7 Tips Of Content Writing For Instagram Audience
With over 1.16 billion active users, Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. However, despite the large size of this community, most brands still struggle with getting engagements and have to make do with the crumbs of likes and comments that they get from a few sympathetic users.
So how can you get your target audience to engage with your posts? The answer is simple: high-quality content. Yet, this is easier said than done. Writing for an Instagram audience can often feel like trying to please a fussy Goldilocks. You’ll only get it right after a few tries. Students, too, often face this problem when there is a need to write my research paper. The long agony of creating the idea, the structure, and the content itself takes a lot of time and effort. This explains why many companies tend to hire a college essay writing service or an Instagram marketing company to do the hard work for them.
When it comes to content writing for an Instagram, a lot of brands are often confused. Since every type of business requires online promotion, it doesn’t matter if it’s a coworking software or a local bakery, all of them want to sound professional, and many questions occur when starting promoting on Instagram. Do you need to be funny or serious? What amount of emojis will be considered too much?
Fortunately, this article contains all the answers to your burning questions. Ready to find the best tips for writing Instagram content? Read on.
Use Captions
What is a caption? Basically, it is a written description of an Instagram photo or video that paints a clearer picture for the audience. Sounds simplistic, doesn’t it? But why is it so important for brands trying to reach an Instagram audience?
Well, the essence of a caption is to entertain your audience, reflect the brand’s personality or compel the audience to take a particular action. In recent times, there has been a lot of debate surrounding the ideal style and length of Instagram captions, as well as what type of captions a brand should use.
While celebrities like Kim Kardashian may get away with using cryptic emojis as captions, it’s important for brands to use “lengthy” detailed captions when writing for their Instagram audience. This way, they can tell an authentic story that creates brand awareness and improves conversions.
Identify your audience
Even though Instagram has over one billion users, not every Tom, Dick and Harry on the app is part of your target audience. As such, it’s important to identify the users that fit into your brand’s target customer profile. This way, it will be easier to craft content to suit their needs and expectations.
An easy way to identify your audience is by building audience personas that outline the basic details about your target customers, including their needs and pain points. Start by asking yourself the crucial questions, like ‘What age bracket of people will use my services? What kind of jobs do they have? What do they need?’
Asking and answering these questions will help you know who exactly you’re speaking to and inform your content decisions. For instance, if you run an online thrift store, your main customers will most likely be students and young women. You can then tailor your content to fit their lingo and attitudes.
Take note of your brand voice
As a marketer or business owner, if you haven’t identified your brand voice yet, you’re definitely missing out on one of the keys to creating an effective content marketing strategy. Your voice embodies and reflects your brand’s persona and values.
Think to yourself: if my brand was an actual person, what would it look and sound like? What values would it embody? Would it sound like an authoritative middle-aged man or a quirky teenager?
It is important to note that there is no ideal or perfect brand voice. Your brand persona mainly depends on what section of the various Instagram business categories it belongs to. For instance, if your business is in the fashion sector, you might want to take on an informal, quirky tone when writing content.
Generally, most Instagram users don’t care much for stiff upper-lipped content. Just keep things light and humorous to a great extent.
Use the most important keywords first
If you’re trying to write content for an Instagram audience, it’s important to note that captions are usually cut off after a few lines of text. As such, you have limited space to try to capture their attention before they scroll past. That’s why it’s advisable to place all the important keywords first. For instance, if you’re advertising a thrift gown for sale, place keywords like “cheap” and state the price and size first before any other text.
However, it’s not enough to just place the important keywords first. You also need to give them a reason to tap “More”. As such, your caption should be engaging and interesting. Harness the power of brand storytelling and you will definitely notice a difference, and another recommendation is to review the average time spent on social media
Write multiple drafts
Have you ever been in a situation where you remembered the perfect comeback to an argument long after the argument had ended? Well, this happens to Instagram marketers and brands too. Sometimes, you may discover the perfect caption long after publishing the post.
That’s why you shouldn’t rush when it comes to writing content for Instagram. Relax and pen down content ideas first. Reread each idea and then choose the one that seems most suitable for your brand.
Use a compelling call to action
What’s an Instagram post without a compelling call to action? Think of great content as a cake, while a CTA is the icing. If you need something from your target audience, all you need to do is ask them. For instance, if you’re trying to drive more engagement, include a call to action that encourages your audience to like, comment, give shoutouts or repost the content. Here is a simple example:
Don’t you just love seeing colours burst out of your breakfast? Here’s a snapshot of our glazed strawberry pancakes. What other recipes will you like to see us try?
In the caption above, the brand has called for suggestions, thereby encouraging its audience to comment and interact with it. The lesson here is that a CTA doesn’t have to be too complicated or obvious. Just keep it fun and easy.
Use hashtags wisely
When it comes to using hashtags, it’s important to be very intentional and strategic. This way, you won’t have to waste your efforts. Use only hashtags that are relevant to your brand and target audience. In the same vein, try not to clutter your post with too many hashtags. It will only make it look messy and unattractive.
A great way to use hashtags without cluttering your content is to post them in the comment section rather than on the main post.
Bonus tip: Don’t be scared of emojis
A lot of brands tend to shy away from using emojis when writing content because they feel like it seems unprofessional. However, even the most ‘serious’ brands are allowed to use emojis every now and then to add a spark of personality to their content.
Try using emojis either at the beginning or at the end of your posts – whichever way works best for you.
Final Thoughts
Writing content for Instagram can be a long scary haul, especially for new brands who just stepped out of their “what is the point of getting an Instagram?” phase. Fortunately, these tips outlined above will help you create content to suit your audience’s needs and expectations.
Just remember to always ensure that your content reflects your brand’s personality.
