How to Write Captions Like a Pro
Caption writing is often overlooked, but it is a crucial skill when building a social media brand or account. Writing engaging and effective captions are the key to hooking your audience and generating authentic interactions. So, next time you’re about to post on your Instagram or TikTok, use the following tips to write a compelling, captivating caption.
Write like a human. With AI becoming more and more prevalent in social media, it’s important to remember that human connections are what social media is all about. Write in a voice that’s authentic, conversational, and down to earth. Avoid speaking in the third person or sounding too cold or formal.
Tell a story. Storytelling is a key component of all content, from images and video to writing. When crafting a caption, think about your connection to the content and tell your audience about it. Is it a photo or video of your favorite food? Do you have a special memory attached to it? The more authentic and communicative you are, the more you’ll engage your audience.
Use hashtags wisely. To attract a wider audience, it’s important to use hashtags that are relevant to your content and popular within your niche. This will increase your discoverability and helps to broaden your reach. However, you don’t want to use too many hashtags or scatter them within your caption, as that can appear too spammy. Using somewhere between nine to 15 hashtags on Instagram and three to six hashtags on TikTok is right in the sweet spot — but save them all for the end of your caption.
Put the important message at the front of your caption. If you want your entire caption to be visible before the “read more” button, keep your caption to 125 characters or less. If not, everything after that cutoff point won’t be visible unless your audience clicks that button, which not everyone will. So, if you’re going to have a longer caption, put the important information right at the front, and save mentions and hashtags for the end.
Use humor. Adding a touch of humor to your captions will show your relatable side and establish a friendly relationship with your audience. Again, keeping that authentic and approachable tone is key.
Edit. This one may be self-explanatory. Before posting, always double-check your caption to make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. Those will confuse your audience and can cause your caption to lose its impact.
Be consistent. People follow brands and influencers because they feel connected to them, and that comes from consistency. Keep your brand voice consistent and that will strengthen your authenticity and identity.
Use a call to action. If your content is meant to prompt a response, be it by clicking on a link in the bio or using a branded hashtag, say it! Direct your audience to the link in bio or instruct them on how to use the hashtag — just be sure to include the context so they know why it’s important.
Analyze and try again. The algorithms for social media apps are always changing, and something that works one day may not pay off on the next. Experiment with different captions, CTAs, and content, see what your audience responds to, and use that to write captions going forward.
At Foodie Tribe we help brands manage their social media accounts and create content, including caption writing! If you want to learn more or work with us visit foodietribe.com!