How can you write Instagram captions that are engaging and informative?

Do people read Instagram captions? Maybe, maybe not. But, what captions really help nowadays on Instagram is the ability to appear on the explore section and suggest your content to people who are consuming content of your category. More than catching the attention of a user, captions on Instagram in 2023 are SEO engine for the algorithms.

You can make your Instagram caption engaging by- + Using numbers + Using PAS framework + Telling people a dream to come true + Making it relatable and actionable + Talking about the outcome.

Instagram captions are an important part of your social media strategy. Here are some great tips to follow: 1. Use a catchy and relevant hook. 2. Provide value and context. 3. Use 30 hashtags and emojis. 4. Use power words. 5. Keep it short and simple. 6. Engage with your audience.

Instagram captions should be -as succinct as possible - clearly be in line with the brand tone and language - not have the exact same copy that's on the creative that's rewritten but inline with the creative thought that the post is talking about - Not be too verbose unless it's a human interest story, or a review of a book, restaurant or an experience that's being described. - Not be salesy! People don't want to consume something that's down right selling something to them in their face. - Have a few keywords that SEO can pick up so that you start building for those keywords on search. - And please don't try really hard to be witty, smart, sassy or woke if you aren't as a brand! It comes across as being super desperate.

A good instagram caption should give more information about the content it accompanies. It should give context and additional information that is relevant to the subject matter of the visual content. Including information about information source, contributors, links, numbers/figures here makes it informative and compels the reader to spend time reading it.

The first sentence of your Instagram caption is crucial—it's your chance to grab your audience's attention. You can use various techniques to make your hook compelling. For instance, you could ask a question like, "Ever wondered why some people seem to have all the luck?" Or make a bold statement such as, "This is the best chocolate cake you'll ever eat." If you aim to educate, start with a surprising fact like, "Did you know that 90% of startups fail within the first year?" Try creating a cliffhanger like, "You won't believe what happened next..." Emotional hooks or challenges can also be compelling. The key is to avoid generic or vague openings. Make your first sentence count to keep your audience engaged and wanting more.

If no one stopped in the feed to look at your content, they certainly won't stop to read your caption. If you're thinking about hooks, you should first think about... - The hook at the beginning of your Instagram Reel (optimized creatively for sound-off with captions). - The hook on the first slide of our Carousel. - The hook on your first Story. The caption is a great place to add additional context or tell a story, but it's last in line for what matters if you're trying to get your content viewed.

Instagram captioning works best when created from a place of understanding, integrity, and sincerity. Followers and communities are tired of the onslaught of content created only for "likes" and sales. Stay heart-centered and caring -- something reading trends and following numbers are unable to replicate.

The main goal of the first sentence is to grab the reader's attention and make them WANT to read the second sentence. The second sentence's main purpose is to lead them to the third sentence. And do you know what the last sentence of the post is meant to do? It's there to encourage the reader to keep thinking about your content and waiting for the next content.

A clever play on words helps as well in the title to go along with the picture. For instance, in an MS Word article I authored entitled Working With Small Caps, the picture had a guy with a tiny tiny cap on his head. I used the play on words to grab attention to my MIcrosoft related article. I would not use it for every article but here and there it is effective.

My favorite strategy to add value in a caption is to include a little-known fact. Often times this "did you know" snippet pairs perfectly with a call for the audience to add their own related facts or memories. This is an effective method for adding a layer of interest and complexity to beautiful, static images.

To add value to your Instagram post, consider sharing personal insights related to your content. Share your unique perspective or experiences that are relevant to the photo. This not only makes your post more authentic but also connects you with your audience on a deeper level. Whether it's a personal story, a lesson you've learned, or a relatable experience, sharing insights can engage your followers and make your content more meaningful. Remember to keep it concise and to the point while ensuring it adds value to your readers' lives.

Add value in the caption of a reel. The reel will continue to play in the background while your audience is reading it which will give you more views. While adding value, remember to make it crisp and action worthy. People on Instagram aren't looking to read piles of text. So ensure that you add maximum value in lesser words. If you have more things to say, make a part 2 reel or post on the same topic.

Add value means not using clickbait headlines. It can reflect poorly on your brand especially if it wastes people's time and only attracts trolls. Not everything is about going viral.

That first sentence is super important some of my fav lines to use are: “last slide is my favourite 👀” (for IG carousels) “What do you think about…” and then add your opinion on a product or topic Adding a CTA at the beginning works too! Example: “Comment your favourite affirmation below” “Drop a (emoji) below if you can relate”

CTAs are a great way to increase engagement and learn more about your followers. Ask them their thoughts, if they have ever experienced something similar, do they agree or disagree. I like to include an emoji that is relevant to the CTA so that it draws the attention of the reader.

Consider using a tactic that leads to direct messages (DMs) rather than external links. Instead of asking for a link visit, prompt your followers to leave a comment with a specific keyword that's related to your content. For example, if you're a food blogger sharing a recipe, you could say, "Comment with 'yum' if you'd like the recipe details." Once followers leave this specific keyword in the comments, respond in DMs with the recipe. This approach encourages engagement, provides value, and allows for more personal interaction, all without requiring significant effort from your audience.

There are studies which suggest you should use emojis in captions, as it makes your brand more human. I agree. However, in current times, since the content generated by ChatGPT and other AI tools use emojis excessively, it's very easy to identify that captions with a lot of emojis and hashtags are not written by a user, but by a bot. So just one or two relevant emojis are okay. And hashtags on social media don't add much value unless they are topical.

Based on Instagram's recommendations, it's a good idea to use between 3 to 5 hashtags. However, from my own experience, using more hashtags, provided they are relevant, tends to yield better results. Typically, using 5 to 10 hashtags works well for SEO purposes. Using ultra-popular hashtags isn’t always the best strategy for getting more reach and engagement, as they’re less likely to be seen.

Before posting, it's a great practice to read your caption aloud to yourself. Pay attention to how closely it resembles your natural speech and how smoothly it flows. This helps ensure your message comes across clearly and authentic.

As you proof your work, you end up smoothing it out even more and changing words here and there. That second look helps on two fronts being your grammar and readability.

One thing I've found helpful before you hit publish, make sure you proofread and edit your caption for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and clarity. You can use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway to check your writing and improve it. You can also read your caption out loud or ask someone else to read it and give you feedback. A well-written caption will make a positive impression on your followers and show that you care about quality and professionalism.

Leverage culture or canon events In tandem to the brilliant basics (research, copy, proof reading, customizing for your target audience) keep your ear on the pulse for topical events within your industry, space or region. Give the audience something to connect and engage with.

The length of the caption totally depends on you and your audience. A lot of people think using short captions is the key because people don't have the attention span to read long captions. That's wrong. If your captions are engaging enough, length won't matter.

When writing social media post captions for brands, I believe it is important to maintain the brand tone or voice in all communication. Identifying the target audience of your brand, understanding their pain points, and drafting posts that in some way addresses/ presents a solution to these pain points can go a long way in establishing authority while also being relatable.

This is an excellent area to utilize chat GPT. Before asking for copy for a specific post, insert “from the perspective of” or “In conversation with someone who”. As you continue to formulate your prompt ask, use the key words above to create specific language response. As always, after you’ve received the response, modify the copy to fit your voice before using for your caption.

Your photos have to match the mood of what you are writing. A great article can be bypassed simply because the title does not match “mood wise” to what you are writing about.