If you feel blank when it comes to writing captions for Instagram, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Writing effective captions for Instagram posts can be challenging and irritating. A caption can add spice to your Instagram post, along with defining your brand values and identity.
However, if your captions are not attractive and attention-grabbing, nobody would read it. Then how to write good and effective captions so that your target audience is actually investing time in reading it?
Instagram Captions Rules:
- Instagram caption length is 2,200 characters. (This does not mean that you’ve to write 2,200 characters. Write wisely and accordingly!)
- This caption length also includes emojis.
- You can use a maximum of 30 hashtags. (Use a good strategy for hashtags. Don’t overuse or copy-paste the same hashtags for different posts).
What is an Effective Instagram Caption?
An effective Instagram caption:
- would add context to your post
- show off your brand’s personality
- it’d be easy to read
- it’d explain or complement your post
- would speak about your idea/brand/product/service etc.
Ten Tips to Write Effective Captions for Instagram
1. Killer First Line
We know it’s always a difficult task when it comes to writing the first line of your caption, book or almost any write up. First line would always grab your audience’s attention. If the first line is not good enough, they would not be reading the later content which means even if the later part of your caption is effective, it won’t be read by your reader.
So you’ve to come up with an effective punch line which would make your reader click “more” to read the next line! For this, you can come up with a nice and intriguing statement. Moreover, you can substantiate your argument by using some facts or stats. Whatever suits you best!
2. Know Your Audience
Before anything, you need to know about your target audience. What do they like? What are their preferences and priorities? In order to engage with them, it’s essential to know about their likes and dislikes. Now obviously, we know that you cannot keep a track of each individual but try to create a persona of your brand/service which would make the audience feel inclusive.
Indian Digital Influencer and comic character, GoBablah has gained much appreciation due to this reason only. Bablah is a little monk, philosopher and guide who shares daily fun facts on Instagram. However, there are more than hundred pages on Instagram about facts. Then what makes Bablah different from all those pages?
This digital influencer has a face which people and followers can identify with. He has a voice of his own and he knows his target audience. He connects with his followers in the comment section as if he knows them personally.
According to the above-mentioned tip, you’d finally know what to write for your audience. Believe me, it’d reduce your workload. If not what to write, you’d at least know what not to write.
Basically, you have to make sure your audience is understanding whatever you are trying to convey. Also, use emojis wisely. Ask yourself if emojis or emoticons are needed here or not.
3. CTA (Call-to-Action) for Bumper Engagement
People love to participate in events, contests, quizzes and giveaways. It can help you in engaging more with your customers.
Moreover, if you’re a startup business or trying to grow your small business, this CTA can go beyond Instagram. You can take them to other platforms and inspire them to engage with your business website. Here, you can make them sign up to your newsletter or shop online.
After getting support on Instagram, GoBablah launched a game “Yes/No with BaBlah”. The use of social media to grow your startup is the best option these days. Since people are identifying Bablah as a virtual storyteller, it’d be easier for this startup to drive the traffic to their website where they can engage more with their target customers. In short, more followers would want to download the game due to the prior interaction with this comic character.
Different Types of CTA
- Ask them about their day.
- Make them take a decision such as “double tap if you agree”.
- You can boost your post by giving them a relatable post and asking them to “tag their friends”.
- Run a contest and ask them to participate by following your account and suggesting your page to 3 other people.
- Through this, you can also call them to drive traffic to your website. Take them to your website by sharing a link in your bio.
Since many accounts/brands/pages/people are doing these activities, try to analyse and come up with ideas that would be unique to your work and brand.
4. Recheck Your Caption Length
Although you’ve 2,200 characters to add in your Instagram caption, it’s always a wise option to ask yourself “how much is enough” for a particular post. In fact, sometimes you just need one or two short lines and your work is done. Captions are not here to write unending essays or stories. So it’s advised that one should use a crisp and on the point captions in their posts.
Moreover, if people would see that the caption is long, they won’t even bother to read it at the first place. On the other hand, if they know that the caption is not that long, it’s likely that they’d read it.
Extra tip: In the preview of caption, only first three lines are visible. So in order to make the audience press “more” option, write something that would make them keep going. In simple words, give them something interesting so that they’d want to know more.
Extra Extra tip 🙂 … If you want the whole caption to appear there, Instagram recommends to use 125 characters only!
5. Editing is a key
Well whatever you write, you know that editing is essential. Same here. Don’t take Instagram Captions loosely. Spend some time over it and polish it until and unless you’re satisfied.
You still need to check the grammar and syntax. Check if your paragraphs are structured properly. Cut out the words that are unnecessary.
Extra Tip: It’s always suggested that you should ask somebody else to edit your work. This not only adds a new perspective but also makes you see the “mistakes” which probably you were unable to see. It is like a fresh perspective.
6. Be Consistent. People Should Connect With Your Brand Voice.
When you put your shoes in the digital world, you make a digital persona of yourself or your brand. In this, your target audience start to connect with you. In order to win their trust, you need to humanize your digital presence and brand.
The captions should go with your brand personality. It should be same as your other digital presence and marketing strategy.
7. Plan Your Captions
When it comes to managing your social media accounts, it’s better to plan and schedule them. There are many platforms which help you do that. SocialGrow not only lets you schedule your posts but also help you bulk schedule your posts for different social media platforms at one place.
You cannot possibly come up with eye catching captions every day. Some days you’d be blank and nothing would strike you. This is where planning posts and captions would help you manage and maintain the consistency.
Extra Tip: The planning of post caption would also make you edit your caption properly. Since you’d be coming back to the caption after some days break, you’d see it from a fresh perspective. In this process, you’d be either reassured to post what you previously wrote or you’d find some error and edit it again. Isn’t both a win-win situation?
8. Ask them a Question
In order to get more comments, the best way is to ask your audience something. They’d be tempted to reply!
It could be related to:
- your products
- their preferences
- what would they do in a given situation (basically giving them situation related questions such as “what if this happened with you… what would you do in that case?”)
- asking them to suggest ideas for your post (Yes! It’s a good activity. Your audience’s support would help you grow more. Take polls. Ask them! This would also help you connect with your target audience)
9. Not getting Ideas. Try Using Emojis and Quotes
Well, using emojis is one of the easiest ways of expressing oneself. Moreover, it can help you keep your content short and fun. Why write so many words when a single emoji can perfectly express whatever you are trying to say.
Similarly, quotes can be a good life saver. Find the quotes that would go with your post and tada! Work done.
10. Captions Ideas
- Follow the link captions. (CTA)
- Informative captions: Share facts and other interesting info.
- Instructional Captions: Share your recipes.
- Storyteller Caption: Share your inspirational or funny stories. In short, add personality to your captions.
Winding Up…
Whatever you write, always make sure that you’re providing a context. Moreover, if your captions are long, don’t forget to add line breaks. This would increase your caption readability and more followers would consider reading it.
Extra Tip: Edit and make a strategy for your stories, IGTV and reel captions as well. Try to keep them short and crisp!
And, most importantly, be strategic with tags and hashtags. You can use top trending hashtags instead of using the most popular ones. However, while focussing on captions for Instagram, don’t forget to focus on your post as well. Because that’s the most important aspect of Instagram.
