Instagram Captions that Boost Engagement

Have you ever found yourself scrolling through Instagram, totally envious of the crazy engagement that some of your favorite feeds are attracting? What is it about their Instagram captions that is inspiring so many people to comment – not just a quick “nice post!”, but actual sentences, filled with sincerity?

Even though Instagram is a visual platform, there’s no denying that quality captions are the KEY to drawing in your followers, making them raving fans, and inspiring more sales for your business.

Captions convert, y’all.

In this post, I’m sharing 4 different kinds of Instagram captions that will spark conversation and boost your level of engagement, no matter how large or small your following.

 

You can also check out my free Social Post Masterclass where you’ll learn how to attract qualified leads and clients for your business in even more detail.

Instagram Captions that Get Tons of Engagement:

Getting lots of engagement on Instagram and Facebook posts is great, but before we dive into these captions, let’s talk about the kind of engagement that matters most.

THE KIND OF ENGAGEMENT THAT ACTUALLY MATTERS

Most online business owners focus entirely on the number of likes and comments their content receives. Yay, hearts!

The truth is, likes are the least important form of engagement a post can get. Comments are better – they give you the chance to engage with those followers and start conversations.

But the most powerful kind of engagement you can get on your posts isn’t either of those. Instead, it’s SHARES.

How many people are sharing your posts with their audiences? This is free publicity! You’re getting more eyes on your content and message when your followers share your posts. That also means more people clicking back to your profile and potentially following you.

Here are some examples of posts I’ve shared that have then been shared again. and again by my audience – boosting my visibility and brand recognition.

(You can see these stats on your own IG posts by clicking the blue “View Insights” link under your individual posts.)

Shareable content will get you known faster.

I built my business from low 5-figures to 6-figures+ and received dozens of interview and collaboration invites by posting highly shareable content on Instagram (and, of course, by offering a really awesome service that clients raved about.)

With shareability in mind, let’s take a look at some best practices for captions that boost engagement.

 

Engaging Caption Tip #1 – Bust Objections

 

One of the most effective ways to boost the engagement of your Instagram captions is to call out your ideal clients’ self-limitations and help them see how they’re holding themselves back.

This is how you get people in the DM’s saying “it’s like you read my mind!” or “it’s like you’re speaking right to me!”

You’ll also be prepping people to feel ready for your offer when you reframe those limitations and illuminate a truth that gives them more confidence in themselves.

The first step here is really getting clear on the limiting beliefs and ideas your ideal clients have that are keeping them stuck. Helloooo, market research!

Check out how I did this in the post below.

 

Check out my FREE Social Post Masterclass to learn how to attract more leads & clients with your captions

    Engaging Caption Tip #2 – Inspire Your Audience

    People LOVE to feel inspired and motivated, so tell a story, share a quote, or offer an insight that sparks those feelings for people.

    Pro tip: don’t just share the same recycled quote as everyone else on the internet. BE ORIGINAL. And make it intriguing.

    Check out all of the example content I’ve shared throughout this blog post. All of the graphics are original quotes by me, not the same old generic, overused lines you see all over Instagram.

    You can also share a story to inspire your audience and stand out. What’s an obstacle you’ve overcome or a big accomplishment you’ve achieved? Stories about your badassery (or your clients’) are a great way to grab attention and create engagement.

    Here’s an example from my feed…

     

    Engaging Caption Tip #3 – Share a Polarizing Opinion

    The lesson here is – don’t be watered down and boring. Take a stand for something you believe and make it known.

    You might share something that irks you about your industry, a mistake you see loads of people making that’s holding them back, or a new way of doing things that you’re 100% excited about.

    The point here is to make your audience stop and think, to spark conversation. It’s also about attracting people who share similar values and repelling those who don’t.

    Note: being polarizing isn’t about sh*t talking for the sake of it or putting people down. It’s about standing strong in what you believe and having the guts to share it.

    Here’s an example of a very polarizing opinion I posted that started a LOT of conversations, was shared a ton, and definitely separated me from the noise.

     

     

    Engaging Caption Tip #4 – Make your CTA Easy

    Our last tip to boost engagement with your Instagram captions is to make it easy for your people to take action.

    You’ve probably heard people say “include a call-to-action” in your captions – which just means tell them what step to take next.

    The mistake people usually make is asking their audience to make a giant leap. The more commitment you’re asking for in your CTA, the less likely people will be to make it.

    Book a call at the link in my profile.

    Comment below and tell me your story.

    Send me a DM to join my program.

    These are all examples of CTA’s that people probably won’t act on. Why? Because they’re too big of an ask.

    Casual followers won’t book a call. Most won’t take the time to write out a whole story. And unless your messaging is totally on point, they probably don’t want to join your program.

    Give people a smaller, easier, lower-commitment action to take, and they’ll be way more likely to actually do it.

    Here’s an example of a CTA where I give people two easy options for getting access to my free masterclass…

     

     

    A Few Things to Avoid in Your Instagram Captions:

    Avoid super long captions without any white space. Your die-hard fans will probably read them regardless, but if you want to attract new die-hards, break up paragraphs to make them easier to read.

    Avoid throwing offers at people without clear messaging around the promise and benefits of your program or service. Offer posts tend to get less engagement – so give people a good reason to be interested in what you’re selling!

    Avoid being boring. You’ll notice that the example posts I’ve shared here include original graphics and quotes that I’ve created. This is my signature and it’s helped me stand out more than anything else. Don’t copy people or try to “fit in” with your content. Put your unique spin on it!

    Dive deeper into all of the caption examples I shared here over on Instagram!

     

    Putting some effort and intention into your Instagram captions can be the difference between attracting a stream of leads and sales with your efforts – or just wasting loads of time.

    Check out my FREE Social Post Masterclass to learn how to attract more leads & clients with your captions