Unicode

What is Unicode? 

Unicode is a universal character encoding standard that allows SMS messages to include non-Latin characters, such as emojis, Chinese, Arabic, or special symbols. It expands communication capabilities for global messaging and SMS personalization by allowing businesses to tailor content to diverse audiences. 

How is Unicode Used in SMS:

1. Emojis for Emotion & Engagement

• 🎉 Congratulations! You’ve just earned a free reward. Tap to claim.
• ❤️ Thanks for your continued support, we love having you as a customer!
• 🔔 Reminder: Your appointment is tomorrow at 10:00 AM.

2. Unicode for Multilingual Messaging

Unicode supports non-Latin scripts, making it possible to message your audience in their native language.

• Arabic: شكرًا لاشتراكك في خدماتنا 
  ("Thank you for subscribing to our services")
• Chinese (Simplified): 您的订单已发货！ 
  ("Your order has been shipped!")
• Hindi: आपका अपॉइंटमेंट कल सुबह 11 बजे है। 
  ("Your appointment is tomorrow at 11 AM.")

• Greek: Το ραντεβού σας είναι επιβεβαιωμένο. 
  ("Your appointment is confirmed.")

   

3. Unicode Symbols for Clarity or Branding

Unicode includes hundreds of useful symbols for structure, tone, or even branding consistency.

• ✓ Your booking is confirmed.
• → Follow the link to track your delivery.
• ★ Rate your experience with us!

4. Unicode Alert Symbols

Use symbols to highlight urgency or status.

• ⚠️ Action required: Please update your billing info.
• ✅ Your payment was successful.
• 📦 Your order is out for delivery.

Why Your Business Needs to Use Unicode in SMS Messages

1. Personalize your messages with emojis and symbols

Unicode allows you to go beyond the standard GSM character set, enabling the use of emojis and a wide range of symbols. This small but powerful upgrade helps your business connect with customers on a more emotional level. Emojis add tone and context to otherwise plain text, making your SMS campaigns feel more friendly, human, and engaging. Whether it’s a smiley face 😊 to reinforce positive sentiment, or a calendar 📅 to highlight an appointment, Unicode symbols can boost message clarity and appeal.

2. Communicate inclusively across languages and cultures

Unicode supports thousands of characters from languages around the world, far beyond the Latin alphabet used in standard SMS. If your business communicates with multilingual audiences or operates in culturally diverse regions, Unicode ensures your messages are accurately delivered in languages like Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Greek, and more. This not only improves accessibility but also shows cultural respect and awareness, which can significantly enhance customer trust and brand reputation.

3. Ensure consistency across devices and networks

Unlike older encodings that may render inconsistently on different devices or carriers, Unicode is a global standard supported across modern mobile devices and platforms. This means the message your business sends is the message your customer receives, no question marks or broken characters. For businesses, this reliability is key when sending critical alerts, appointment reminders, or marketing messages where clarity is essential.

4. Expand creative and branding opportunities

Using Unicode, you can incorporate brand elements into your messages, such as special characters, logos (where supported), or unique visual styles, adding another layer of recognition and professionalism. This is especially useful for SMS marketing, where visual differentiation in a crowded inbox can increase engagement and click-through rates.

5. Keep up with customer expectations

Consumers are increasingly used to visual communication in apps and on social media. Including Unicode in your SMS strategy helps your messages align with how people prefer to communicate today. A simple heart ❤️ or star ⭐️ can make your message more relatable and memorable, key ingredients for driving customer action.

Learn more about Notifyre’s SMS support for Unicode