For specific emoji, and other characters/sequences, you use regularly you could use something like WinCompose (other compose key tools exist, this seemed to be

For specific emoji, and other characters/sequences, you use regularly you could use something like WinCompose (other compose key tools exist, this seemed to be the best of them at the time I was last looking) to setup shortcuts. You don't get the search functionality though, so it is not useful for first time use of a character or discovering “new” ones.