You probably clicked this post because the truth is, writing captions can be VERY time consuming especially when you have zero copywriting experience and quickly discovered that there is, in fact, an art to writing captivating Instagram captions that get your user to pause their scroll.. read and engage with them.
Thinking of content to post on Instagram can be a daunting task and then now you have to write captivating Instagram captions as well. In this post, I'm going to show you how to write captivating Instagram captions that actually work, and by understanding the best types of captions to write, you'll have a better idea of how to craft some of your own.
Instagram has confirmed that captions are super important when it comes to Instagram feed ranking, so it's a great idea to invest in writing more captivating Instagram captions to boost your ranking on the platform.
There are several different types of Instagram captions that you can write, in the same way, that there are several different types of scripts that screenwriters can write for tv series, reality shows, or movies.
At the core of every Instagram caption (done well) you'll find a story, a conversational tone, and a purpose; not to state the obvious here, but it also needs to be 100% related to the image, video, or audio content associated with the post.
Here are a few examples of popular Instagram captions:
Microblogs or long-form captions (those really long captions that seem almost like a blog)
Captions that are culturally relevant (like COVID related captions)
Educational and Informative (can also be long-form)
Short, clever, and humorous (show off you're personality)
Relatable and authentic storytelling (I've been struggling with...)
Captions with a call to action (click the link in my bio to grab my free guide)
Captions that encourage user engagement (let me know in the comments what you think)
Instagram Captions should have a Purpose
If you're running a professional Instagram profile, your content and its accompanying caption should not be random or lack a strategy. With that said, each post should have a purpose and your caption should reinforce your message.
An image does not always convey everything you want to say, and this is how Instagram captions can help support your post and further explain your message.
Once you have established a purpose for your Instagram caption, this will give you a helpful starting point to start writing based on the goal you're hoping to accomplish from sharing your Instagram post in the first place.
Write Conversational Instagram Captions
To grab the attention of your audience, your captions need to speak to them in a relatable way.
You can analyze your target customers to further identify their motivations in buying your products or services and try to understand their general interests.
But at the same time, you don't want to bore your audience with monotone captions. So how can you write captivating Instagram captions that aren't monotone?
The antidote to monotone social media captions is conversational writing.
Why conversational?
Conversational captions feel more personal, less academic.
People want to connect with people, not brands. So try to craft your Instagram captions in a way that speaks to them like you're talking to a real person and not a computer.
Instagram Captions should tell a Story
Just like this blog post, it's carefully crafted with a beginning, middle, and end. I've included an introduction to set the structure of the article, my subheadings to guide you through the main content of my post, and then shortly after this I'll have a conclusion.
Your Instagram captions are no different. In order to captivate, you need to tell a story.
Keep in mind, this gets slightly more challenging the shorter your Instagram caption gets. For instance, if my caption is connected to a promotion, my story structure would be something like this:
State a problem (that my audience can relate to)
State my solution (my business, product, or service)
State a call to action (how to get it from me)
People love stories because they usually are relatable and humanize your brand. So consider adding some captivating stories of your own to your Instagram caption as well.
Use Emojis and Blank Spaces
Emojis 👏🏽are a great way to add a visual element to your Instagram captions, especially since people have shorter attention spans which means we have a shorter period of time to captivate our audiences online.
Another trick is to break up large chunks of text into smaller paragraphs and use bullet points.
I'd recommend keeping your paragraphs under two sentences in length and breaking them up with spaces to help your audience feel less overwhelmed when viewing your post and caption.
Start Crafting Captivating Instagram Captions
Instagram captions are like valuable real estate on the platform and it’s super important that you use it well to fuel your Instagram marketing efforts.
I get that writing a good Instagram caption will take additional time to craft them on your own, but it’s worth the time and effort, and it will captivate your audience which will ultimately get you better results from your Instagram marketing.
Do you need help putting these tips into action?
Our team of content strategists, content creators, and creative marketers would love to help. Book your free virtual consultation with us at any time.
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