---
name: caption-writing
description: Writes engaging Instagram and YouTube captions for reels and posts that hook in the first line and drive one clear action. Use when the user wants a caption for a reel, carousel, post or Short.
---

# Caption writing

> Free skill from Clone Labs · clonelabs.in/guides/ai-video-autopilot/
> ✏️ Fill in section 1 and the hashtag pool in section 8 with your own details.

Use this whenever the user wants a caption for a reel, carousel, post, event promo, series episode or YouTube Short. Captions should sound like a real person and make people stop, read and act.

## 1. About the brand ✏️ (change this)
- **Brand:** [Your brand name] (Instagram @[yourhandle])
- **What we do:** [One or two lines]
- **Main topics:** [3–6 topics]
- **Audience:** [Who reads your captions]
- **Language:** [e.g. clear, simple English]
- **Tone:** [e.g. confident, direct, practical. A smart friend, not a hype guru.]

Never invent facts about the brand (client names, numbers, results, dates, prices). Only use facts the user gives or that are listed above.

## 2. Get the brief
Work from whatever the user gives: the video script, a transcript, the topic or the video. If the script or topic is missing, ask for it in ONE short message. Otherwise just write and state any assumptions at the top.

Useful details (ask only if they change the caption): platform (Instagram by default), goal / CTA, a comment keyword if they run comment-to-DM, event details (never guess dates, venue or price).

## 3. Caption structure
1. **Line 1, the hook.** Only the first ~125 characters show before "more". Max ~12 words.
2. **Lines 2–3, the tension.** Why this matters to *them*. "You" language.
3. **Body, the value.** The key insight in a few short lines or 3–5 quick points. Add something the video didn't say (a tip, an example, a reframe).
4. **Payoff line.** One quotable line.
5. **CTA.** One clear action. Never more than one.
6. **Hashtags.** 3–6 relevant ones at the very end.

## 4. First-line hooks
- Don't repeat the video's hook word for word: push it further.
- No warm-up ("In this video…", "Hey everyone", "New reel!").
- Create curiosity, call someone out, or state a bold truth. It must be true.

| Style | Example |
|---|---|
| Bold truth | "Posting more won't grow your brand. Posting smarter will." |
| Question | "What would you do with 3 extra hours every day?" |
| Call-out | "Founders still doing everything manually, read this." |
| Mistake | "Most people use ChatGPT wrong. Here's the fix." |
| Contrast | "Your competitor isn't working harder. They're automating." |
| Curiosity | "This one workflow replaced a full-time task." |
| Future | "In 2 years, this skill will be basic. Learn it now." |

(Numbers in examples are illustrative. Only use real numbers the user gives.)

## 5. Writing rules
- Simple, spoken language. Short sentences. Paragraphs of 1–2 lines with a blank line between them.
- Name the reader's real problem (no time, no ideas, scared of camera, too much manual work, no leads).
- One big idea per caption. Explain any technical term in plain words.
- Emojis: optional and sparing, at most 1 per paragraph, as markers (→ ✅ ⚡). Zero is fine.
- Banned: "game-changer", "revolutionary", "unlock", "dive in", "leverage", "delve", "in today's fast-paced world", "buckle up", walls of emojis, ALL CAPS sentences.
- No fake urgency, no income claims, no guaranteed results.

## 6. Length
| Type | Length |
|---|---|
| Short (default for reels) | 40–80 words |
| Value / teaching caption | 80–150 words |
| Event promo | 60–120 words |
| YouTube Short | 1–2 lines + hashtags |
| LinkedIn | 100–200 words, max 3 inline hashtags |

## 7. CTAs (pick one)
- "Comment [KEYWORD] and I'll send you the [thing]." (keyword in caps)
- "Save this for later. You'll need it."
- "Share this with someone who needs it."
- "Follow @[yourhandle] for more."
- "Book a free call. Link in bio."

## 8. Hashtags ✏️
- 3–6 hashtags, broad and niche mixed, at the end after a blank line.
- Pool to choose from: [#YourTopic1 #YourTopic2 #YourIndustry #YourCity …]
- No spammy tags (#follow4follow, #viral, #explorepage).

## 9. Output format
By default give **3 caption options**, each with a different hook style:

```
OPTION 1 – [hook style] · [word count] words

[Caption text, ready to paste]

[Hashtags]
```

Then one line saying which you'd pick and why.

**When run by the reel autopilot:** write the 3 options, pick the best one yourself and save only that one, ready to paste, as `caption-<topic-slug>.md`.

## 10. Self-check
- [ ] First line under ~125 characters and makes people tap "more"
- [ ] Adds value beyond the video
- [ ] One idea, one CTA
- [ ] Short lines with spacing
- [ ] No banned phrases; emojis sparing or none
- [ ] 3–6 relevant hashtags at the end
- [ ] No invented facts, numbers, dates or claims