How to write a caption that stops the scroll

The photo is strong. The mood is perfect. But what should the caption say?

A good caption makes people pause, feel something, comment, and share. Use these creative tricks to make it happen.

🔑 1. Open with a hook

People scroll fast, so give them a reason to stop:

• A surprising statement: This burger took three tries to get right.

• A question: What do you do when the kitchen suddenly floods?

• A feeling: We were convinced this was going to fail.

✨ 2. Sound human—write the way people speak

Skip jargon and robotic wording. Write like you’re saying it out loud, and use emojis if they fit your tone.

Example:

It smells like freshly baked bread. Because it is. From oven to counter in under an hour 🍞

🧱 3. Break up the text

Big text blocks chase people away. Use line breaks, bullets, or emojis. Make it easy for scanners.

🪄 4. Add a CTA (call to action)

What do you want readers to do?

• Leave a comment?

• Share the post?

• Book a table?

• Read more?

End with a clear prompt:

Which would you choose? Tell us in the comments 👇

(See more examples below the photo.)

Just me sneaking around on a photo shoot. What kind of caption would you write for this image?

Examples – here’s how it could sound

Restaurant (casual lunch spot)

We can’t promise gold-plated cutlery. Just fresh-off-the-griddle quesadillas and the best apple juice from our neighbours 🍎

The Friday special lasts until we run out. And yes—that happens a lot.

👉 Reserve a table or drop by as you are!

Hair salon

We talk about hair all day. Truth is, we deal in confidence.

New cut, new mood? Swing by. We’ve got coffee ☕ and plenty of time.

Plumbing company

Burst pipe at 04:32? We show up—with smiles and a stocked toolbox.

That’s what we call plumber peace of mind.

📞 Call us before the drip hits the ceiling.

🚀 Ready to try it?

Draft a caption today and test one or two of these moves. Stuck? I’m happy to help with the copy, the visuals—or the whole post.