Do you know that words are just as important as the images you post on Instagram?
Done well, attractive copywriting on Instagram helps to attract, inform and persuade audiences and fans to take a certain action.
When you write in Instagram, there are two main places which you can do so: on the image itself, as well as on the various other spaces surrounding the image.
Let us first examine the elements that are off the image itself.
Off Image Copywriting
To capture the attention of your audience, it is important to blend your Instagram image with compelling copy that helps to bring your marketing messages across.
What are some of these places?
1) Profile Name
The first and most important part of your Instagram brand identity lies in your profile name. Here, you may wish to consider whether the account should be one that represents your company (ie multiple brands) or whether it is used for a solo brand.
In most cases, large brands (eg Coca Cola, BMW, Nike) have their own separate branded accounts on Instagram in order to attract brand fans.
2) Profile Description
Beyond your account name, you need to also craft an attractive description of what your Instagram account does. Does it showcase the latest product information for your brand? Would followers be able to learn something new with every post that you put up?
3) Image Caption
For each image that you post, it is important to describe what each mean. If you are selling a product, you may wish to include interesting information like the date the product will be available, stores that are selling it, or its price.
Beyond describing the image, you may also wish to weave in promotional messages or call to action statements to trigger purchase.
4) Comments
Beyond your first image caption, you may also wish to enhance your descriptions with additional information in the comment section. This would normally include further details on the image itself or to engage with your followers should they leave a comment on your account.
5) Hashtags
Finally, it is useful to include relevant hashtags which pique consumer interest and attract fans. Beyond brand-specific hashtags (eg #nike or #cocacola), you may also wish to include industry specific hashtags or trending hashtags that are relevant to your content.
On Image Copy
With a multitude of third party apps, you can write on the image you post on Instagram itself. Some of the most basic ways to do so include the following.
1) Image Description
Depending on the nature of the image itself such as its composition, the place where it was taken in, or its context, you can write a line or two to describe it.
2) Logo or Brand Identity
Not all product or company images should be etched with your brand. In certain cases, however, it may help you to convey a certain sense of legitimacy to brand fans, especially if you have just launched a new product ready to roll.
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Learn More3) Product Name
As you’d imagine, this is an important aspect of ensuring that your fans know what they are looking at, rather than to leave them guessing. However, like your logo or brand, you need to apply it with care. Use it only for shots which are explicitly focused on your product itself, and not every single photo that you post.
4) Price
Would it be useful to include the price of your product on your product or service images? Well, if you are looking at triggering action on your audiences, doing so may be worthwhile. Naturally, this should also come with…
5) Date Available
As a visual marketing platform, Instagram is great for product launches. A good way to ensure that your potential customers know when to grab your stunning new product is to include its launch date on the image itself.
Four Apps to Put Words on Photos
To put the right combination of words on your Instagram photos, consider using third party apps such as the following:
- Instaquote: Instaquote allows you to add text to pictures, weave in inspiring qords to images, or add captions to photos. The paid version allows you to remove their watermark.
- Wordswag: Wordswag is a popular paid app which allows you to easily add words to photos. It allows you to create beautiful custom layouts, and even comes with hundreds of pre-loaded quotes, thoughts and jokes.
- Over: Over is all-around favorite which allows you to add beautiful text to photos. With more than 225 fonts, various stock backgrounds and a ton of customization options, it’s bigger and badder than its little (read: free) brother Overgram.
- FontCandy: As its name implies, FontCandy allows you to create different beautiful font overlays on your image.
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