A Caption Is Worth a Million Words

Jillian Parks
October 10, 2022

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but we say the right caption can be worth a million.

In the era of social media, a picture is not enough to showcase your brand personality. Whether you’re attempting to appear as a lighthearted fashion guru, or promoting your newly founded glass-blowing business, Instagram captions play a crucial role in engagement and click through rates for your company. While A-list celebrities can afford to use single emojis, new influencers and small businesses should be utilizing captions to share their unique stories, and better yet, connect with their audience. Connection is key for standing out in our world.

Here are our five favorite tips for creating effective and engaging Instagram captions to keep your audience coming back for more.  

1. Write a Hook

Pulling your audience in with your first line can make or break your post-engagement. You want the first few lines of your caption to be visible to your viewers, and attention-grabbing enough to make your audience continue reading. 

Some examples could include hard-hitting statistics, sharing an exclusive offer, or driving home an emotional response.

 

2. Include a Call-to-Action

A Call-to-Action (CTA) can be something as simple as asking for a “double tap.” That’s it. Statistics prove that even the smallest CTA can encourage more engagement for your page. A CTA can strengthen the sense of community for your brand, as well as provide positive indicators for the Instagram algorithm, which can lead to more exposure for your post.

Ask your followers to “tag a friend,” “swipe up,” or “tell us what you think in the comments.” 

 

3. Create a Custom Font

If you’re seeking to draw more attention to a particular line in your caption, consider creating a custom font to make certain phrases stand out. Tools, such as IGfonts.io, can generate a range of fonts that you can customize. 

You can also include eye-catching emojis and symbols that can make parts of your caption stand out even more.

 

4. Add Value

The entire point of a caption is to add value to your brand that your photo can’t provide. Including “tips and tricks,” or any type of content that educates your audience further on your service, product, etc., will lead to the greater likelihood of your post getting shared or saved.

 

5. Tell a Story

Paint a picture for your audience. Show don’t tell how that dress you’re selling can make someone feel on their first date, or how your new ocean-scented candle can transport anyone right to the edge of the beach. Using sensory words can add spice to your captions and make your audience truly feel how you want them to.

We'd like to thank Jillian Warren, from the LaterBlog, for sparking our inspiration.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOr
Jillian Parks is a Fifty Six Social Media Marketing Intern. She is a student at Virginia Tech located in Blacksburg, Virginia studying Marketing Management, but her hometown resides in Sparta, New Jersey. In her free time, she loves taking her dog, Jenna, for walks and traveling to new places. She hopes to live in New York City full-time after graduating.
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A Caption Is Worth a Million Words

Jillian Parks
October 10, 2022

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but we say the right caption can be worth a million.

In the era of social media, a picture is not enough to showcase your brand personality. Whether you’re attempting to appear as a lighthearted fashion guru, or promoting your newly founded glass-blowing business, Instagram captions play a crucial role in engagement and click through rates for your company. While A-list celebrities can afford to use single emojis, new influencers and small businesses should be utilizing captions to share their unique stories, and better yet, connect with their audience. Connection is key for standing out in our world.

Here are our five favorite tips for creating effective and engaging Instagram captions to keep your audience coming back for more.  

1. Write a Hook

Pulling your audience in with your first line can make or break your post-engagement. You want the first few lines of your caption to be visible to your viewers, and attention-grabbing enough to make your audience continue reading. 

Some examples could include hard-hitting statistics, sharing an exclusive offer, or driving home an emotional response.

 

2. Include a Call-to-Action

A Call-to-Action (CTA) can be something as simple as asking for a “double tap.” That’s it. Statistics prove that even the smallest CTA can encourage more engagement for your page. A CTA can strengthen the sense of community for your brand, as well as provide positive indicators for the Instagram algorithm, which can lead to more exposure for your post.

Ask your followers to “tag a friend,” “swipe up,” or “tell us what you think in the comments.” 

 

3. Create a Custom Font

If you’re seeking to draw more attention to a particular line in your caption, consider creating a custom font to make certain phrases stand out. Tools, such as IGfonts.io, can generate a range of fonts that you can customize. 

You can also include eye-catching emojis and symbols that can make parts of your caption stand out even more.

 

4. Add Value

The entire point of a caption is to add value to your brand that your photo can’t provide. Including “tips and tricks,” or any type of content that educates your audience further on your service, product, etc., will lead to the greater likelihood of your post getting shared or saved.

 

5. Tell a Story

Paint a picture for your audience. Show don’t tell how that dress you’re selling can make someone feel on their first date, or how your new ocean-scented candle can transport anyone right to the edge of the beach. Using sensory words can add spice to your captions and make your audience truly feel how you want them to.

We'd like to thank Jillian Warren, from the LaterBlog, for sparking our inspiration.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOr
Jillian Parks is a Fifty Six Social Media Marketing Intern. She is a student at Virginia Tech located in Blacksburg, Virginia studying Marketing Management, but her hometown resides in Sparta, New Jersey. In her free time, she loves taking her dog, Jenna, for walks and traveling to new places. She hopes to live in New York City full-time after graduating.
BACK TO FINDINGS