Bitmoji

What is a Bitmoji?

A Bitmoji is a personalized cartoon avatar that represents you in digital communications. These customizable avatars allow users to create digital versions of themselves with unique facial features, hairstyles, outfits, and expressions. 

Originally launched as Bitstrips in 2008 and rebranded as Bitmoji in 2014, the service was acquired by Snapchat in 2016, making it a central feature in social media marketing strategies.

Bitmojis have become an integral part of how people express themselves on social platforms, particularly on Snapchat where they're deeply integrated into the user experience.

Bitmojis serve as extensions of personal identity in digital spaces, offering a fun, expressive way to communicate emotions and reactions without using text. The integration of Bitmojis across various platforms has transformed how users engage with social media content, allowing for more personalized and visually appealing interactions.

How to create a Bitmoji?

Creating your own personalized Bitmoji is a straightforward process that allows you to design an avatar that reflects your appearance and personality. The creation process involves several customization steps to ensure your digital representation matches your vision.

Download and install the app

The first step to creating your Bitmoji is downloading the dedicated app or accessing it through Snapchat:

• Standalone Bitmoji app: Available on iOS and Android app stores
• Snapchat integration: Create directly within the Snapchat app
• Browser version: Available for Chrome extensions

After installation, you'll need to create an account or log in with your existing Snapchat credentials to begin the customization process.

Customize your avatar

The customization process is comprehensive, allowing you to design an avatar that truly represents you:

• Face shape and features: Choose from various face shapes, skin tones, and facial features
• Hair: Select from numerous hairstyles and colors
• Eyes and eyebrows: Customize shape, color, and add accessories like glasses
• Clothing and outfits: Choose from a wide range of fashion options that are regularly updated
• Accessories: Add personal touches with jewelry, hats, and other accessories

Take your time during this process, as the more accurately your Bitmoji represents you, the more personal your social media engagement will feel when you use it.

Link to your social accounts

After creating your Bitmoji, you can link it to various platforms:

• Snapchat: Automatically integrated if created through the app
• Messaging apps: Available in keyboard extensions for iMessage, WhatsApp, etc.
• Email signatures: Add personality to professional communications
• Social media profiles: Use as profile pictures across platforms

Connecting your Bitmoji to multiple platforms creates consistency in your personal brand across digital spaces.

How to change Bitmoji gender

Changing your Bitmoji's gender allows you to completely reimagine your avatar and may be desired for various reasons. The process is simple but requires creating a new avatar from scratch.

Steps to change gender

1. Open the Bitmoji app or access it through Snapchat
2. Tap on the gear icon to access settings
3. Select "Change Avatar Style"
4. Choose "Start from scratch"
5. Select your preferred gender at the beginning of the creation process
6. Complete the customization as you did when first creating your Bitmoji

Remember that changing your Bitmoji's gender will reset all customizations, so you'll need to reconfigure all aspects of your avatar's appearance.

Avatar style options

Beyond gender, you can also switch between different avatar styles:

• Classic style: The original Bitmoji design with more cartoonish features
• Realistic style: A more detailed, proportional representation
• 3D style: Available for certain features in Snapchat

These style options allow for further personalization beyond gender selection, helping you craft the perfect visual representation for your social media presence.

How to remove or delete Bitmoji?

There may come a time when you want to remove your Bitmoji from certain platforms or delete it entirely. The process varies depending on what you're trying to accomplish.

Removing Bitmoji from Snapchat

If you want to disconnect your Bitmoji from Snapchat without deleting it completely:

1. Open Snapchat and go to your profile
2. Tap the gear icon to access settings
3. Scroll to "Bitmoji"
4. Select "Unlink your Bitmoji"
5. Confirm your choice

This process removes the Bitmoji from your Snapchat profile while preserving it in the Bitmoji app if you have it installed separately.

Deleting your Bitmoji account

To completely delete your Bitmoji account and all associated data:

1. Open the Bitmoji app
2. Tap the gear icon for settings
3. Select "My Data"
4. Choose "Delete Account"
5. Follow the confirmation steps

Be aware that this action is permanent and will remove your avatar across all connected platforms. If you're managing multiple social media accounts, you'll notice your Bitmoji disappear from all of them after deletion.

Using Bitmojis in social media marketing

Bitmojis aren't just for personal use—they've become valuable tools for brands looking to create more engaging and relatable social media content. When used strategically, Bitmojis can help humanize brands and foster stronger connections with audiences.

Benefits for brands

• Humanization: Puts a face to your brand's online presence
• Engagement: Increases interaction rates with more personalized content
• Consistency: Creates visual continuity across marketing channels
• Relatability: Makes communication feel more personal and less corporate
• Visual appeal: Adds color and personality to text-based communications

For small businesses especially, Bitmojis can be an affordable way to add visual elements to their social media strategy without investing in expensive custom graphics.

Implementation strategies

Brand representatives: Create Bitmojis for key team members who interact with customers to build familiarity.

Content enhancement: Use Bitmojis in:

• Social media posts
• Email marketing
• Customer service responses
• Blog content
• Tutorial videos

Campaign integration: Incorporate Bitmojis into your content calendar for consistent brand storytelling across campaigns.

When integrated with a comprehensive social media management approach, Bitmojis can significantly enhance your brand's online personality and audience connection.

How to get you and your friends' Bitmoji together on Snapchat

One of the most popular features of Bitmojis on Snapchat is the ability to create scenes featuring both your avatar and those of your friends, creating shared digital experiences.

Creating Friendmojis

Friendmojis (or "Bitmoji together") allow you to place your Bitmoji alongside those of your Snapchat friends in various scenes and situations. Here's how to create them:

1. Ensure you both have Bitmojis linked to your Snapchat accounts
2. Open a chat with the friend you want to include
3. Tap the Bitmoji icon in the chat input field
4. Select the "Friendmoji" tab
5. Choose from available scenes featuring both avatars
6. Send the Friendmoji in your conversation

These shared Bitmoji experiences create stronger social connections and can increase engagement rates in your personal communications.

Creative applications

Beyond basic usage, there are several creative ways to implement Friendmojis:

• Group celebrations: Create Friendmojis for birthdays, achievements, or holidays
• Team announcements: Use them to introduce collaborations in professional settings
• Event invitations: Send personalized visual invites featuring both avatars
• Content creation: Incorporate into stories and posts for more engaging narratives

For influencers and brands managing their social media presence, Friendmojis can be used to visualize partnerships and collaborations in a fun, approachable way.

Best practices for Bitmoji usage

To maximize the effectiveness of Bitmojis in your personal branding or marketing efforts, follow these best practices for optimal results.

Keep it professional

While Bitmojis add personality, maintain appropriate boundaries in professional contexts:

• Match your audience: Use more conservative Bitmoji styles in business communications
• Context awareness: Consider when Bitmojis are appropriate and when they might seem unprofessional
• Consistency with brand voice: Ensure your Bitmoji's expressions align with your overall brand voice

For businesses using Bitmojis in their social media management, striking the right balance between personal and professional is crucial.

Regular updates

Keep your Bitmoji fresh and relevant:

• Seasonal outfits: Update clothing for holidays and seasons
• New features: Take advantage of new customization options as they're released
• Alignment with trends: Stay current with popular styles and expressions
• Consistency with your appearance: Update your Bitmoji if you change your real-life appearance

Regular updates show attention to detail and keep your social media content looking current and well-maintained.

Strategic placement

Consider where and how often you use your Bitmoji:

• Variation: Avoid using the same Bitmoji pose repeatedly
• Purpose-driven: Choose expressions that enhance your message
• Integrated approach: Combine with other visual elements rather than relying solely on Bitmojis
• Platform appropriateness: Consider which platforms benefit most from Bitmoji integration

When incorporated into a broader content strategy, strategic Bitmoji placement can significantly boost engagement and brand recall.

The future of Bitmoji

As digital communication continues to evolve, Bitmoji technology is advancing to provide even more personalized and immersive experiences. Understanding upcoming trends can help you stay ahead in your social media strategy.

Technological advancements

The Bitmoji platform continues to develop with several exciting innovations:

• 3D Bitmojis: More realistic, animated versions for enhanced expression
• Augmented reality integration: Placing Bitmojis in real-world environments
• AI customization: Smarter, more accurate avatar creation based on photos
• Expanded use cases: Integration into gaming, virtual meetings, and more

These advancements align with broader social media trends toward more immersive, personalized digital experiences.

Marketing implications

For marketers, the evolution of Bitmoji technology offers new opportunities:

• Enhanced personalization: More customized marketing communications
• Interactive advertising: Campaigns that incorporate user Bitmojis
• Virtual events: Bitmoji-based attendance at digital conferences or product launches
• E-commerce integration: Virtual try-on experiences with Bitmojis

Staying informed about these developments can help marketers leverage Bitmoji technology as part of their social media optimization strategy.

Conclusion

Bitmojis have evolved from simple cartoon avatars to powerful tools for self-expression and brand communication in the digital realm. Whether you're using them to enhance personal communications or as part of a strategic marketing approach, Bitmojis offer a unique way to add personality, emotion, and visual appeal to your online interactions.

For marketers specifically, incorporating Bitmojis into a comprehensive content marketing strategy can help humanize brands and create more engaging, relatable content. 

As the technology continues to advance, the potential applications for Bitmojis in marketing and communication will only expand, making them a valuable tool in the modern digital landscape.