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The ultimate guide to writing good Instagram captions

. 4 min read . Written by Vanshika Goenka
The ultimate guide to writing good Instagram captions

Instagram captions are really effective to take your business to the next level. But unless your Instagram captions are really creative enough to stand out from the crowd, they won’t really be fully effective. However, this is easier said than done as writing good Instagram captions is not a walk in the park. It is one of the toughest things to do on a fiercely competitive platform like Instagram.

There are many things that have to be considered apart from the creative part. Should you make your Instagram captions funny, hard-hitting, inspirational, or serious? Should you use hashtags and emojis? How does one do this? What about a call-to-action?

Here’s a complete and comprehensive guide that’s been meticulously prepared so that you can write good Instagram captions.

Why is a good Instagram caption so important?

Well, for starters, it is a good Instagram caption that manages to grab the scroller’s eyeballs and makes him/her stop scrolling. If your caption is not good enough to engage your viewer to read your post, it has absolutely no chance of ranking higher up with the Instagram algorithm. Captions are the catalysts that help your post get the much desired likes, comments, and that much-needed traffic to your website. Captions can help your post get on to that coveted Explore Page on Instagram. Through captions, you can build a strong bond of trust with your audience.

How to write great Instagram captions

A great Instagram caption provides context along with a dash of personality to eventually inspire your followers and urge them to take action. Here are some tips to become good caption writers.

1. Your first line should be super-engaging

You got to grab those eyeballs with a killer opening! Make the first part of your Instagram caption so engaging and powerful that no one can miss it. That’s a guaranteed way to make maximum people view your post. Your punch line should deliver the killer punch right at the beginning to ignite the curiosity of your followers. You could do this either with a powerful line, hard-hitting statistics, by triggering an emotional response or by sharing an exclusive offer. Whatever path you choose to take, keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to spark the interest of your followers and drive engagement.

2. Add a Call-to-Action

Of course, every caption must contain a strong call-to-action as a CTA is one of the best ways to coax your followers to comment on your posts and drive engagement. Keep in mind that a strong CTA does not limit itself to Instagram. It can inspire your followers to be directed to your business website and shop online after being diverted. Keep your CTAs simple and have the fun element to create interest. Another effective CTA strategy is to ask your followers to tag their friends in the comments section of your post. If you have an Instagram contest planned, ensure that you include ‘contest’ or ‘giveaway’ at the beginning of the caption to arrest the attention of your followers. Use emojis that catch the eye, capital letters, and stand-out symbols to make your CTAs stand out!

3. Add line breaks to longer captions

Although short and punchy captions are ideal, sometimes you’ve got a lot to convey. In that case, add line breaks to your Instagram captions so that they are easier to read. Break up that lengthy caption that could turn off your followers otherwise. Make them spaced out!

4. Your brand voice must be consistent

A perfect Instagram caption must have a brand voice that’s consistent and on-brand. Your captions should be synonymous with your brand personality. Make the tone informal and friendly to relate better with your audience.

Consistent Instagram captions indicate strong focus and personality, establishing you as an expert in the eyes of your followers.

5. Everyone loves emojis

Use emojis to spice up your Instagram caption when you aren’t using them in your CTA. Use multiple, eye-catching, and colourful emojis. You can also replace a word with an emoji. You can also conclude your caption with an emoji.

6. Disclose sponsored posts

FTC regulations have been tightened around sponsored posts and Instagram ads. So, be transparent about your posts by disclosing sponsored posts. Properly disclose when you are being paid to promote a business or product through either money, affiliate links, or a gift. Influencers have to include a hashtag like #sponsored or #ad, which are the only ones that are FTC-compliant.

7. The power of hashtags

Hashtags are used to organize and categorize photos and video content on Instagram. So, they must be used properly in your captions. Use branded hashtags for greater engagement and reach. Don’t use too many hashtags on your captions as they have to look tidy. The maximum of your hashtags should be at the end of your caption so that the caption is read at the beginning. Here are some of the Top hashtags for Instagram captions according to popularity.

  • #travelgram (153 million)
  • #goodmorning (132 million)
  • #streetphotography (102 million)
  • #foodstagram (100 million)
  • #naturelovers (98.5 million)
  • #entrepreneur (88.7 million)
  • #outfitoftheday (73.7 million)
  • #sundayfunday (58.5 million)
  • #positivevibes (75.6 million)
  • #ootdfashion (25.1 million)

8. Write your captions in batches

Write your Instagram captions in one batch session, instead of keeping some for later. Take out some quality time and set it aside just for writing your captions.

9. Create captions for your Instagram Stories

Grab your audiences’ attention by adding a caption to your Instagram Stories. That’s because many people watch stories without sound.

10 cool Instagram captions

  1. Cake is the answer, no matter the question
  2. Everything happens for a raisin
  3. Sunshine is the best medicine
  4. Girls just wanna have sun
  5. A snowflake is winter’s butterfly
  6. The ocean is the best hairstylist
  7. We dream in colours borrowed from the sea
  8. Keep calm and winter on
  9. A selfie a day keeps the doctor away
  10. Don't follow me, I'm lost

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