When you start your business and realize the benefits social media can give, it makes you want to hop on and start making posts right away! However, once you start, you may find it hard to get followers (and even ‘likes’) on your posts. This can be especially challenging when it comes to Instagram. This is because Instagram constantly has their algorithm updated. With more and more people jumping on social media, it can be hard to keep up — especially for a small business just starting out.
Writing is… Hard
If you’re posting on social media and seeing little to no results, it can seem intimidating to run your social media accounts effectively. As well, posting regularly and consistently can be a struggle. However, writing for social media isn’t all that difficult and shouldn’t be the task your dread. If you’re just starting out want to learn the basics, here are some tips to help make the writing process for Instagram captions easier:
The First Sentence is Critical
On Instagram captions, only a small portion of the text is shown before it's hidden behind an ellipsis (“...”), which means you only have a few words to catch users’ attention before they scroll past your post. This is why it’s so important to make sure that those first few words a user sees are interesting.
Don’t Use all 2,200 Characters Available
Some ideas for writing your first sentence can be starting with a “Did you know?” question. Another option is to leave them on a cliffhanger, forcing them to read on. Write something interesting and then add, “but there’s also,” or some other transition phrase to leave readers wanting to read on. You can also start with a quote from someone well-known, do a giveaway, or start telling a compelling story. Just remember, the goal is to leave your readers wanting more!
One of the most important tips in writing for social media: keep it short! Instagram gives a very generous allowance for how many characters you can use in your captions. However, that doesn’t mean you have to use them all!
Keep in mind that Instagram is a visual social media app, which means users are there for the photos first, then the captions. Now that doesn’t mean to say that you have to cut down your story to one paragraph if it’s really interesting. However, try to keep your captions at about less than a paragraph’s length (approx. 3 sentences) or less.
Ask a Question
Another way to boost your posts and get them seen more is by increasing engagements. You want people not only like, but to comment and share your posts as well. The number of likes, comments, and how long users spend looking at your post all play into helping boost your post for more to see. Engage with your followers to better connect with them! As well, this also helps reduce the number of people who unfollow your account as they will want to keep engaging with you.
Use *clap* Emojis *clap*
If you send out emails to your customers, you probably know that using emojis in your headlines can grab attention and aid in getting your emails more engagement. But did you know the same applies to when you’re writing your Instagram captions? That’s right! Breaking up your text with emojis also grabs attention.
And remember how we mentioned Instagram is a visual app? This applies even to your captions. Users can appreciate a break from all the text with some fun emojis. Using emojis strategically throughout your text is another way to grab a user’s attention before they decide to scroll past your post.
Add a Call to Action
Give your users something to do after reading your posts. Just like with your website, you want your customers to take action. However, a call to action doesn’t have to just be “Click the link in our bio to learn more.” Rather, it can be “Double-tap if you need a vacation too” or “Comment what you do to keep busy on rainy days.”
Add these CTAs in your posts to help you engage more with your followers and make personal connections with them. As well, it will help boost your post in the Instagram algorithm!
Use Hashtags
Hashtags are great for boosting engagements. They help with getting your posts seen in the already over-crowded space of Instagram. However, Instagram’s algorithm is always changing, so it’s good to stay up to date with best practices. According to recent stats for 2020, using at least 11 relevant hashtags will help boost your engagement rates.
You can choose to add hashtags throughout your caption, such as “What are you doing for this #longweekend?”
You can also add hashtags at the bottom of your post, or even “hide” them in the comments, so as not to appear spammy and distract from your content.
Wrapping Up!
In conclusion, writing captions for Instagram can seem intimidating at first, especially if you’re just starting out and seeing minimal engagement. However, there’s no reason to fret! By using the tips listed above, you can be sure to see improvements in your engagements and followers by writing effective Instagram captions!
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Instagram one of the best way to grow your business online. I was little bit confused how to do that. But after reading your tips my concepts now clear about that.