How To Write Successful Instagram Captions

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We already know how important photos and videos are to Instagram. After all, it is an app-driven by visuals. What isn’t thought of as often, however, are the captions that go along with your content. However, learning how to write captions is an important skill, especially as an influencer or a business owner!

Captions are often neglected and added on at the very last minute, but captions are extremely important. Why? Because, according to Jenn Herman at the Social Media Examiner, “a strong visual component will capture your audience’s attention, but it won’t drive conversions.”

That is exactly what captions do. If your captions are clear and, possibly, contain a call to action, then not only will your conversions go up, but so will your engagement.

If you are having trouble writing captions for your brand, then we have got you covered. Below are the best tips and tricks we know to help curate your best captions:

1. Brand’s Voice

Understanding what your brand stands for is very important when it comes to writing Instagram captions. If you haven’t yet developed your brand’s voice, try asking yourself what qualities or standards you want to uphold as a brand.

Once you feel confident in your brand’s voice, make sure to be consistent with that voice in your captions.

Don’t be afraid to show some personality in your captions too! For example, using humor is always a light-hearted way to show your brand’s personality.

2. Consider Length

Length is really important when writing Instagram captions. When writing longer captions it is also important to consider that only the first three lines of your caption will be displayed.

If it is longer, the viewer will have to click “more” to see the rest of the caption. With this in mind, make sure to convey your keypoint or call to action at the beginning of your caption.

Focus on those first three lines and make sure they are just as enticing and strong as your brand!

3. Edit And Rewrite

Editing is an important part of writing Instagram captions, especially if they are longer.

When editing you should consider grammar and readability while also considering the content and how it aligns with your brand’s voice.

There are tools out there that can help you with editing. Grammarly is a free online tool that can help you if you struggle with grammar and punctuation.

Another good idea is to get another pair of eyes to edit your caption.

4. Encourage Viewer Engagement

There are multiple things you can do to engage your followers with your Instagram caption. The first is posing a question.

Asking a question requires a direct response from your audience in the comments. If used correctly, a question can prompt direct follower engagement with your brand and between your followers in the comments.

Another idea is to prompt your audience to tag their friends in the comments. A direct example, if you’re an online clothing store, could be, “tag a friend in the comments who would love to try this outfit next season.”

Tagging in the comments is a good way to not only increase engagement but potentially reach a new consumer.

You can also try a call to action. Think about including these in your caption:

“Click the link in my bio”
“Leave a comment and let me know what you think!”
“Subscribe”
“Sign up”
“Learn more about us by clicking the link below”

Lastly, you could play a game! A fun way to get your users engaged is by attaching a link to your caption that could have a prize wheel to spin for free products or discounts. More engagement for you, and free stuff for your audience!

Engagement not only brings more traffic to your post but it also creates a sense of community with your followers.

5. Use Hashtags

Using hashtags is a great way to bring more activity to your page. Successful hashtags will highlight who you are as a brand while directing potential viewers to find your page.

Make sure to use all 30 alloted hashtags. Posts with more hashtags tend to receive more engagement than posts with fewer hashtags as long as they are relevant.

Think about it like this, hashtags are a way of searching for content and the more hashtags you have the more likely your content will be found.

6. Use Emojis

Using emojis is a great way to show personality with an Instagram caption and add a little fun!

Emojis are also great for drawing attention to something you want to highlight in your caption.

“Using emojis is a great way to show your current mood, brand personality, and add a blast to your captions. This is also a good way to point out the most important part of your caption by using arrows, fire, or a megaphone icon” writes Gloria of Brand 24.

Emojis are fun and light-hearted, however, just like hashtags, you have to make sure not to overuse them. Sometimes overusing emojis can strip your brand of credibility and seriousness.

If you are still struggling with finding the right flow for your Instagram captions, try searching through the posts of a brand that is similar to yours. There is nothing wrong with finding a little inspiration, especially if it is from other professionals you admire!

Get to writing and let us know how our advice has helped your business down below in the comments!

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