A great caption on social media can be the difference between someone scrolling right by your post or taking the time to stop and read (and maybe even engage!).
But here’s the harsh truth: not everyone reads your captions.
Your caption is one of the key ingredients to creating compelling content. Yet, it’s also one thing that gets skipped over easily. Typical Instagram users have a short attention span, the first few words you use need to be compelling to stop them from scrolling, which is why you need to make your captions irresistible and attention-grabbing by starting them with a hook. This way, you can pique their curiosity and interest, prompting them to read the rest of your post.
But what makes a great caption? And how can you make sure yours are up to par?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, but there are certain elements that all great Instagram captions have in common. So here are six tips to help you write Instagram captions that will hook your followers and leave them wanting more:
Table of Contents
Keep it Short and Sweet
It’s essential to keep your captions short and sweet. Get your point across quickly and then move on. Each sentence needs to convey value with purpose to the reader.
Use Emojis
Emojis are a great way to add personality to your posts and break up long paragraphs of text.
However, using too many emojis can make your caption look unprofessional. So, depending on your tone of voice, use them sparingly and only when they add something to the overall meaning of your caption.
Write as You Speak
If you’re not a corporate brand, when writing your caption, write as if you’re speaking to a friend. Write like you would talk in everyday conversation, and avoid overly formal language.
This will make your captions sound more natural and relatable.
Use a Call-to-Action (CTA)
Ending your caption with a call to action is a great way to encourage engagement from your followers.
For example, asking them to comment if they agree with you or tagging a friend in the comments are simple but effective CTAs that can help get the conversation started on your post.
Be Strategic with Hashtags
Too many hashtags can make your caption appear cluttered and spammy, so be strategic with the ones you use. Choose hashtags relevant to your post’s content, which will help you reach a wider audience beyond just your followers.
Better yet, hide hashtags in a comment instead of your caption!
Ask a Question
Asking a question in your caption is a great way to encourage engagement from your followers.
How can you make your content relate to your audience?
For example, you could ask them to weigh in on a debate or share their experiences with something you’re struggling with.
Bonus: 20 Examples of Attention-Grabbing Instagram Post Caption Starters
But with all these tips, it could be mind-boggling to think of attention-grabbing captions. With that in mind, we rounded up some of our favorite caption starters to help get your creative juices flowing next time you’re stuck on what to say:
- This is the most underrated…
- I have a confession…
- I can’t even handle how [adjective] this is…
- I bet you don’t know this…
- This is a hard pill to swallow…
- Here’s what you need to know about…
- The most epic [activity] of my life…
- Get ready for some serious inspiration!
- This is why we love/hate/can’t live without…
- The best/worst thing about…
- This might be a little bit controversial, but…
- I know this might sound crazy, but..
- I’m not saying that I agree with this, but…
- You won’t believe what happened next!
- How we raised $10,000 in X days…
- Stop wasting your time on…
- This is the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me!
- Huge announcement!
- This is going to change everything…
- Breaking news:
Remember to be authentic and genuine in your captions, and try to provide value or entertainment to your audience. Captions that are overly sensational or misleading may not be well received by your followers.
Think about it this way: A caption is basically like a headline for your photo or video. And we all know that a good headline is key to getting people to click on an article or blog post. The same goes for captions on social media. An attention-grabbing caption will stop someone on their scroll and make them want to learn more about what you have to say.
