Since the dawn of Instagram, creating clever social media captions has become somewhat of a national pastime, and as a result, businesses have had to step up their game to match the effort. These short blurbs give you the opportunity to add context, drive engagement, and connect with your audience in a way that shows off your personality, so learning how to write compelling social media captions is essential for any marketing strategy. Here’s Neon Canvas‘ masterclass on the subject – don’t be afraid to take notes!
The Challenge: Beating the Digital Attention Span
There’s no doubt that our society’s attention spans have decreased pretty drastically over the decades, but on social media, it’s even more important to catch and hold attention in as little time as possible. The highest-performing videos are typically 15 seconds or less, but more often than not, users are only giving a post two seconds to get them hooked before scrolling to the next photo or video. Two seconds.
That means that when you sit down to write a caption, you’re stepping up to one of the tallest tasks: compelling users to continue reading your work past that two-second mark and engaging with the post from there.
If done well, your social media captions provide a moment in time for your users to feel connected to your brand’s personality. In turn, this makes them more likely to interact with your posts in the future and remember your brand when it’s time to get braces.
How to Write Compelling Captions
Shaping up your social media captions is a matter of applying several key tactics. Here are a few tips from our copywriters to keep in mind the next time you sit down to write a tagline for a new post.
Tip #1: Keep Your Captions Concise & Engaging
With limited time to capture a user’s attention, every word in a caption must serve a purpose, but being concise doesn’t mean sacrificing engagement. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. By striking the right balance, these blurbs can ensure each word not only conveys information but also resonates with the reader, piquing their interest and encouraging further interaction. It’s a delicate dance between information and intrigue.
By mastering this balance, businesses can create captions that inform and inspire, turning passive scrollers into active engagers, all within a few carefully chosen words.
Tip #2: Remember the 5 W’s
Your caption should provide your readers with relevant information that isn’t included in the picture or graphic you’re posting, which means you should ask yourself the following questions: who, what, when, where, and why. By using the 5 W’s as a guideline for every caption, you’ll be sure to answer all the questions your readers might have about your post before they ask them, making them more likely to trust your content and continue reading more.
Remember: not every post requires an answer to all five questions. These questions form a solid checklist to ensure your bases are covered.
Tip #3: Use Emojis (The Right Way)
Everyone loves an emoticon! When used correctly, emojis can be excellent tools for making your captions more relatable, understandable, and engaging. They help your readers imagine themselves as a part of your post, making them more likely to stick around for more. Be as creative as you like, but a good rule of thumb is to use them like you would use punctuation: at the ends of sentences to emphasize your thoughts.
Be careful not to overuse them, however; too many emojis can come across as overly “salesy,” reducing the impact of your post. It’s also important to remember that many emojis have social connotations that shouldn’t be ignored. Use timeless and relevant emojis to avoid committing a social media faux pas (or ask us for help – that’s why we’re here!)
Tip #4: Highlight Your Professional Opinion
In the vast landscape of social media, standing out requires more than just catchy phrases; it demands credibility. Captions offer a unique opportunity to showcase expertise and knowledge. By infusing your captions with insights, facts, or industry updates, you position your brand as a trusted source of information.
It’s not just about telling your audience what you do but also demonstrating why they should listen. Every caption becomes a testament to your brand’s competence and commitment to its field. Over time, consistently authoritative captions build trust, fostering a loyal audience that not only engages with your content but also values and relies on your insights.
Tip #5: Include a Call to Action
No post is complete without a call to action – encouraging your followers to act is the whole point of posting, after all! Some CTAs can be as simple as “call our office” or “schedule a free consultation,” – but some of the most engaging ones are those that start conversations in the comments. Don’t be afraid to try asking a question, calling for shoutouts, or even giving followers a reason to tag other users.
Consult the Pros at Neon Canvas
When in doubt, our team of copywriters is here to help you put your best social media foot forward. From Instagram and Facebook captions to blogs and everything in between, Neon Canvas has a talented team of individuals who will help you make your mark on any social media outlet, so contact our team to learn how we can help you today!