Apple is rolling out 8 new emojis, coming soon, and maybe already here.

Almost all widely used emojis come from a global standards body called the Unicode Consortium. Apple, Google, Microsoft, and others then design their own versions of those approved emojis for their platforms.

Currently, there are just over 4000 recognized emojis.

These are the winners of many polls and are highly requested. Anyone can submit an emoji proposal. Find out how here.

Do we need another face? And, why the trombone?

I suppose 'hairy creature' is the best we can do. Yeti? Sasquach? BIgfoot? Chewy?

So, what are the Top Ten?

Let's define that first. I am defining the Top Ten as the emojis most effective at providing clarity, attracting attention, and driving engagement.

In no particular order -

1. 🔥 Fire

Why it works:

• Signals urgency + trend + energy

• Acts as a scroll-stopper

• Tells the brain: “Pay attention—this is hot”

Best use: Hooks, Big insights, Momentum

2. ✅ Checkmark (this one is also great in profiles)

others used in the same way 🔹▶️➡️👉

Why it works:

• Creates clean, scannable structure

• Feels organized and credible

• Signals “this is actionable”

Best use: Lists, Frameworks, Step-by-step posts

3. 🚀 Rocket

Why it works:

• Associated with success, scaling, momentum

• Common in business culture → instantly understood

• Feeds aspirational thinking

Best use: Results, Wins, Growth narratives

4. 💡 Lightbulb

Why it works:

• Triggers the“aha” response

• Positions you as athought leader / expert

• Signals value before reading

Best use: Signaling educational content, Insights

5. ⚠️ Warning

Why it works:

• Activates loss aversion (very powerful psychologically)

• Creates immediate curiosity + tension

• Stops scrolling fast, pattern interrupt

Best use: Mistakes, Misconceptions, “Hard truths.”

6. 👇 Point Down, ⬇️🔽⏬

Why it works:

• Gives clear behavioral instruction

• Increases comment + click likelihood

• Reduces friction (“what do I do next?”)

Best use: CTAs, Comments, Links

7. 🎯 Target

What it signals: Focus, strategy, precision.

Best use: Goal-setting, Strategy posts, Execution

8. ⭐ Star

What it signals: Highlight or excellence.

Best use: Key takeaways, Featured insights

And the last two, I am including for a slightly different reason. These two are best used in personal communications on LinkedIn and in comments in the newsfeed.

The psychology behind them creates connection. I describe LinkedIn as a relationship tool, not a buy my stuff, look at me tool.

9. 🙏 Gratitude Hands

What it signals: Humility, gratitude, and appreciation.

Best use: Thanking mentors, Reflecting on opportunities

10. 😊 The Smiling Face (or my favorite 😎)

While 🔥 or ⚠️ drive attention, 😊 drives connection and response.

What it's good for:

• Increase comment likelihood

• Improve tone perception

• Reduce perceived “harshness” or authority distance

The face is the most likely to be misused / overused. Be careful with this one.

Best usage:

• 0–2 per post

• Strong in comments + DMs

• Occasional use in posts to humanize tone

• It is also the most used emoji in billing

Emojis can easily be misunderstood. They should be used with care. Please don't use them like you do on FB.

Most people either:

• ❌ Overuse emojis (looks amateur)

• ❌ Avoid them (boring, low engagement)

To summarize both this newsletter and the last one, be sure your use of emojis is -

Strategic + Intentional + Psychologically Aligned

Until next time...

Angela

Emojis look very different and sometimes unrecognizable on different platforms.

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