method
- What to do: If you're using MailChimp, you're in luck because they've got their own emoji set;
- How: Start a new campaign:
Choose a Regular Campaign:
And under the smiley face tab, choose your emoji:
It's that easy!
The (Slightly) more beautiful method
- What to do: Use the visually appealing Twitter emojis for a more polished look.
- How: Simply head here, which will bring up this huge display of Emoji’s:
Then click on your chosen emoji, which opens a command box:
Copy that command and paste it into your subject line:
Conclusion
We've covered a lot about using emojis in emails, but here are the essentials:
- Emotion in motion: Emojis convey emotions like a human face. Use them to stir feelings and prompt actions;
- Mobile matters: With the shift to mobile, emojis can make your emails stand out in a familiar way;
- Relevance is king: An emoji, no matter how cute, must fit the context to boost your open rates;
- Test, test, test: Emojis are still fresh territory. Experiment to see what resonates with your audience;
- Easy peasy: Copy-pasting emojis saves time and requires no coding skills. Feel free to sprinkle them in your blog posts or tweets too!
So, what's your next move with animated emojis in your email campaigns?
