Trying to increase the visibility of your Instagram post in the vast, algorithm-governed online space can feel like a Sisyphean task. It frequently requires a perfect blend of all the parameters Instagram considers when determining which content to push forward, and while there are many variables to consider, we will focus on only one today—Instagram captions. There’s more to writing an engaging Instagram caption than meets the eye, but luckily for you, we don’t gatekeep. Continue reading to learn how you too can write compelling Instagram captions to increase engagement and eventually grow your following.
Focus on Your Hook
A strong hook is essential for any successful copy, especially on Instagram. If your captions are more than a couple of sentences long, Instagram hides the majority of the text behind the “more” button, displaying only the first couple of sentences. What those first few words say could be the deciding factor in whether someone chooses to read more and engage with your post or scroll down. Your hook should ideally include key points from your post, giving the reader a clue as to what you will be discussing further on. You can make your captions short and informative, form them into questions that you promise to answer in your post, or do anything else that you think will catch the attention of your target audience!
Add Value to Your Instagram Caption
Now, no matter what your post is about, you should always aim to add some value to what you are trying to say. If you can teach your followers something new, make sure to do so. Just make sure to stay away from excessive fluff and buzz words, because quite frankly, that just makes your caption sound boring and could increase your bounce rate. Instead, do your research, gather all the necessary information to support the ideas you are trying to share, and polish up your work by proofreading it before it goes live!
Call to Action
Simply writing a nice caption to go with your photos will not increase engagement unless you invite people to actively interact with your post. Your call to action may differ depending on where you want to drive traffic. Take, for example, giveaway posts. You may have noticed that in order to enter these contests, you must leave a comment, tag someone, like the post, share, and so on. All of this would be a call to action, resulting in the post receiving a lot of traffic, and posts receiving a lot of traffic also receive a lot of visibility! Friction generates energy, so keep the gears turning by encouraging your audience to interact with your page.
This little guide wouldn’t be complete without mentioning hashtags. Hashtags are an excellent way to reach your target audience, but there is more to it than just putting a hash behind a buzzword. Make sure the hashtags you use make sense in the context of your post, and don’t be scared to get specific with them. If you use general hashtags like #fashion and #art, your post is likely to get lost in millions of other posts using the same hashtag. Find your niche, and try to appeal to a smaller pool of users who are genuinely interested in the type of content you post.
Conclusion
Although writing an Instagram caption that has the power to boost your engagement might seem daunting at first, it’s definitely something you should have fun with. Don’t be scared to crack jokes and add your favorite emojis, and most importantly, always be yourself. This is where your creativity really gets to shine, and it’s a great opportunity to attract and interact with your target audience!
