Emojis make the world go ‘round nowadays. If you’ve read our series on emojis, you’ll know that while their inclusion does increase your likeability, emojis can sometimes have negative perceptions, according to some research.
Why do brands use emojis? Because emojis are the so-called ‘universal language’ now.
If you’re eager to explore the world of branding emojis but you aren’t sure which ones to use, you’ve landed on the right article.
In today’s blog post, I’ll show you the most popular branding emojis and how to use them in your campaigns.
1. Dollar

Let’s be real, everyone is motivated by a healthy bottom line, which is why the dollar emoji is such a popular selection on the emoji keyboard.
If you’re involved in finance, such as a bank or accounting firm, this emoji, as well as other money-related branding emojis, will be a familiar sight to you.
The dollar emoji also comes in handy for companies outside of the financial sphere trying to showcase an incentivizing sale.
2. Fire
The fire emoji rarely means the literal symbol that it is.
Rather, it means that something is hot, i.e., that people can’t stop talking about it.
Whenever you drop an epic new service or info product that you’re excited to promote, this would be the emoji to use in association with it.
Fire emoji is one of the most popular emojis used by both individuals and businesses.
Read also: 12 Emojis You Thought You Knew and Their Actual Meaning
3. Growth

The growth chart is one of several charts further back in the emoji keyboard.
You might be surprised to see this on the list, as your thoughts would be: who even bothers with those branding emojis?
But nope, that’s not the case!
If you want to indicate growth of any kind, this chart with the positive red upward line will surely do just that.
Read also: 10 Creative Sales Memes to Help You Chuckle and Sell More!
4. Pumpkin

Okay, so the pumpkin really comes in vogue around the fall, or in the leadup to the fall around late August.
If your company sells anything pumpkin spice or offers Halloween décor, this is an emoji you can rely on heavily between the end of the summer through November.
Even companies without any association with the spooky season can pull this emoji out through October to get everyone in the spirit.
After that, it’s time to retire the pumpkin until next year.
Read also: 10 Advertising Emojis To 10X Your Conversion Rates
5. Crossed Fingers

When someone crosses their fingers for you, it means they’re wishing you luck.
Thus, many branding and marketing firms have chosen to use the crossed fingers emoji to generate or conjure luck.
If you add the sparkle emoji to the crossed fingers, there’s just something even luckier about it, wouldn’t you say?
Enhance your customer service communication with emojis – explore our comprehensive guide now!
6. Sunshine

Who doesn’t love seeing the sun? The sunlight provides vitamin D, which has proven benefits on our mood, making us happier.
Even if you’re cooped up in an office all day, seeing the sunshine emoji might put a smile on your face.
There are two variations of the sunshine emoji to choose from. One is a representation of the sunshine as weather and the other has a face.
You should split-test both of these branding emojis to see which will get the better reaction among your audience.
Read also: Emoji Marketing: New Marketing Trend — Make Your Business Memorable
7. Ring

The ring emoji works better in some industries than others.
For example, if you work in anything related to weddings, this is an emoji you’ll use all the time.
Seeing the ring emoji makes it clear that wedding bells are in the air!
Even if your company doesn’t do wedding planning, catering, photography, or anything related to weddings, the ring is seen as a luxurious emoji that can indicate opulence if used contextually.
Read also: 11 Email Memes For Marketers
8. Thumbs Up

Do you want to inspire confidence in someone’s purchasing decision or even their choice to click an ad and opt in?
The thumbs-up emoji will be your new best friend.
This emoji is full of nothing but positive sentiment, and its meaning is widely understood.
Be sure to use it to your advantage.
Read also: Emoji with Symbols – Dress Up Your Marketing Messages
9. Rocket

If you don’t quite like the idea of using a literal growth chart to indicate the growth or popularity of a product or service, the rocket can be used in the same vein.
The rocket is aiming up and taking off to its destination, showcasing that everything is on an upward trajectory.
Read also: 9 Types Of Branding And What They Really Mean
10. Smile

Of course, no list of branding emojis would be complete without some variation of the smiley or smile emoji.
It’s by far the most classic emoji and likely always will be.
Everyone knows what it means (happiness), so you can use it in email subject lines, in place of words in your social media post, or elsewhere in your branding campaign — and your audience will get what you’re trying to convey.
Read also: Emojis in Social Media Marketing: Some Useful Tips
11. Star

The star is a rather subtle emoji that companies use all the time.
You can incorporate it to indicate a special offer, a VIP product or service, or the like.
Just don’t overuse the emoji, as then it’s not special anymore.
12. Black Sunglasses Emoji

Another cool branding emoji is the sunglass emoji.
The black sunglasses emoji can slot into many branding campaigns as well.
Plus, this emoji gives off an effortless sense of cool with its smiling face and dark shades.
If you have a cool offer for your audience, this is the emoji to use!
Read also: Shrug Emoji: A Quick Tutorial for Fun Marketing [Short Article]
Conclusion — Our Take on Branding Emojis
Your branding campaign could probably use more emojis, and the 12 that we highlighted today are the top ones to use.
Including emojis as part of your marketing strategy may give your campaigns a more personal touch — and may even improve engagement and help you target your customers better.
That said, you can’t merely select one because you like its look; it has to be a relevant emoji. It has to fit into your message and enhance the point you’re trying to make, not detract from it.
Good luck!🤞