Email subject emoji: Should you use them to increase your open rates?

Inboxes are flooded with emails. Every day, people get dozens of messages asking them to take action. This means that the subject line is really important for getting your message across. You need to grab people’s attention quickly, make them curious, or make them feel something in just a few words.
Using emojis in email is a great way to stand out. But are they actually effective? And most importantly, are they safe for sending emails?

Why do emojis in emails get noticed?

Smileys are a great way to liven up your email subject lines. They’re eye-catching and can convey a lot in a short amount of time. Various studies found that 56% of brands using emoticons in their email subject line saw an uptick in open rates. A well-placed emoji can be the difference between an email marketing being opened and ignored.

The benefits of emoticons for increasing open rates

Emojis are a great way to make your email subject lines more engaging and personal. For example:

Valentine’s Day: A heart 💝 immediately evokes love.
Summer: A sun ☀️ or sunglasses 😎 create a summer mood.
Christmas: A fir tree 🎄 or a gift 🎁 instantly recalls the holidays.

Using these symbols helps you connect with your readers emotionally, which can increase the open rates of your email marketing.

The risks of using emojis

However, there are some risks associated with using emojis. Using them too much or in the wrong way can get your emails filtered as spam. Some email providers view excessive use of emoticons as a potential sign of spam. For instance, 💸 or 🔥 are frequently linked with spam tactics. It could damage your reputation as a sender and make it harder for your emails to be delivered.

What effect do emojis have on the deliverability of work emails?

If you want your professional emails to reach the main inbox, you’ve got to make sure they’re deliverable. Email providers like Gmail and Outlook look closely at email subject lines. If your subject line is inappropriate or excessive, they’ll probably flag it as spam. Spam filters are sensitive to anything that’s out of the ordinary, and emojis can be seen as such. So it’s important to choose your emoticons carefully.

Keep your email marketing from ending up in spam folders by using emojis

To keep your emails from ending up as spam, use them moderately and relevantly. Use neutral, contextual symbols. For instance:

A medal emoji 🏅 to celebrate a success.
A flag 🇫🇷 on a national holiday.

Try to avoid using too many flashy or spammy emojis like 💰 or 🔥. Think about whether you need a smiley face in your message and who you’re sending it to.

Tips for choosing the right subject lines emoji

How to choose and use them

Ensure relevance : Pick ones that clearly reflect the subject of your message. For instance, a Christmas tree emoji 🎄 or a heart emoji 💝 on Valentine’s Day will make your email subject more relevant to the context, and therefore more relevant to your recipients.
Stay moderate : Using too many emojis can make your message look cluttered or spammy. It’s best to put just one well-chosen emoji in your subject line to grab attention without making the message too cluttered.
Test display on different devices : Emojis don’t always display the same way on different platforms or email clients. Double-check that your emojis are visible and correct on the main devices used by your audience. If you want to see how they’re supposed to look, check out Emojipedia.

Emojis in email: Seasonal and audience-based

Adapt them to your audience : Choose emojis that fit your audience. A young audience likes fun, expressive emojis. A professional audience prefers sober, context-appropriate emojis.
Use emojis linked to events and the season : Seasonality can reinforce the impact of your campaigns. During specific periods like Christmas, use festive icons 🎁 or 🎄. For summer, sunglasses 😎 can evoke a relaxed, summery mood, while at Easter, a bunny 🐰 emoji will be quite appropriate.

Professional email emoji examples

Best practices for using emojis :

Valentine’s Day: “💝 Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a unique gift 🎁”
Christmas: “🎄 Your Christmas gift guide – personalized ideas 🎁”
Black Friday: “🛍️ Exclusive Black Friday offers not to be missed 🏷️”
Easter: “🐣 Discover our Easter surprises – Limited offer 🐰”
Olympic Games: “🏅 Get into the Olympic spirit with our new products 🥇”
Fête Nationale: “🎆 Celebrate with our event ideas 🎇”
Summer: “☀️ Make the most of sunny days with our summer offers 🌊”

To avoid:

“💰💘 Valentine’s Day special offer – Buy now 💸”
“🎄🎁 The BEST Christmas gifts are here!!!! 🔥”
“💸 Latest CHANCES for Black Friday!!! 💥💥💥”
“🐰 Take advantage of our exceptional Easter offer 🤑”
“🏅🏅 WIN MEDALS like the pros at the Olympics 🔥”
“CELEBRATE the Fête Nationale with US! 🎆🌟🔥”
“😎🔥 Summer offer on fire!!! ☀️”

Why are emojis good for your marketing?

Emojis in email marketing make your messages more personal. They help make emails more appealing and get people to engage with them. They help create a warm, accessible brand identity. They also help you get your message across quickly, which is important in a subject line.

Emojis: simple and effective

It’s really easy to use emojis, and they work with most messaging platforms. They save space and grab attention fast. One symbol can replace several words and add a visual dimension to your message. They’re a great way to improve the performance of your campaigns, as long as you use them wisely.

Need help optimizing your e-mail campaigns?

Using emojis can help you get more people to open your emails, but it’s important to know how to use them properly to avoid getting caught in spam filters. The team at MailSoar is here to help with all your email deliverability questions. We’ll help you make your campaigns as effective as possible without damaging your reputation as a sender.