Ah — the ever elusive perfect Instagram caption. It seems like there are so many opinions on how to write the one that’s going to get you those followers, those profile visits, that viral post. Everyone has opinions and everyone claims to have figured out the “secret formula.”

Well — we aren’t going to be sharing any sort of “secret formula,” but we CAN tell you how to write a caption that is clear and gets your point across in a way that adds value to your followers.

Here are a few tips you can follow when writing your Instagram captions.

Instagram Caption Tip #1: Stop the Scroll

You know when you’re scrolling through and you see a graphic that is bold and eye catching so you stop to see what they have to say in the caption? That’s what we’re talking about here. 

If you aren’t creating content that stops your followers in their social media tracks, then what you write in the caption doesn’t really matter. Focus on creating graphics and photos that are on brand, eye-catching, and offer information that benefits your readers and encourages them to read that caption!

And a little word of advice here? Sometimes stopping the scroll actually means going AGAINST a trend to jar your scrollers out of the Instagram trance. Don’t be afraid to go against the grain — it’s more rewarding than you think.

Instagram Caption Tip #2: Break the Rules

We are always going to be advocates for doing your own thing and breaking the rules of grammar or formality in your copy. Your instagram captions are a PRIME place to showcase your brand’s voice!

Is saying “y’all” on brand for you?
What about a TON of punctuation!?!?!?!? 
Is your brand known for your use of emojis 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️ THEN USE THEM! 

Bottom line: Use your captions to throw rules out the window and infuse your brand’s personality into every inch of that copy.

Instagram Caption Tip #3: ALWAYS (and we mean always) include a strong CTA! 

If you want people to engage with your content then you have to tell them what to do! 

👊🏼 If you want people to DM you for more info — tell them to!
👊🏼 If you want people to comment with their favorite restaurants  — ask them to! 
👊🏼 If you want people to click the link in your bio to read your blog post — tell them to! 

Giving people a clear action to take from your post will create a place for people to engage and after all, social media is all about socializing, right?

Instagram Tip #4: Utilize White Space

Just like when you’re writing long-form content — utilizing white space is another way to give visual breaks for your readers in your captions. One giant block of text under your post can be intimidating to read and may make your readers check out before they even give it a chance. 

Use line breaks, lists, and emojis as a way to create those visual breaks for your readers. Breaking up the content makes it easier to see and easier to read and your readers will thank you for that.

There is no “secret-formula” here, but putting all of these tips together WILL take your captions to the next level and help you provide that meaningful content for your followers. (And if you need help — we’ve got your back! Book a free Discovery Call with Carter House Copy today.