5 Engagement Boosting Social Media Copywriting Tips
Social media copywriting is the unsung hero of Instagram engagement. Hashtags, posting times, and caption length are engagement tactics that get a lot of attention, but the answer to low engagement could be a matter of choosing words that resonate more on distraction-filled social media.
Instagram copywriting is a great investment in your social media strategy because it gets thumbs double tapping. When words turn passive viewers into active participants content visibility increases. The more interaction a post receives the more Instagram algorithms push the content to reach people beyond your active followers.
This article shares five social media copywriting tips for Instagram, and any other platform, to connect more deeply with your audience and inspire them to interact.
Social Media Copywriting 101
Brief captions are a must on every social media platform. Instagram captions, for example, only allow for 2,200 characters.
Think short sentences, bullet points, emojis. The golden rule: Don’t repeat the information in the visual portion of your post in the caption.
Instead use the caption to add context or inspire the user to take the next step, be it hitting like or signing up for your newsletter.
Here are the basic elements of of social media caption writing.
Hook: This is the opening line. As the name suggests, the goal of that line is to draw the reader in. It’s where engagement begins.
Body: This is where you dive deeper into the content of your post. Share a story, offer insights, or provide valuable information that relates back to the hook. Keep it concise but engaging.
Call to Action (CTA): End with a clear, concise directive that encourages your audience to take a specific action. This could be to engage with the post, learn more by clicking a link, or follow your account.
Below I’ll give examples of social media copywriting tips for captions. You can also apply these concepts for short form video scripts for Reels and to design engaging carousel posts.
What Makes Content Engaging?
Social media isn't just about good-looking photos. If you want to grow your email list, get more people to visit your website, increase interaction, or sell something, the words you use are key. They can either make someone interested in what you're offering or make them ignore your post.
It all comes down to making content people can relate to. Here are three things to keep in mind to make your social media writing more engaging:
Make it Relatable: Your followers should be able to see themselves in what you write. It’s like showing them a story where they are the main character.
Make the Reader Feel Smart: It’s not about how much you know. It’s about making your followers feel like they’ve learned something new and useful.
Ask for Their Input: Good posts invite followers to share their own ideas and experiences. It’s about starting a conversation, not just talking at them.
So, what's the secret to getting this right? Let’s go over five ways to write social media posts that get more likes, comments, and shares.
Social Media Copywriting Tips To Boost Instagram ENGAGEMENT
1. Use Anecdotes For Engaging Social Media Storytelling
Effective storytelling on Instagram is relatable. The goal is an aha moment when a connection is made between concept and application of your message.
The best thing about storytelling in marketing is that it doesn’t require any new skills – just a little creative brainstorming.
Thinking of anecdotes is a great place to start. What is an anecdote? An anecdote is a brief account of a real-life incident. This shorten style of storytelling works really well on social media when users are constantly scrolling to the next interesting post. Being observant, connecting dots between your everyday experiences and a new understanding is the hallmark of these social media storytelling style.
For example, "What Working At Starbucks Taught Me About Copywriting" or "3 Lessons About Self-Love From My Six-Year-Old."
2. Don't Worry About Being an “Expert” in Your Content
No doubt you’ve seen preachy social media posts. Wait But Why's Tim Urban summed it up perfectly when said: "The clear patronizing message is, 'Ahh hello Facebook friends. I am one who knows the secrets of life--allow me to teach you so that you too can one day find enlightenment.”
The good news is that you don’t have to know it all (or pretend to) to build trust and a ready-to-invest following.
Putting relationship quality at the center of education is more engaging because people learn best from those who are similar to them — as opposed to people who “know it all.”
For instance, I prefer getting my gardening advice from women who started her herb garden from seed than a person with an immaculate, prize-winning garden. It works it resonations. Non-expert speak shows progress and learning, something your audience can connect with and learn from, offering a helping hand.
It’s the difference between “in-the-know” friend and self-appointed guru.
Focuses on bottling relatable moments in your social media copywriting to make the information approachable and fun to consume.
3. Ask Questions That Avoid Yes/No Answers
Asking questions in your writing makes you more likable. Why? Because questions encourage your readers to think and engage more with your content, almost like they're having a conversation with you. It's important to ask the right kind of questions. They should be clear, aim for a specific reaction (like getting someone curious or making them think), and focus on what your readers are interested in or looking to change.
Think of your writing like a TV show that leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, wanting more.
You want to spark your readers' curiosity by touching on topics they care about. Asking questions like "How can you attract new clients?", "Can writing a book elevate your brand?", or "What's better for business: sharing customer stories or making sales calls?" helps do just that. These questions don't just look for a simple yes or no; they're designed to get readers thinking about their own situations and goals.
Using questions well can make your Instagram headlines catchier, pulling readers in to stick around longer.
4. Hypnotic Copywriting
As veteran copywriter Dr. Joe Vitale writes in his book Hypnotic Writing, passive language puts people to sleep. Active voice is hypnotic.
Passive: "The engagement boost Neha got from social media copywriting tips was incredible." Active: "These social media copywriting tips massively boosted Neha’s engagement.”
Active language works well in social media copywriting because it makes the words sound like an interesting conversation; it puts the reader in the moment, making them feel the action.
Active language not only energizes your sentences but also makes your message more approachable.
5. Zeigarnik Effect
This is a storytelling trick I picked up as a journalist. It makes people read all the way to the end.
Start your copy with a cliffhanger to instantly hook readers by sparking their curiosity. People naturally crave closure and are drawn to find out "what happened next?"
For instance, opening with "Finding that yellow eviction notice peeking from under the door wasn’t the worst part," sets the stage for a compelling narrative.
This method capitalizes on our minds' tendency to latch onto unfinished stories, ensuring readers stay glued to your copy, eager to uncover the resolution.
It's an effective social media copywriting strategy to keep your audience engaged and scrolling for more.
Engaging Social Media Copywriting Tips
I hope these five social media copywriting tips to boost your engagement gave you some engaging new ways to talk to your audience online.
As a former journalist turned content marketer, copywriting infused with storytelling will always be my go to. Which copywriting technique will you try first?
