It’s #WorldEmojiDay on Wednesday, so this week we thought we’d explore how emojis have become more than just playful icons, and how they can be used for effective business communication 🤓
Whatever your personal feelings are towards these innocuous little icons, the stats (as shared on our social media yesterday) all demonstrate that they are a huge benefit to all forms of written communication when used correctly, and they therefore need to be embraced! 🥰
So how do we use them effectively? 🧐
📌 Adding a Personal Touch:
Emojis inject warmth and humanity into digital exchanges. A simple smiley face or thumbs up has been shown to build connection and demonstrate friendliness, especially in remote work environments where face-to-face interactions are limited.
In addition, emojis are generally used to express thoughts and feelings, which helps to reduce misunderstandings, and clarify meaning and sentiment behind more formal email communication.
📌 Enhancing Clarity:
Following on from the above, tone of voice can be tricky in written communication. Emojis provide visual cues that complement text, making intentions clearer. A smiley face softens a message, while a thumbs-up quickly affirms agreement, making communications more quickly and accurately understood, and therefore more efficient.
📌 Capturing Attention:
In a world inundated with emails and messages, standing out matters. Emojis act as visual breaks in text-heavy content, making messages more engaging.
Whether in emails, messages or presentations, emojis help grab readers’ attention and enhance communication.
Bearing that in mind, how can we incorporate these into our business communications, and what are the best practices for using emojis in business?
✅ Context Matters:
Consider the location, platform and audience. While emojis are acceptable in many professional settings, you should adapt their usage based on your industry and company culture.
✅ Be Selective:
Use emojis judiciously. Overloading messages with icons can dilute their impact and appear unprofessional.
✅ Know Your Audience:
Understand your recipients. Some clients or colleagues may prefer a more formal tone, while others appreciate a friendly touch.
✅ Avoid Over-interpretation:
Emojis can be subjective. What’s playful to one person might be perceived differently by another. It’s always better to err on the side of caution.
In summary, emojis are no longer just playful icons; they’re powerful tools for effective communication. Test the theory, include a few in your next communication and see how they are received – just that balance is key so use them thoughtfully to enhance your messages without compromising professionalism 👩💻🧑💻
