Page 130 - Starting Strong: English Essentials

3. Writing

A Social Media Caption for a Memorable Gift

Making an Effective Caption

A social media caption is the text description that accompanies a photo, video, or other visual
content on a social media post. It provides context, adds a personal message, tells a story, and
can include elements like hashtags, mentions, and a call to action to encourage engagement
from an audience.

Hook → The first sentence is the most important. On many platforms, a caption

gets cut off after a few lines, so you need to grab attention immediately. It

can sometimes lead to a call to action.

Accuracy → While attention should be paid to grammar conventions, it is important

that the captions match what the speakers are saying.

Concise → Captions need to match the timing while remaining on the screen long
enough to be read. Between 1.5 and 6 seconds is best practice. There
should be maximum of two lines of captions on the screen at a time. Lines
should not exceed about 30 characters.
Hashtags → Hashtags help people discover your content. Use a mix of popular
hashtags and more specific, niche ones to reach a wider, yet targeted,
audience. Tagging other accounts can also increase visibility and
collaboration.
Example:

Item: Acoustic Guitar
Given by: Jessica
Occasion: Birthday
Price: $300

My friend gave me an incredible gift on my last birthday. She had spent a lot of time searching
for the perfect one and surprised me with a beautiful guitar. It was easily the most thoughtful
and expensive gift I had ever received. #thoughtfulgifts #bestfriends #memories #giftgiving
#acousticguitar

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