How to write an Instagram caption

How to write an Instagram caption

How to write an Instagram caption

First things first, let’s cover the basics. How do you write a good Instagram caption? You always want to keep your target audience in mind and write anything. Who are you writing for? How do you want them to feel when they see your post or read your Instagram caption? What actions do you want them to take?

Here are a few more tips for creating Instagram captions that resonate.

1. Give your audience more context

A picture might say a thousand words, but your Instagram posts need captions to provide more context. Especially when sharing branded content, you need some copy to fully explain the point you’re trying to convey.

Use your caption to:

• Describe to your audience the image you shared
• Explain why you’re sharing it and why it’s relevant
• Give your audience an action for them to take

But more importantly, do so in a way that’s concise and to the point. Which brings me to my next point.

2. Keep captions short and sweet

Instagram captions can be a maximum of 2,200 characters, which is between 310 and 550 words. However, that doesn’t mean that every one of your captions should take up that much space.

In fact, it’s typically better to create a succinct, quick and easy-to-read caption over a large block of text—except for in rare circumstances when that space is needed to fully flesh out an offering, contest, giveaway or promotion.

3. Stick to your tone of voice guidelines

Every brand should have standardized tone of voice (TOV) or brand voice guidelines to follow. This helps your marketing team be consistent, not only in every single Instagram caption but also in your tweets, Facebook posts, blog content, email newsletters and more.

4. Incorporate hashtags, emoji, acronyms, etc.

Even for a business, Instagram is still a fun social media platform, so don’t be afraid to let loose a little. Incorporate emoji, use a bit of slang, throw in some popular acronyms (i.e., DM, IRL, IMO, FOMO) and always be sure to use Instagram hashtags.

5. Drive engagement

While someone may “like” your photo just because it’s a high-quality or well-designed photo, as a brand, you’re hoping for a bit more than that. Maybe a comment, a follow or—best-case scenario—a purchase or signup.

To further engage your audience, use your caption strategically. Ask a question or tease a new product or feature. There are a number of ways you can further drive engagement via your Instagram caption.

And to help, check out these caption ideas.

50+ Instagram caption ideas for businesses

Even the best copywriter can occasionally struggle when trying to create concise copy for Instagram and other social media captions. That’s what we’re here for—to supply you with endless inspiration for creating excellent social media content.