You must have seen a ton of emojis on LinkedIn by now. They pop up in your feed, in the posts, in people’s About sections, and even in their profile names. And, of course, let’s not forget all the expressive little symbols that we all add to our direct messages.
Now, there is an argument about whether emojis are professional enough to be used on a platform like LinkedIn. After all, it is meant to be a professional networking space. “Who adds emojis to business correspondence?” you might ask.
We think it’s a moot point. At the end of the day, LinkedIn is social media. Love them or hate them, the emojis are there, and they grab your attention - and everybody else’s. You might as well take advantage of that. So, our first question is:
Are emojis Ok on LinkedIn?
Short answer: yes, definitely. Longer answer: yes, they are okay to use, but their use is technically very limited. LinkedIn doesn’t natively enable adding emojis everywhere. They can be used in DMs and comments, but that's about it. If you want to utilize them in posts, tough luck.
Well, obviously, users didn’t like that, so they came up with ways to circumvent those restrictions. There are a few ways to add emojis to your LinkedIn content. Making an effort is worth it. They add character and personality to your posts and profile. To illustrate, let’s compare two About Me sections:
Which one looks better? Which one is more lively and attention-grabbing? Now, what about using emoji in a LinkedIn post? Take a look at these examples:
Even if you personally don’t like emojis from an aesthetic point of view, you have to admit they are effective attention-grabbers. Moreover, since most people are visual learners, emojis can make your posts more memorable.
Choose the right symbols to accompany your main points and they will stick to your audience’s minds better. Use emojis for expressing emotion, sprucing up your bullet points, and just overall nicer formatting.
How to add emojis to a LinkedIn post
LinkedIn exists both as a desktop-based and as a mobile app. We are going to assume that you use it on desktop when writing, formatting, and scheduling your posts, and on mobile when just casually browsing. So, our second question is how to add emojis to a LinkedIn post on the desktop.
The easiest way to go about it is to use the AuthoredUp emoji picker. This is a dedicated extension that helps you create better content and get more attention. AuthoredUp was made with LinkedIn in mind, so it is quite versatile. Besides adding emojis, you can also use it to format your content, preview what it will look like on desktop and in the app, etc. Best of all, all the emojis and symbols it uses are tested on different screens, so you can count on proper display no matter the device.
Since it’s an extension, it is convenient and quick. It takes care of the technical side of things. You only need to consider the best practices of LinkedIn emoji use. Here they are:
- Take the time to select the right emoji for the activity, sector, or theme you are writing about. Random, unrelated emoticons will do more harm than good.
- Place them at the end of your sentences for the strongest content boost. If you are writing in English, you should know that its grammar naturally puts the most important sentence elements at the end. So, if you place your emojis at the end of the sentence too, they will feel more significant and more memorable.
- Make them flow naturally. Don’t shove symbols in the middle of the line for no reason. It disrupts the reading experience, feels confusing, and can annoy and alienate your audience.
How to add symbols to LinkedIn posts
There are other symbols in addition to emojis that you might want to use. Let’s take a look at other ways to add symbols (not just emojis) to your LinkedIn posts.
Non-emoji symbols are essentially what word processors call “special characters”. They include things like circled letters, squared letters, mathematical symbols, superscripts, subscripts, stroked letters, etc.
The easiest way to add these symbols to your LinkedIn post is to just copy and paste them. We know that searching for each symbol name or category is a drag, so we recommend you use a versatile Unicode text converter instead.
Best emojis for LinkedIn
With all these different emojis and symbols at your fingertips, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. It’s also easy to lose precious time on browsing the endless choices. That’s why we streamlined the options and identified the best emojis for LinkedIn posts. Focus on using these, and maybe occasionally add the others for some spice.
Emojis used for bullet points
Emojis can be a highly effective replacement for traditional bullets in lists. They can make your points stand out and be more memorable. Choose the “bullet emoji” that flows best with the topic and atmosphere of your post.
Some common favourites include:
- Checkmarks and cross-marks
- Boxed or coloured numbers
- Geometry shapes (squares, triangles, circles, or diamonds)
- Stars or other dynamic symbols
Checkmarks
Checkmark emojis come in a few esthetic varieties. They are usually green or blue, and can be standalone or in a square field. Use them to convey “success”. Add them to sentences that talk about achievements, goals, completed action steps, or the right ways to do things.
Conversely, there is also the cross-mark (X). You could consider it the checkmark’s evil twin. Since their meanings are two sides of the same coin, we see them as belonging to the same category. Crossmarks usually appear as red, occasionally as black or green. They too can be standalone or in a square field.
Use cross-marks to convey “mistakes”, “errors”, or “failures”. Add them to sentences that talk about the wrong ways to do things, outdated strategies, or common pitfalls to avoid. You can also use them paired with checkmarks for a problem-solution dynamic.
Arrows
A strategic arrow emoji on LinkedIn can really boost your message. Since there are arrows pointing in all directions, this is perhaps the most versatile emoji group. Some arrows are also accompanied by words, e.g. “back”, “top”, “on”, or “soon”. Use them to convey beginnings, advancement, processes, comebacks, improvements, wins, announcements, and projections.
Stars
Stars are bright, fun, and attention-grabbing. Use them to add energy and playfulness to your posts. Star emojis convey a good mood. Include them when you talk about achievements, standout results, exciting news, and the like.
Fingers pointing
Emojis that look like hands automatically make your posts easier to connect to. Readers like seeing anything that makes content seem more human. The pointing fingers emojis are especially suited to focusing attention and amplifying your message.
Use the thumbs up and thumbs down to convey good or bad news, approval or disagreement, and similar value judgements. Choose the upwards-pointing or downwards-pointing finger emoji to direct your readers’ attention to the preceding or following points.
The upwards-pointing finger can also mean “Here’s an idea!” or “Remember this!” The left- and right-pointing finger emojis are great for lists, reminders, or announcements. They convey the meaning of “look at this next” or “go back and revise this”.
Copy and paste emojis for LinkedIn
Make sprucing up your LinkedIn posts easier for yourself by simply copying and pasting the emojis you want. Here are some of the best choices, grouped by category.
Checkmarks and related symbols
● Checkmarks: ✔️ ✅ ☑️
● Crossmarks: ❌ ❎
● Heavy multiplication mark: ✖️
Arrows
● Arrows with words: 🔚 🔙 🔛 🔝 🔜
● Arrows without words: ➡️ ⬅️ ⬆️ ⬇️ ️ ↘️ ↙️ ⤴️ ⤵️
● Playback arrows: ▶️ ⏩ ⏪ ⏫ ⏬ ◀️ 🔼 🔽
Stars, sparkles, and related symbols
● Star: ⭐
● Glowing star: 🌟
● Shooting star: 🌠
● Comet: ☄️
● Dizzy: 💫
● Sparkles: ✨
● Sun: ☀️ 🌞 🌤️
● Moon phases: 🌑 🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕 🌖 🌗 🌘 🌙
Fingers pointing and other hand gestures
● Fingers pointing: 👍 👈 ☝️ 👎 👉 👆 👇
● Other gestures: 👏 👋 👌 👐 🤞 💪 ✍️ ✌️ 🙏 👊 ✋ 🖖 ✊ 🙌 🖐 🤘
Remember that emojis representing hands and human figures are now available in various skin tones. If your post deals with a topic where skin color might be a sensitive point, take advantage of this functionality. Either pick emojis in the color of your own skin, or your target audience, or line them up all together to show solidarity, support, and unity.
Office and business emojis
● Appliances and tools: 💻 ⌨️ 📱 🖥 🖨 🖱 📷 🎥 📞 ☎️ ⏱ ⏰ ⏳ ⌛️ 💡 🔨 🛠
● Paperwork: ✉️ 📩 📨 📦 📊 📈 📉 🗃 🗳 🗄 📋 📁 📂 🗂 🗞 📰
● Books and notebooks: 📓 📔 📒 📕 📗 📘 📙 📚 📖
● Office supplies: 🔗 📎 🖇 📐 📏 ✂️ 📌 📍 🚩 💌
● Writing and thinking:🖌 🖍 🖊 🖋 ✒️ 📝 ✏️🔍 🔎💭
Hearts
● Hearts in different colors: ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 🤎 🖤 🤍
● Heart exclamation: ❣️
● Sparkly heart: 💖
● Heart with a ribbon: 💝
● Double heart: 💕
● Revolving hearts: 💞
● Growing heart: 💗
● Beating heart: 💓
Commonly used emojis for boosting LinkedIn posts
⚡️ 🔥 💥 🚀 📍📞 ✅ 📣 📢 ✔️ ➡️ ⤵️ ❗️ ❓ 🕵️ 💯 ♻️ 👀 🎯 ⌚ 🎁 🔝 ⚠️ 🗣
If you don’t see your preferred emoji in any of these lists, you can always search in your text editor or copy from an online emoji depository.
Use desktop shortcuts to add emojis
When you are working on a desktop, you have the great benefit of keyboard shortcuts for practically everything. They save you time on searching and clicking and make your life a thousand times easier. Well, luckily for you, there are also shortcuts to add emojis to a LinkedIn post! Let’s take a look.
Keyboard shortcuts for adding LinkedIn emojis on PC
Find your Windows key. It is typically located on the bottom-left, between the Left Alt key and the Function (Fn) key. The Windows key will either have the word “Win” or a Windows logo symbol on it.
Next, find your semicolon key (;). Remember to check your keyboard and language settings. Sometimes, if you switch between multiple languages, the corresponding input will change too. Test the key to make sure that pressing it will, indeed, signal a semicolon.
Press the Windows and Semicolon keys simultaneously. This will open the emoji keyboard.
Search for the emoji you want. When you see it, use your mouse cursor or the directional keys to select it. Click on it and it will be added to the text.
Close the emoji keyboard by clicking the X button in the top-right corner. Open it again with the same keyboard shortcut (Win + ;).
Keyboard shortcuts for adding LinkedIn emojis on Mac
Adding emojis on a Mac is easiest when you access the drop-down list, rather than searching by Mac-specific keywords.
- Look to the bottom-left of your Keyboard. Find the Control and Command keys. They should be close together, along with the Fn and Option keys.
- Place your cursor at the point in the text where you want to insert the emoji.
- Press Control, Command, and Spacebar simultaneously. There you go!
What NOT to do with symbols on LinkedIn
To round up, let’s take a look at the most important Don’ts of using emoji in a LinkedIn post.
Don’t overuse them. We briefly mentioned this in the “How to add emojis to a LinkedIn post” section. Emojis are tempting because they are bright and colourful. Those same qualities can make them overwhelming in large numbers.
Remember that emojis are strategic tools to boost your posts’ visibility and engagement rates. Use them selectively. Consciously choose the best emoji for the job, and add them in places where they will have the most impact.
Use standardized emoticons. This is the biggest catch. How each emoji is rendered depends on the browser and device. There are some that cannot read all the emojis we have today. Avoid the negative effect of the notorious little rectangle (🫶) by sticking to standardized emojis that will display properly for everyone.
Why does all of this matter?
Because it wins you traffic. When you use emojis on LinkedIn, your posts stand out. They grab more attention and your content gets more views. The more views you grab, the better engagement rates you get. If you use the strategies we listed above, we guarantee that you will see an increase in your LinkedIn reach.
Wrapping up
Now that we covered everything about how to add emojis to LinkedIn posts, let’s review our key takeaways.
- Emojis are completely Ok to use on LinkedIn. They improve your post’s formatting, express emotions, and are great as bullet points.
- LinkedIn does not natively enable emojis outside of comments and direct messages. You can add both emojis and other special symbols to your posts by using dedicated extensions like AuthoredUp.
- The best emojis for LinkedIn are checkmarks, arrows, stars, and fingers pointing. You can also use sparkles, gestures, facial expressions, hearts, office symbols, etc.
- You can insert an emoji in a LinkedIn post using keyboard shortcuts: Win + ; (on PC) or Ctrl + Cmd + Space (on Mac).
- Use standardized emojis that all devices and browsers can display. Don’t overuse them because that can be overwhelming and annoying to your audience. Apply emoticons strategically.
- Emojis are important because they grab attention. They can expand your reach, generate more interactions, and improve your engagement rates on LinkedIn.