Before we jump into writing a better Instagram caption, let’s talk about the why. Two recent studies conducted by industry leaders Later.com and Fohr suggest that Instagram engagement is changing. Today, it’s not enough to post a beautiful image, the caption might be just as important.

According to this study, posts with longer captions have higher engagement rates. Some influencers are micro-blogging on Instagram—turning away from a traditional blog in favor of doing it all on the Instagram app. While I don’t recommend using Instagram as your blog, you can improve your engagement with these tips for writing a better Instagram caption:

1. PLAN AHEAD

The number one thing that you can do to write a better caption is plan ahead. Be thoughtful when you’re posting, don’t just wing it. The really good, juicy captions are written ahead of time. Instagram has a “drafts” option, you can write in the notes section of your phone, or use a planning tool to write and review your posts before you’re ready to publish.

2. USE YOUR OWN VOICE

Another simple thing that you can do to improve your caption is to use your own voice. Find inspiration from other travel bloggers, people outside of the industry, even a mentor, but when it comes to writing your own posts, write in your own unique voice. Think about how you might speak with a close friend or family member. That’s the voice I’m talking about here. Before you hit publish, read your caption aloud and make sure you sound like yourself, not the narrator from Gone With the Wind.

3. USE PARAGRAPH SPACING

As you begin writing longer captions, use paragraph spacing between ideas to improve the flow of your writing. A space indicates a pause and can also add impact. 

Give it a try: Write a three sentence paragraph, then break out the first sentence and read the content aloud. Put the paragraph back together and break out the last sentence. Read the content aloud one more time, and notice the difference.

Adding paragraph spacing is a cinch…outside of Instagram. Open the notes section of your phone and write your caption with spacing. When you copy and paste it into Instagram, your spacing should hold. If you try to add spacing inside of Instagram, it doesn’t stick when you hit publish…this is just one more reason to plan ahead.

4. ADD A CALL TO ACTION

Finally, add a call to action to your post. Ask your followers to engage with you and your post. Be clear and direct. Here are some ideas:

Tag a friend who’d love this story.
Like if you agree.
Double tap if you wish you were here.
Share with someone who needs this right now.
Save this post for your trip to ______.
Hop into my Stories to watch the action live.
Click the link in my bio to read the full blog post.

LOOK AT YOU, YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY TO BETTER CAPTIONS

The best thing about these tips is that you can literally put them into action right now. Spend 5-10 minutes planning your caption in advance, read it aloud and make sure it’s in your own voice, use paragraph spacing to make it easy to read, and include a call to action so readers know just how to respond.

If you’re ready to start writing better Instagram captions, sign up to receive my free guide, 16 Instagram Caption Prompts + CTAs for travel bloggers, here.

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