FAQs about writing captions
I'm sure many of you reading this are expecting me to lay out the *secret formula* for writing captions for social media.
Now, I COULD give you the information everyone else is laying out for you OR we can do it the Erin way and come from completely out of the left field.
From the left then, shall we?
I did still want the information in this FAQ series to be specific and actionable, so let's walk through a few of the most asked Q's about writing captions for social media.
How do I pick what to write about in my social media captions?
When it comes to writing captions, it’s important to focus on YOUR AUDIENCE. Not Sally Sue’s or even Fohr’s.
The content you produce should be based on your own insights and what your audience wants to see from you and your content.
Did a particular post have a significant uptick in engagement? Maybe one of your Stories resulted in a bunch of DMs? Did a newsletter you sent out garner a ton of interest?
Pay attention to what *kind* of content did well -- the topic, how you wrote the post or email, etc.
Then create more of that content.
I can't tell you what will work best for your audience (well, I can. But that requires us to be working together!), but you can absolutely figure it out on your own with a little digging.
How do I write a good social media caption?
Here are some basic elements of a good caption:
An attention-grabbing hook
A compelling story
A solution to a problem
A killer CTA
Yes, the elements of a good caption that everyone discusses helps to set the stage for a captivating and compelling caption. But social media in 2020 is deeper than that.
It’s about infusing your PERSONALITY and EXPERTISE into the copy and presenting information in a way that’s uniquely YOU. All the while ensuring your content is ALWAYS written with your community and their needs in mind.
Some people's audiences LOVE when they tell captivating stories about their own life and work. Other audiences love when you pack captions full of value and tips.
There is no one-size-fits-all here.
How do I find out what my audience wants to see in my captions?
I don't think you're ready for this answer...
ASK THEM.
It's truly as simple as that.
Strike up a convo in the DMs with someone in your community and ask, "Is there something you'd like to see from my content?"
Use Instagram's polls and Q stickers in Stories to do market research.
Get on a call with a few past or ideal clients and inquire.
The worst thing you can do?
Assume.
Remember that social media is a place to be social. Relationships are formed online and assumptions are the #1 killer of a good connection.
So, get curious and get social.
This should be a good jumping-off point for you now that you have my answers to the 3 Q’s I’m asked most about writing captions.
If you haven't seen the other blog in this FAQ series about content creation, be sure to give that a read. And stay tuned for the last blog in this FAQ series: engaging with clients!
If you have Q’s of your own that I haven’t answered yet, let me know by commenting below or reaching out to me on Instagram!