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Guide to Good Caption Writing



Caption Writing to Captivate Your Audience


3 seconds.


That’s all you get is 3 seconds. 3 seconds to capture the attention of everyone scrolling through social media.


How do you do this? For starters, you need to have an intriguing visual to stop their scroll. After that, it’s all about the caption, so you need to have a strong hook. That first sentence must make them say, “ok, tell me more”!


Before you start writing, take a moment for some prep work. What is your intention of the post you’re creating a caption for? Are you hoping to receive answers to a question in the comments? Do you want your audience to take a specific action after reading your post? Or are you simply looking to inform them? Writing with intention is an absolute must!

If you have a basic caption idea, take it a step further and consider how to incorporate an open-ended question to encourage conversation and engagement. Now we’re getting into the meat and potatoes of your caption. This is where you want to add value. Adding value doesn’t mean you always have to inform your audience; providing them with some inspiration for their day or even a joke could be just what they need!


Once you have your caption written, adding a Call to Action (CTA) at the bottom may be a good idea. Don’t do this every single time. Sprinkle it in to nudge the audience in the right direction. Here are some examples of CTAs you could use:

  • Double tap if you can relate

  • Save this post for later

  • Follow us for more [tips, inspo, ideas, etc.]

  • Learn more – Visit our website – Link in bio

  • Share if you agree

  • Avoid FOMO – Subscribe to our [email list, newsletter, blog, etc.]

Let’s review. To captivate your audience in 3 seconds, you should:

  • Use an intriguing visual

  • Know your intention/goal of the post

  • Have an opening hook

  • Provide value and encourage conversation

  • End with a call to action

Finally, I want to leave you with this – DON’T OVERTHINK IT!

That’s right, don’t think so hard about what you’re writing. Remember to stay true to who you are: your personality, your brand, and your beliefs. If you do that, the words will flow. Social media is about making genuine connections with real people, so humanize your captions by being you.


If you’re still feeling stuck, our inbox is always open.


Author/Editor: Vicki Goebner

Associate Editor: Jennifer Hart


 

About the Author: Vicki Goebner, Social Philly


Vicki Goebner is the founder of Social Philly, a social media management organization that helps small businesses and personal brands grow their online presence. Vicki is passionate about taking entrepreneurs’ social media to the next level by implementing strategies proven to initiate organic growth. She is one of Hart House Creative's collaborators. Follow Vicki on Instagram @SocialPhilly for best practices to help your brand thrive.


 

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Hart House Creative, its employees, partners, The Squeeze, and guest writers make no guarantees for results. Methods and marketing suggestions are based on prior knowledge and with the intent to inspire business owners and other creatives. Every client is different with different goals. None will be held liable for any negative results achieved from implementing suggestions from our website.

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