The #1 Thing Your Instagram Captions Are Missing | Using Instagram Caption Hooks

 

Your instagram caption can make or break the success of your post. The biggest thing your Instagram captions might be missing? A hook! 

 

A hook is one-two sentences that grabs your readers attention. It’s what makes them want to stop their scroll and hit “read more”. You might remember learning about “hooks” back in school when writing an essay. There is a reason we learned how to write them – they ACTUALLY work! You can apply the same idea to Instagram captions!

 

Instagram users scroll FAST and while they scroll they are only shown the first two lines of your caption. This means you have two lines to convince someone to stay around! You could have some amazing content in your caption, but if it is hidden at the end and someone isn’t drawn in, they might miss it. 

 

Let’s talk about types of Instagram caption hooks: 

 

Engaging questions

• • Example: Have you ever discovered something that totally changed your life?

  • Example: Can I tell you something I’ve never talked about before??

Instagram caption hooks in the form of a question can have some range. In this first example, you are engaging the reader to engage in the conversation! The second example is a way to tease the reader by hinting that you’re about to share something that you’ve never talked about before. Your question will depend on what you want from the reader. 

 

Here is a quick example of a post I made with this type of hook! This was a super simple caption overall (the answer to the question is go to Chick-Fil-A for breakfast 😅), but it got TONS of engagement and the hook got people to stick around.

 

 

Specific audience call out

Example: Class of 2022 Seniors – this one’s for you!!

Calling for the attention of a particular audience is a GREAT way to let a reader know that what you are about to say applies to them specifically. Not only will you grab their attention, but they’ll feel special in knowing that you’ve tailored content just for them

 

Captivating statements

Example: I can’t believe I didn’t know this!! 

Example: 3 things you NEED to do before your senior pictures ⬇️

Piquing a reader’s interest this way is one of the most effective uses of a hook. Of course the reader is going to want to be in on whatever secret you’ve discovered! A captivating statement is a quick and easy way to get a reader interested in hearing what you’re going to share next

 

Statistic quote

Example: Content is 40% MORE likely to be shared if you are using good visuals

When using a statistic as a quote, utilize one that matters to your audience! This example applies to photographers, brands, influencers; anyone who wants their content to be spread far and wide. If you’re going to use a statistic, make sure you follow up with why it’s important for your audience to know why you’re telling it to them.

This isn’t a type of Instagram caption hook I use that often, but one thing I do pull from this type of hook is using numbers to catch people’s attention. Maybe you only have 2 spots left for 2022 senior session – use that statistic as a hook and it’ll catch someone’s eye! Here’s an example of when I used a big number ($$ always gets people to stop LOL) as part of my hook:

 

 

Ultimately, I encourage you to start using Instagram caption hooks to really engage your audience!

 

I’ll be honest, this isn’t something I do with every caption (so no pressure), but when I do use hooks, they really help my engagement rates go up! Next time you’re writing an instagram caption, try using one of these hooks to grab your reader’s attention and get them to stick around. 

 

Want some caption ideas and templates to get you started? Click here to get access to 14 Days of Instagram Caption for free!