How To Write Engaging Instagram Captions That Gets Your Attention

What Constitutes a Good Instagram Caption? 

Compelling captions for your Instagram posts can be an essential factor in increasing engagement on your content. Engagement is critical for the Instagram algorithm because it helps to determine the relevance and quality of your content, which can affect how widely it is distributed.  

When people engage with your content through likes, comments, and other forms of interaction, it signals to Instagram that your content is valuable and should be shown to more people.

In addition to helping with the algorithm, strong copy in your captions can also help to shape your brand's story and personality. It can be particularly important for businesses and influencers, as it can help to establish a connection with your target audience and differentiate you from competitors. 

By crafting captions that effectively communicate your brand's values and brand personality, you can help your Instagram followers understand what makes your brand unique and why they should choose you over others. This can ultimately help to drive sales and build a loyal customer base. 

A good Instagram caption should be catchy and attention-grabbing while also accurately conveying the message or theme of the post. It should be brief and to the point, as most users only read the first few words of a caption before deciding whether or not to engage with the post on their Instagram feed. 

Besides, It is essential for the caption to be relevant to the image or video being posted and to use hashtags and tagging appropriately. Finally, a good Instagram caption should reflect the personality and voice of the person or business posting and potentially include a call to action (CTA) to encourage engagement.

As a rule of thumb, you can use the ABCs of copywriting on Instagram. The "ABCs of copywriting" refer to a set of guidelines that can help make your Instagram captions more effective. Here's what the term stands for:

‍A: Attention-grabbing

Your caption should grab the reader's attention and make them want to keep reading. This can be achieved through strong headlines, emotive language, or provocative questions.

‍B: Benefit-driven

Your caption should clearly communicate the benefits of your product or service to the reader. This could be in the form of how it will make their life easier, more enjoyable, or more fulfilling.

‍C: Clarity

Your caption should be clear and easy to understand. Avoid using jargon or overly complicated language, and try to keep your message concise.

Example of Good Instagram Captions 

Let's take a look at some clear and effective Instagram captions following relevant best practices.

Colour Pop Cosmetics 

Colour Pop Cosmetics, a British beauty brand, is known for its playful use of emojis in its captions. Its light-hearted language and emoji usage appeal to its youthful audience. They've used these caption skills efficiently in this post. 

Louis Vuitton 

Instagram allows users to include up to 30 hashtags per post. However, the ideal number varies depending on your follower count. The key is to experiment with the number and placement of Instagram hashtags and ensure that they are relevant to your post. 

A great example of this is fashion legend Louis Vuitton, who condenses their 2022 fashion week hashtag into "LVFW22" and places it at the beginning of their caption for quick reference, resulting in almost 3k posts as of early March 2022.

What is the Ideal Instagram Caption Length? 

As per Hootsuite, the ideal Instagram app caption length is around 150 characters or less. This length allows you to fully express yourself and add context to your photo or video. 

Additionally, short Instagram captions are more likely to be read and fully understood by your followers. That is because most individuals simply scroll through their feeds. 

Given the fast-paced nature of scrolling through a feed, brevity and impactful language can help ensure your message is effectively conveyed and remembered. So even if you plan to opt for a shorter caption length, try making it impactful. 

How To write a Good Instagram Caption 

Wondering how to write Instagram captions that captivate your audience? Are you ready to start writing Instagram captions? Use our step-by-step guide to write unique and compelling captions for your Instagram account. 

Know Your Audience 

When it comes to writing captions for Instagram that are perfect, it's essential to consider your audience and what they might be interested in. It means understanding their age, interests, and sense of humor. 

If you're targeting a younger audience, you may want to use emojis and trending hashtags to grab their attention. On the other hand, if you're targeting a more mature audience, use a more sophisticated tone.

Make the First Sentence Count 

Get your audience hooked from the start. The first line or sentence of your Instagram caption is crucial. It's the only part that is visible without expanding. So, it's vital to make it compelling. 

You can use a question, tap into your reader's curiosity, or provide valuable information to encourage them to keep reading. 

Write Like a Human (Not a Robot) 

Many social media users can spot a robotic or overly-promotional post from a mile away. To avoid turning off your followers, it's important to write Instagram captions that sound natural and authentic. 

To improve your writing style, try to write as you speak. This will make it easier for your followers to relate to you and trust you. If you're having trouble with this, there's a simple exercise you can try. Use a talk-to-text tool to record yourself speaking about the topic you want to write about. 

Then, transcribe the recording and edit out any natural speech elements to turn it into a written piece. It will help you capture your natural brand voice and style in your writing.

Use Storytelling 

Storytelling has always been a powerful way for humans to connect with each other, and it should be just as significant in Instagram marketing. When it comes to building deeper connections with customers, traditional storytelling methods can be highly effective.

To tell a compelling story on Instagram, it's essential to use sensory language and personal anecdotes to engage your followers. This means using words that describe the sights, sounds, tastes, and feelings associated with your content. By sharing your own thoughts and experiences, you can help your followers feel a more personal connection to your brand.

So, inspire your followers to use all their senses and make them feel something through your social media posts.

Include a CTA or Ask a Question 

Want to increase the chances of your Instagram posts being shared and engaging  your followers? Try adding a call-to-action in your captions. Use words like "click," "visit," "Subscribe," "share," etc., to encourage your audience to take a specific action. 

Plus, include a link in your caption that takes your audience directly to the page or site where they can take the desired action. It makes the process easier for your audience. 

Besides, you can try ending the caption with a question to engage the audience further. It can be a great way to start a conversation and build community.

Add Value 

To write a good Instagram caption, you should aim to add value to your post. One of the most efficient ways of doing so is by considering what your audience likes. Consider what your followers might find useful or interesting about the photo or video you're posting. For instance, you can share tips, advice, or educational content that is relevant to your industry or product. 

Besides, you can use your captions to announce special promotions or discounts to encourage engagement and sales. You can even use your Instagram caption to show how your product or service has helped others. 

Use Eye-Catching Emojis and Have Fun 

Emojis can help add personality and emotion to your caption. They can also help break up longer blocks of text and make your caption more visually appealing. However, you must ensure to use them sparingly and in a way that adds to your message rather than detracts from it. That is, consider the context of your post and use relevant emojis. Emojis should add to the content and not distract from it. Plus, avoid using emojis in a way that could be misinterpreted or viewed as offensive.

Use Hashtags, Limit Yourself to 4 Hashtags 

Hashtags are a powerful tool for increasing the visibility of your posts on Instagram. By including relevant hashtags in your captions, you can make it easier for users interested in a particular topic or theme to discover your content. For example, if you're a fashion blogger, you might use hashtags like #fashion, #style, or #outfitinspo to help your posts reach users who are interested in those topics.

It's important to note that using too many hashtags can come across as spammy and can even hurt your engagement. This is because Instagram's algorithm may penalize posts with excessive hashtags, and users may be less likely to engage with content that appears overly promotional. To avoid this, try limiting yourself to four or fewer hashtags per post.

Cross-promote Your Other Social Channels

You can cross-promote your other social channels like YouTube, Facebook, blog post, or Twitter on your Instagram caption. You can also mention your other social channels in your Instagram captions and include links. 

For example, you could write something like, "For more content like this, follow us on [insert platform] at [insert handle]." Another way to cross-promote your other social channels on Instagram is to include links to your other profiles in your Instagram bio. 

Disclose Sponsored Posts 

On Instagram, it's essential to disclose sponsored posts or reels in the post's caption. That is because it helps ensure that your followers are aware that the content they are viewing is sponsored and not a personal endorsement from you.

To disclose a sponsored post on Instagram, you can add a hashtag such as ‘#sponsored’ or ‘#ad’ to the caption of the post. 

You can also include a brief statement in the caption indicating that the post is sponsored. For example, you could write, "This post is sponsored by [Brand]" or "Thank you to [Brand] for sponsoring this post."

Add Line Breaks to Longer Captions 

No one likes reading a thesis on Instagram. So, if you're going for longer captions on your handle, always add line breaks. There is a simple solution to make your captions easier to read and more engaging for your followers, including these three easy steps to follow:

• Use the return key to create line breaks.
• Utilize bullet points or numbered lists to break up your text.
• Play around with different font sizes and styles to add visual interest.

Use Captions To Build Anticipation Around Launches 

Instagram captions are a powerful tool that can be used to build anticipation around product launches. By using creative and engaging captions, businesses can generate buzz and excitement for their upcoming launch, resulting in more people paying attention and becoming interested in the product or service.

You can use Instagram captions to create a sense of community and engagement around the launch. By asking for feedback and input from your followers or by hosting a contest or giveaway related to the launch, you can create a sense of investment and ownership among your followers, which can drive interest and anticipation for your launch.

Write About Exciting Giveaways and Contests 

You can use Instagram captions to build hype around exciting contests and giveaways. Start by introducing the giveaway or contest in your caption and going on to explain what people can win. Use strong and attention-grabbing language to make the giveaway or contest sound enticing. 

Always explain the rules and how people can enter, including any requirements or restrictions. Additionally, encourage people to share the giveaway or contest with their friends and followers to increase their reach and engagement. 

10 Examples of Brands with Engaging Instagram Captions and What you Can Learn From It

Let's discuss some of the best Instagram captions to inspire your future posts.

1. Soko Glam 

Soko Glam specializes in Korean beauty products. In this specific post, they've used a longer caption to add context to the image.

They take a different approach to promote their number one product in the cleanser category. Rather than simply announcing its popularity, the company highlights the specific benefits and features of the product that address common customer concerns and frustrations.

2. Glossier 

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Engage with your followers by asking them a question in your post's caption. This not only fosters dialogue and connection with your audience but also allows you to gather real-time feedback that can inform the content of your future posts. 

As demonstrated by Glossier, a simple question in a caption can lead to enthusiastic product praise from customers. It generates interest and prompts potential customers to ask for more information about the product.

3. Hubspot  

To capture the attention of Instagram users, it's crucial to make your first line of caption compelling. A great example of this strategy is a post by HubSpot, which received more than 1,700 likes and 30+ comments. 

The post starts with a personal question that prompts readers to think about their answer, which mentally engages them and stops them from scrolling. This question also generated curiosity about the rest of the data HubSpot uncovered, which likely drove a significant amount of traffic to the link in the bio.

4. Nitch 

Quotes can be a powerful tool to enhance your brand's content and convey your values. Utilize an attention-grabbing quote, even if it's a bit polarizing, to capture your readers' interest.

Nitch, a well-known account known for sharing thought-provoking quotes from celebrities and artists, recently shared a quote from Icelandic singer Bjork. 

The quote touched on the controversial decision to pursue a career in art full-time instead of choosing a more stable path, with Bjork stating she couldn't forgive herself if she hadn't. As seen in the comments, the quote received a mixed reaction, with some relating to Bjork's perspective while others found it unrealistic.

5. Vaute Couture 

In this example, Vaute Couture, a renowned clothing brand known for its vegan apparel and animal-friendly designs, has teamed up with renowned vegan chef Chloe Coscarelli to showcase a winter coat. This collaboration occurs at a time when people typically start investing in winter apparel.

The partnership aligns the brand's mission and marketing messages with an influencer who shares the same values and vision. It is a prime example of successful Instagram influencer marketing. 

6. MAC Cosmestics 

Using emojis in captions is a popular way to engage with audiences. One brand that effectively utilizes emojis is MAC Cosmetics. They use relevant emojis, such as lipsticks, diamonds, and high heels, to enhance the aesthetic of their posts and provide readers with an engaging, colorful display of product details. 

7. Microsoft  

Storytelling is a powerful tool for building connections with consumers on social media. Brands that use traditional storytelling techniques can capture the attention of their followers and keep them engaged. 

A great example of storytelling on social media is the Microsoft in Culture Instagram account. They use the words of their employees, such as Anna Miller, to break down misconceptions and showcase their passion for coding. The short but magnetic story encourages followers to learn more by visiting the link in the bio.

8. Vans 

Maintaining a consistent tone in your Instagram captions helps your followers know what to expect from you. A uniform style across all of your captions will keep them coming back for similar content. 

For example, shoe company Vans targets a young audience and uses a relaxed, fun brand voice that is consistent across all of their Instagram captions, as seen in their use of a conversational tone and sentence structure resembling text messages from a friend. This consistency creates a strong brand identity and makes your brand memorable.

9. Lulelemon  

Instagram coach Sue Zimmerman suggests utilizing short captions, one to two sentences, or a micro-blog with more context, to write effective captions. 

Athletic gear retailer Lululemon effectively conveys an inspiring message about practice and resilience with a couple of concise sentences, exemplifying the power of a simple, focused message.

10. Atlassian  

Instagram lacks built-in buttons or links within each post, making it difficult to direct users to your website or other platforms. However, this doesn't mean you can't include a call-to-action (CTA) in your captions. In fact, including a relevant CTA that encourages action is crucial for your Instagram marketing strategy.

An excellent example of this is Atlassian's post caption, which not only directs followers to the link in their bio but also gives a clear benefit for doing so. Remember to link your calls to action with a benefit for your followers.

Use Scalenut AI To Write Your Instagram Captions

Are you having difficulty coming up with engaging Instagram captions for your posts? Scalenut's social media post generator can help make the process a breeze. It uses advanced natural language processing techniques to understand the context of the photo and suggest captions that are relevant and engaging.

With just a few clicks, you can generate multiple caption options and easily copy and paste them into your account. Our social media post generator is programmed to create posts that are tailored to specific audience demographics. Besides, it helps maintain a consistent tone across multiple social media platforms. 

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