Social Media, inclusive of WhatsApp, is a constantly evolving form and that means staying on top of trends, terminology, and emoji use.
There are some terms and emojis you should steer clear of completely, and everything else needs to be used in moderation. Read your incoming messages to see what's being used and what's still relevant, and consider how you can sprinkle some of these into your chats.
Why use Emojis?
As a general rule, breaking down chunks of information into smaller pieces is especially useful. Using a friendly tone and reflecting an understanding back to the student can make a significant difference in engagement rates.
When sending a long message, the use of emojis is vital. They are an easy way to separate big chunks of information whilst the message remains easy to process. The average attention span of someone born into Gen Z is about 8 seconds. If your message is a slab of text, it will be harder to understand and the learner might not read your message.
So although they may seem trivial to some, they are an essential aspect of designing your conversation.
Know your audience
People respond differently to emojis across generations, so it's important to know who will be receiving your emoji. For example, if you are sending a campaign to parents or adult learners, you should limit each message to a maximum of one emoji. Also, only the most generic emojis should be used, such as a smiley or a thumbs up.
Simple, yet effective.
When contacting 16-19 year old learners, we recommend using a maximum of two emojis per message. You have more freedom with the emojis you use, but it's important not to overdo it. It will be glaringly clear if you incorporate too many emojis, so use what feels natural.
Below is a perfect example of when to use emojis;
Can I ask why you’re doing something different? 🤔
1. I just couldn’t find work in that sector
2. I’m not really interested in working in that sector
3. I wanted to gain some other professional skills and experiences 💯
4. Something else!
Although they may seem insignificant in this format, when the learner is reading the message on their phone, it makes the text easier to digest.
Make sure to use the 'Purlos Mobile' section on the right hand side of the conversation designer to view the live messaging experience for the learner.
Which Emojis should I use?
There are many emojis you can use that are inclusive and can be used to all audiences. See below for some common emojis that work for all!
For introductory messages - 👋
When asking a question - 🤔
When using positive language - 😀
When separating large chunks of text - 📚
A congratulations message - 🏆
Emojis to avoid
When using emojis, you will want to remain inclusive. Because of that, all 'human' emojis should be using the yellow skin tone. Also, you need to avoid any use of emojis that could be deemed inappropriate. See below for some common emojis that you should avoid!
Anything with hearts - 😍 💝
Hugging emojis - 🤗 🫂
Inappropriate - 🍑 🍆 👀
Anything other than yellow skin tone - 👏🏻 👏🏾
How to access the emoji keyboard
For Windows keyboards: hold the Windows logo key + . (full stop)
For Mac keyboards: hold CTRL + CMD + Space
Remember, don't underestimate the value of an emoji!
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