Inmoji launches first self-service platform for its interactive emoji-like icons and stickers

Inmoji used in conversation

Inmoji creates for brands what could be called “interactive emojis.” This week, the company is launching what it says is the first self-service platform for this kind of messaging rich-media, which it says is unique.

These Inmoji — introduced in 2013 — are custom branded icons or stickers that are shared within supported messaging apps. When clicked by the recipient — and Inmoji says literally everyone who receives one clicks on it — the icon or sticker opens up a rich-media window in the app, revealing a movie trailer, a discount coupon or some other brand-related feature with images or video. Here are rich-media windows, opened after the Inmoji icons or stickers have been clicked:

CEO and cofounder Michael Africk told me that the new portal (called EQ) will let brands create and launch their own Inmoji campaigns to the network of 42 million users of messaging apps like Badoo, BlackBerry Messenger, ooVoo, Viber and Tango.

Inmojis require a download for use with Apple’s iMessage, and they are also available as curated icons in Facebook Messenger, Line and Kik. Until this self-service portal, brands could create a campaign only through the Inmoji managed service, although that option is still available. Brands using Inmoji include Starbucks, Disney, Walmart and Universal.

Portal users can import icons or stickers, tweak or size them, create completely custom ones and launch campaigns with up to two calls to action, such as a coupon download or a form for an email address. Campaigns can also target by such parameters as location or age. Pricing for brands is the same through the portal as through the managed service. Here’s a screen shot from the portal:

In addition to its claim that every recipient clicks on a Inmoji, the company also says that half of everyone receiving an Inmoji shares it. This popularity has led to more than 18 million impressions for such campaigns as the one for the Disney movie, “Finding Dory,” which also generated a million shares within a month.