4 Tips on How to Write Better Instagram Captions
Writing long, engaging captions is an art that not many people are good at it. When you write an Instagram caption, is it aimless or targeted? Do you know what you want to say and how to say it without sounding sales-y or boring?
I’ll show you how to categorize your content into five distinct buckets, so you know how to position your posts every time.
Categorize your content into 5 buckets
Before you start writing, let’s dive into the five primary types of content you can share on Instagram as a business.
EDUCATIONAL
Educational content is when you provide value by sharing your expertise on a particular topic. The carousel format on Instagram is a great way to share static, educational posts.
ENCOURAGING
Think: motivational. Encouraging content hypes up readers and affirms them or motivates them in a certain way. (I.e., “You are not what you produce,” “Keep up the good work!”)
ENTERTAINING
Reels typically fall under the entertainment category (but not always). Entertaining content is share-worthy posts that are enjoyable to watch and make people smile.
OPINIONATED
Opinion-based posts can be popular or unpopular. I particularly like sharing “unpopular opinion” posts because points of controversy create more social interaction among followers.
PROMOTIONAL
Promotional content is probably shared the least by most designers because it feels “icky,” but ya gotta do it! Promo posts are great for launching new products, services, or reminding your followers about what you do.
Write better social media captions in 4 steps
Step 01: WRITE A CATCHY FIRST LINE
The first line of your post is the one piece of copy someone reads while scrolling through the 'gram. Make it engaging and convince them you have something worth saying! (Pro Tip: Play with using all caps to grab attention quickly or ask a question.)
step: 02. DETERMINE THE PURPOSE of your post
Using our five content buckets listed above, clarify which type of post you will be sharing to inform how you write the caption:
Are you providing EDUCATIONAL information?
Are you writing something ENTERTAINING?
Are you PROMOTING your business?
Are you being ENCOURAGING?
Are you stating an OPINION?
Now ask yourself: Why is [insert your content] worth saying? What action will I ask my audience to take after reading? If you don’t have a call to action, your post is purposeless!
03. tell a story
After you determine the post’s purpose, tell a story about the topic to create a more engaging caption. Everyone loves a good story! Tap into your inner storyteller. Stories are relatable and connect readers with your business in a personal way.
04. END WITH A CALL TO ACTION
Don’t leave people hanging! Tell them what to do next. Ask followers to leave a comment, share, or save your post. Take things a step further and encourage people to read your blog or click the link in your bio to get in touch.
Happy posting!
