How Do I Write Captions That Get Engagement?

You’ve got the photo.
You’ve got the Reel.
Now you’re staring at the caption box thinking,

“What do I even say?”

If you’re a business owner in Windsor, Hamilton, Toronto, or Detroit — the goal isn’t just to write something.
The goal is to write something that:

• Stops the scroll

• Connects with your reader

• Prompts action (even a small one)

Here’s how to do that — in a way that feels natural, not forced.

1. Start With a Bold, Relatable Hook

Your first sentence = make-or-break.

Try:

• A strong opinion

• A common pain point

• A surprising stat

• A “you too?” moment

Examples:

• “Most small business owners are doing content backwards — here’s why.”

• “If your Instagram isn’t converting, it’s probably one of these 3 things.”

• “Let me guess — you haven’t posted in 3 weeks and now you feel behind?”

Local bonus: In Windsor or Hamilton, referencing local struggles (“busy season,” “ghost town summers,” etc.) can grab attention even faster.

2. Get to the Point — Fast

No long intros. Get into the meat quickly.

Break it down with:

• Line spacing

• Bullet points

• Headings or numbers

Instagram and Facebook especially reward readable captions.

3. Make It About Them

Your captions should reflect your audience’s world, not just yours.

Use phrases like:

• “You might be feeling like…”

• “Ever wondered why ___ never works for you?”

• “Here’s what we recommend if you’re struggling with ___”

Think of it as writing a DM — not a diary.

4. End With a Simple Call to Action (CTA)

Want engagement? Ask for it.

Try:

• “Comment YES if this hit home”

• “Tag someone who needs to hear this”

• “Save this for later”

• “Want us to help you fix this? Book a discovery call.”

You’re not being pushy — you’re being clear.

5. Reuse What Works

Check past posts with:

• High saves

• Strong shares

• Long comments

Repackage that same idea in a different way — don’t reinvent every time.

We do this often for clients in Toronto and Detroit where content volume is high and quality is non-negotiable.

What We Do at Buttered Branding

We help small business owners across Windsor, Toronto, Hamilton, and Detroit:

• Write captions that sound like them

• Create hook-and-CTA templates they can reuse

• Turn messy thoughts into clear, connecting messaging

• Build content that not only looks good — but reads well

Because pretty graphics don’t sell. Words do.

Want Captions That Actually Connect (And Convert)?

Book a discovery call and we’ll help you build a plug-and-play caption system that speaks to your audience — and drives real action.