Using Instagram to promote yourself and your work is not a new concept. Yet because social media changes constantly, it’s important to understand how to craft the perfect caption for each post.
It’s important to keep up not only on trends but also on changes in the algorithms and how the platform works as a whole in order to be able to put your content in front of as many users as possible.
Why is Instagram marketing important?
The average person spends about one hour on social media every day, according to a report from eMarketer. According to data from 2020, Instagram is now the second most popular social media platform with over a billion active users.
With so much time spent on IG, you want to make sure your posts are seen by as many users as possible, and one way to do that is by using hashtags and keywords within your captions, but we’ll cover the specifics in just a bit.
How long should an Instagram caption ideally be?
If you’re wondering how long your Instagram captions should be, the answer is: it depends. There is no magic number of words or characters that will guarantee engagement from your followers. The key is to strike a balance between providing enough information to pique interest and keeping your caption short enough that people will actually read it.
When it comes to Instagram captions, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The perfect caption will vary depending on the content of your post, who your target audience is, and what you’re trying to achieve with your post.
If you’re new to social media at all, you might be wondering what hashtags are or at least curious as to how they add to your caption. Hashtags are essentially keywords that allow users to find content that is relevant to their interests.
Hashtags can be added anywhere in your caption, but IG will only display the first 30 characters of your caption, so if you’re going to use hashtags, it’s best to place them at the end of your caption so that your caption doesn’t look cluttered at first glance.
When used correctly, hashtags can help you reach a wider audience, but beware of using too many hashtags as this can make your post look spammy.
The use of hashtags on Instagram has evolved over the years. What started as a way to categorize photos and connect with others who were interested in similar content, has turned into a way for brands and businesses to reach new audiences.
While there are no hard and fast rules for how many hashtags to use, the general consensus is that using between 5-15 hashtags per post will give you the best results.
Some basic guidelines to crafting a great IG caption
There are some general guidelines you can follow to make sure your captions are just right. Let’s take a look at a few of these guidelines and how you can implement them in your own social media marketing:
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Keep it short and sweet
As we mentioned before, people are more likely to read and engage with shorter Instagram captions. In general, you should aim for captions that are less than 200 characters.
This doesn’t mean your caption has to be super short – just that you should focus on making every word count. If you can say what you need to say in fewer words, that’s usually the best option.
Hashtags are a great way to reach new audiences and get your content seen by more people. However, it’s important to use them strategically.
Using too many hashtags – or using irrelevant hashtags – can make your post look spammy and turn people off from engaging with your content. Instead, focus on using a few well-chosen hashtags that are relevant to your post and will help you reach your target audience.
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Write as you speak
When it comes to social media, the way you write should reflect the way you speak. This means using natural language and avoiding industry jargon.
The goal is to sound like a real person, not a robot. So, write like you would if you were having a conversation with a friend. This will help your captions feel more relatable and approachable.
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Use calls to action
A call to action (or CTA) is an instruction that tells your followers what you want them to do next. For example, you might use a CTA to encourage people to like your post, leave a comment, or visit your website. Sometimes all you need to do is ask your audience’s opinions on the subject you’re talking about and you’ll be able to rack up a lot of engagement!
Using CTAs in your Instagram captions can help increase engagement and get people interacting with your content. Just be sure to keep your CTAs short, sweet, and relevant to the rest of your caption.
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Tell a story
People love stories. So, if you can find a way to incorporate a story into your Instagram caption, you’re more likely to capture people’s attention and get them interested in what you have to say.
Think about the overall story you’re trying to tell with your Instagram account and look for ways to weave that story into your individual posts. This will help create a sense of cohesion and make it easy for people to follow along with what you’re saying.
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Use emojis
Emojis are a great way to add personality to your Instagram captions. They can also help break up long blocks of text and make your caption more visually appealing.
When using emojis, be sure to use them sparingly. Too many emojis can make your caption look unprofessional or juvenile. A good rule of thumb is to limit yourself to one or two emojis per caption.
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Write your captions ahead of time
Writing your captions altogether for the next week, or month, or however far in advance you schedule your content to post automatically can really help you focus on the task at hand and not have to think too hard about what you’re going to say each time you post. This can also help make sure your captions are well written and on brand.
If you don’t already have your Instagram content scheduled for automation, consider doing so! You can learn more about it here.
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Edit, edit, edit!
Before you hit “publish” or “schedule”, take a step back and read over your caption one more time. This is your last chance to make any changes or corrections, so it’s important to take a few minutes to proofread your work. Double check the length while you’re at it, too. You don’t want to post a novel, but make sure that there’s enough pertinent information that gets people interested in your content and wanting to make a purchase!
Once you’re happy with how your caption looks, go ahead and hit publish!
By following these tips, you can make sure your Instagram captions are just the right length – and that they’re helping you achieve your social media marketing goals.
To sum it up:
The perfect Instagram caption will vary depending on the content of your post and what you’re trying to achieve with your post. There is no magic number of words or characters that will guarantee engagement from your followers. The key is to strike a balance between providing enough information to pique interest and keeping your caption short enough that people will actually read it. When it comes to hashtags, less is more. Use between 5-15 hashtags per post for the best results.
Consider hiring someone outside of your company to handle writing your Instagram copy
If writing IG captions is not your strong suit, look to someone that writes social media copy for a living. This can help ensure that your captions are well written and on brand.
C&I Studios offers social media marketing services, including writing on-brand Instagram captions that will bring you positive results in purchase conversions, follows, and engagement. Contact us to learn more!
Go forth and write!
We hope this blog post has helped you to not only craft a long-enough, but not too long IG caption for your posts and reels, but has also given you ideas on what your captions should include in order to be successful.
Start brainstorming all of the different types of content you can post on IG and all of the amazing captions you can write to go along with each post!
Still have questions or want to start collaborating with C&I Studios? Drop us a line here and we’ll get started creating great content together!