Joining Instagram is simple, but figuring out what to post can be challenging when you have endless options. There are two key components to every Instagram post: the photo or video and the caption. Ideally, these captions are used to describe the image, where you are, or how it made you feel. Some people prefer short and sweet captions, while others want to pour their heart out; it's up to you to figure out your message.

When writing an Instagram caption, it's best to use a combination of words, hashtags, and emojis. Write what you want to say, whether it's an inspiring messaging about being yourself or a short and sassy comment, then add hashtags to make your post more visible. As you type in possible tags, the most popular ones will appear, so select those and keep adding more. Emojis that complement the image and the message you want to convey are a fun and playful addition to captions.

Instagram is designed for engagement and communication. The more creative and eye-catching your posts are, the more engagement they will generate. This can come in the forms of likes, comments, and follows, which are especially important if you're trying to spread the word about your business or brand. Instagram captions that pose a question or ask followers to do something typically garner the most engagement. Captions like "what are your thoughts on this outfit?" and "tag a friend who you would go here with" encourage people to interact with your post.

Getting the hang of hashtags is important, and so is understanding what you can and cannot do in your Instagram caption. First, there is a 2,200 character limit, so your captions are usually capped around 330 words. Second, you can't put an actual hyperlink in Instagram captions. You can include a plain copy link that people need to copy and paste in their browsers or change your profile slug to your desired link. Just add a quick note on your link in bio to point people in the right direction.

After snapping a selfie, you can test your skills at writing a selfie caption. Some fun selfie caption ideas are "me, myself, and I," "I'm doing me," or "selfie game strong" are other fun ones. If you want to take it up a notch, elaborate on your selfie and shine some light on how you're feeling about your inner beauty, sense of style, or what's going on in the world around you.

Instagram is the place to be if you want to show off your significant other and celebrate your relationship in beautiful photos. Some of the most common hashtags for romance include couple goals, man crush Monday, and woman crush Wednesday. "My world in one photo" or "the best fall I ever took" are options for expressing your love. "Can't imagine life without this one" or "the reason I laugh and smile every day" are other heartfelt captions to consider.

You know what they say about teamwork making the dream work. Use that by itself as a caption for a team photo, or try something like "champions never quit." If you're working toward a certain goal, captions like "eyes on the prize" and "never giving up" can speak of your team's dedication and determination. Make sure to tag your team and add sports hashtags to increase exposure.

Travel photos are always in high demand on Instagram, as users love to scroll through images of far-flung destinations to inspire their future travel plans. "Another place crossed off the bucket list" or "adventure time" are good captions to think about in addition to "finally made it" with the details of your vacation spot. Travel pics are also nice for throwback Thursday or flashback Friday hashtags. Remember to tag your location to find other like-minded travelers on Instagram.

Nature shots are absolutely stunning and make for awesome Instagram material. "Mother Nature at her finest" and "the mountains are calling my name" work well. "Beauty and the beach" or "a beautiful moment in time" are inspiring too. You can also go into detail about getting back to nature and what it's done for your body, mind, and soul. If you're on an outdoor adventure with your friends, tag them and share your location so others can add it to their must-see list.

Food lovers are all over Instagram, so the more detail you put into your food posts, the better. "Food makes my mood" and "food for days" could work, or you can try something like "the best meal I've ever laid eyes on." Describe the flavors and tag the restaurant you visited or share details of the recipe you followed to keep engagement up and help others enjoy the same delicious food.