How engaging captions can bring your Exeter Instagram account to life

Claire Small
Authored by Claire Small
Posted Thursday, September 27, 2018 - 6:26am

Instagram is one of the most popular photo-sharing applications on the market today. Not only is it very easy to work with, but you can gain countless followers if you play your digital cards right. Whether you have set up an Instagram account for personal use or one is linked to your local Exeter business, the fact of the matter is that this software can represent an excellent tool if you hope to have your voice heard. Still, we need to keep in mind that using the appropriate captions is critical in terms of exposure. Let's look at some expert suggestions so that you can begin with the correct mindset in place. 

All About Engagement and Entertainment 

One of the core concepts behind Instagram is that users do not have a great deal of time to scroll through lengthy texts. They mainly visit an account to see your latest photos as well as to appreciate a witty statement or two. So, keep it short and to the point. They are more likely to respond back or to tag a post if it does not take long to read and digest. 

Another point to mention is that Instagram captions provide you with a perfect opportunity to engage with your audience. This is why asking questions is always a good approach. Some examples include: 

• "What's your take on this photo?"
• "What do you think?"
• "How would you rate my smile?"

Of course, these questions can also be used for other purposes than self-gratification. You can also use such phrases as links to buy a product. This is a great small business idea if your Exeter business has recently begun marketing a new service and you are looking to use images to back up its unique qualities. 

Emojis are another way to convey a specific thought or emotion to the reader. While these were mainly used for social media frivolities in the past, the fact of the matter is that they are becoming quite popular with the adult audience. They can be used alongside standard text or even as "Easter eggs" to silently promote a product immediately before its release. It should also be mentioned that emojis will naturally draw the attention of the reader to your text. However, do not let their presence detract from what you are trying to say. 

The Finer Points: Technical Considerations and Character Limits 

It is a good idea to mention the character counter permitted by Instagram before moving on. You are permitted no more than 2,200 characters for each photo. Please keep in mind that this includes spaces as well as any punctuation marks. Such a length roughly equates to between 300 and 330 words (about half of a page). Having said this, do not feel obligated to write "fluff" simply to meet these requirements. Brevity is often the soul of wit. 

SEO is another very real consideration; particularly if the account is tied together with a current marketing campaign for your Exeter business. Search engine optimisation essentially tells engines such as Google what your article is about. It will then be ranked within a search engine results page based off of content as well as relevance. This is why it is important to choose your keywords carefully. Never forget that the exposure of your image will be directly linked to its description, so keywords and similar phrases are very important. 
It is also prudent to brainstorm for an idea as opposed to writing what immediately comes to mind. You can use other Instagram users for inspiration, as they might cause you to think in a different manner. This perspective is excellent in terms of creativity, but remember to be patient. Some of the most memorable captions took hours or even days to develop. You could also take a look at the popular ideas by performing an online search while it is also possible to employ classical quotes (such as "here's looking a you, kid") to generate further interest in what you have to say. Remember to be patient, as genius often takes time. 

On a final note, it is important to speak briefly about the importance of a concept known as local SEO. Let's assume for a moment that you are hoping to gain followers throughout your local area. In this case, you can add elements within your caption such as "Exeter", "Princesshay" or "Guildhall Shopping Centre". Just make sure that these tags are relevant with what it is that you are offering. 

Whether intended for personal or professional use, there is no doubt that Instagram can be a useful and fun tool to employ. Please be sure to follow the suggestions mentioned above if you wish to gain a large following within a relatively short period of time.

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