We all know that “ A picture is worth a thousand words,” but does this statement hold true when it comes to the visual platform of Instagram? It’s all about the beautifully-shot photos after all, right? That’s not always true. You’re missing out on the opportunity to tell a great if you just treat your Instagram caption as an afterthought.

Why does the caption matter?

It doesn’t just complement your photo, it completes it. More than just a photo on the screen, you can share so much more with your followers—a story, an emotion, a joke, a glimpse of why you felt the photo IG-worthy in the first place. Part of the success of social media and Instagram, in particular, is the ability to share snaps and stories. A great caption gives you a chance to connect and speak to your followers intimately.

Engagement will go a long way

More than a beautifully shot and edited photo, what will make your followers comment and like the photo is an interesting or witty caption. So take the time to craft one, and make an effort to talk to your followers and engage them in a conversation through your caption.

What brands have gotten it right?

Benefit’s Instagram page is beautiful, having a colorful scheme down and awesome product shots animated to perfection. But what sets the page apart and makes the brand successful on Instagram are the witty and well-crafted captions that drive the engagement of the posts:

History Cool Kids is an Instagram page that posts daily content about interesting facts in history. These powerful photos in history only work because of the caption that tells the story behind each post:

Now that you understand why writing a good caption for your Instagram post is a must, we’ve prepared a list to help you out.

How to Write Engaging Instagram Captions for Your Photos:

• Write some copy options first. You don’t need to commit to one right away. Take your time and see which caption feels right for your photo and your brand.
• Emojis help. Sometimes adding a cute visual element in your caption makes it more interesting and eye-catching as your followers scroll through their feed.
• Add a call to action. What do you want your followers to do? Visit your website? Or maybe check out your bio for more details? Get a better turnout for your goals when you include a CTA message in your caption.
• Ask your followers a question and get to know them more. You can also ask them to tag their friends in the photo. Find ways for people to engage with your posts and discover even more content from your page.
• Try to keep it short and sweet. Avoid the dreaded “. . . more” button that comes with a long caption and keep them nice and short. If you really can’t limit the words, then try to front load the important things you want to say so they get displayed on the feed.

The next time you have an IG-worthy photo, try out these tips on writing your caption before you hit post!

For more articles about how to improve your content, visit the Crafters.

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