Social media captions can be a gold mine for connection, but they’re often overlooked in favor of flashy images and fun videos. While social media platforms are predominantly visual, words have power too, and they shouldn’t be wasted! A carefully crafted caption presents you with a direct line of communication to your audience, increases engagement, and gives you added visibility. But where to begin? As part of our “How To Create Amazing Social Media Content” series, we’re going to look at how you can generate captions that will stop followers from scrolling past your posts and invite meaningful interaction instead. Here’s how to get started!
Find your purpose
All good marketing copy starts with a well-defined purpose. When you sit down to create a particular piece of social media content, the first thing you should ask yourself is what you’re trying to accomplish with this post. What response are you hoping for? What do you want followers to take away from it? Every caption will ideally include a call to action, but that doesn’t have to be a special offer or anything fancy. For example, comments encourage engagement, while clicking on your latest blog will increase website traffic. Be clear on the kind of action you want your post to inspire, and be sure to outline the next step you want your followers to take.
Provide relevant content
Let’s be honest—when we follow a business or brand on social media, there’s always a part of us wondering, “what’s in it for me?” To make the most impact with your social media captions, you first need to understand what your audience wants and needs. Compelling content comes from asking what your followers care about, what problems they’re trying to solve, what inspires them, and what influences them. And that’s before you ever write a single word!
For the answers to these questions and more, look for clues in the conversations you’re already having with clients and followers. Comments left on social media, reviews of your business, and emails you’ve received from those interested in your services often contain a wealth of valuable information, as well. You can use all of these to your advantage when identifying what kind of social media content would be most relevant to your target audience.
Use your own “voice”
It can be tempting to look at businesses that have been wildly successful on their social media platforms and wish you were a bit more like them. You may even consider copying some of their strategies or “borrowing” their style. Finding and using your own voice is far more effective, however! By embracing what’s unique about you, you’ll come across as authentic and engaged rather than insincere and desperate for clicks. The easiest way to accomplish this is to write your captions in a way that someone close to you would recognize. Think about how you would word your post if it were something you wanted to tell a friend, and go from there!
Refine your storytelling skills
What does every popular social media account have in common? The people behind them have mastered the art of storytelling! They’ve not only learned how to tell a good story, they see the value in collecting stories, too. Most of us have a go-to cache of stories that we love to tell at dinners, parties, or family get-togethers. After all, if a story can make your next-door neighbor laugh or fascinate your office manager, why wouldn’t it work the same way on social media?
You don’t want to just dump these stories on your social media all at once, though. Instead, create a “story bank” of your most entertaining, moving, and informative tales. You can write them down in a notebook, type them out in a notes app, or keep an open document going. There’s no need to lay out the entire story, either—a few bulletpoints should do for hitting the highlights. Now you have a collection of stories to draw from whenever you want to write a caption that’s funny, written from the heart, or packing an emotional punch.
Build on the initial engagement
Okay, you’ve done your homework and figured out the needs and wants of your target audience. You’ve got a clear purpose in mind for your post, and opened things up with some solid storytelling in your own voice. Congratulations, you’re now primed for optimal engagement! This is where the real magic happens, since every post you make on social media is an opportunity to build a better relationship with your followers and learn more about how to successfully engage them.
One of the easiest ways to do this is by replying to all comments, answering any questions that come up, and thanking those who take the time to respond to your posts. Comment counts are visible to anyone scrolling through Facebook or Instagram, and an active conversation is enticing! As more people jump in, pay attention to what they’re saying to you and each other for further insights about future marketing plans.
Level up with game-changing captions from Neon Canvas
Whatever your business, your social media captions shouldn’t be an afterthought. Using the tips we’ve listed above, you’ll be able to create content that stands out from the crowd. But what if you don’t have the time or desire to do it yourself?
Here at Neon Canvas, we know how important it is to craft content that appeals to your target audience not just initially, but over time as well. Our content writing experts will work with you to capture the spirit and voice of your brand, allowing them to create personalized captions for your social media that are authentic, engaging, and unique. Everyone has a story to tell, and we’re here to help you tell yours!
Don’t let the power of a well-worded caption pass you by. Whether you’re writing your own using our advice or looking to collaborate with our creative team, you have the opportunity to make an impact with your audience. Use it to your advantage and see where it takes you!
Kyle Fagala, DDS, MDS
Co-Founder, Neon Canvas