social-captions
git clone https://github.com/rediumvex/social-media-caption-generator-claude
git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/rediumvex/social-media-caption-generator-claude ~/.claude/skills/rediumvex-social-media-caption-generator-claude-social-captions
SKILL.md/social-captions — Algorithm-Optimized Social Media Captions (v2)
The user sends material (text, image, script, competitor post, screenshot, or description of content). You analyze it and immediately generate captions for ALL 7 platforms in English.
No questions. No menus. Just analyze and deliver.
WORKFLOW
STEP 1: Analyze the Input
Read/view whatever the user sent:
- If it's text/script — extract the core topic, key message, niche, and tone
- If it's an image/screenshot — describe what you see, identify the niche and key message
- If it's a competitor post — analyze their approach, then write BETTER captions
- If it's a brief description — expand it into full captions
Write a short (2-3 sentence) analysis:
**Topic:** [what this is about] **Niche:** [industry/category] **Key message:** [the core idea to communicate]
STEP 2: Generate Captions for ALL Platforms
Generate captions for all 7 formats below. Each caption must use a DIFFERENT formula. All captions in English only.
Output in this exact format:
1. INSTAGRAM REELS
[Ready to copy-paste caption text] [3-5 hashtags]
Formula: [name] | Hook: [type] | CTA: [type] | Optimizes for: [signal]
2. INSTAGRAM CAROUSEL
[Ready to copy-paste caption text] [3-5 hashtags]
Formula: [name] | Hook: [type] | CTA: [type] | Optimizes for: [signal]
3. TIKTOK
[Ready to copy-paste caption text] [3-5 hashtags]
Formula: [name] | Hook: [type] | CTA: [type] | Optimizes for: [signal]
4. THREADS
[Ready to copy-paste caption text] [1 topic tag]
Formula: [name] | Hook: [type] | CTA: [type] | Optimizes for: [signal]
5. FACEBOOK (Page/Personal)
[Ready to copy-paste caption text]
Formula: [name] | Hook: [type] | CTA: [type] | Optimizes for: [signal]
6. FACEBOOK GROUP
[Ready to copy-paste caption text]
Formula: [name] | Hook: [type] | CTA: [type] | Optimizes for: [signal]
7. YOUTUBE SHORTS
Title:
[Ready to copy-paste title — max 100 characters]
Description:
[Ready to copy-paste description] [3-5 hashtags]
Formula: [name] | Hook: [type] | CTA: [type] | Optimizes for: [signal]
STEP 3: End with
"Want me to adjust any of these? I can change the tone, try different formulas, make them more provocative/friendly/expert, or regenerate for a specific platform."
PLATFORM RULES (CRITICAL — follow exactly)
INSTAGRAM REELS
- Length: 80-200 characters. Short hook = video title
- Structure: Hook (first 125 chars before truncation) → 1-2 sentences max → CTA
- Hook: Must stop the scroll in 5-10 words. Use: conflict, transformation, curiosity gap, bold statement, or shocking stat
- CTA: Optimize for DM shares ("send to a friend who...") or saves ("save for later") — 10x more valuable than likes
- Hashtags: 3-5 niche hashtags IN the caption. Never #fyp, #viral, #instagood, #like4like
- SEO: Primary keyword in first 2 sentences
- NO: Engagement bait, emoji in first line, generic phrases
INSTAGRAM CAROUSEL
- Length: 300-900 characters. Longer captions work — users are already engaged
- Structure: Hook → Expanded value complementing slides → Save CTA
- CTA: Always optimize for saves. Carousels with save CTA get +68% saves
- Body: Lists, step-by-step, checklists. Structure with emoji-bullets or numbers
TIKTOK
- Length: 100-300 characters. First 80-100 visible before truncation
- Structure: Hook (80 chars) → 1-2 short sentences → CTA + 3-5 emoji (+33% engagement)
- SEO: voiceover > on-screen text > caption > hashtags in importance
- Keywords: Primary keyword in first 80 characters
- Hashtags: 3-5 MAX. Formula: 1 niche + 1 thematic + 1 trending. NEVER #fyp, #foryou, #viral
- Completion rate: 70%+ needed for viral. Caption should tease "watch till end"
- CTA: Questions get +44% comments
THREADS
- Length: 100-280 characters optimal (max 500)
- Structure: One clear idea. Conversational tone, like a group chat
- Tags: Only 1 topic tag per post. Can be multi-word. Niche > broad
- Engagement: Replies are #1 signal. Provoke conversation
- Links: +17% better with links now
- NO: Engagement bait, copy-paste from other platforms
FACEBOOK (Page/Personal)
- Length: 40-80 characters for max reach
- Structure: Ultra-short hook → value → discussion question
- Hashtags: 0-2 max or none
- AVOID trigger words: "buy now", "limited time", "FREE" (caps), "click here", "money", "income", "contest", "giveaway"
- SAFE replacements: "available today", "complimentary", "no cost", "learn more"
- Trigger word impact: 1-2 words = -20-30% reach, 3-5 = -40-60%, 6+ = -70-95%
FACEBOOK GROUP
- Length: 200-500 characters. Longer, contextual
- Reach: 30-50% of members (vs 1-2% for Pages)
- Style: Community language ("who else has experienced...", "curious what you all think about...")
- CTA: Open discussion questions
YOUTUBE SHORTS
- Title length: 40-70 characters optimal (max 100). Title is the #1 SEO signal — treat it like a search headline
- Title structure: Primary keyword first → benefit or curiosity gap → NO clickbait that misleads (YouTube penalizes)
- Title formulas: "[Keyword]: [what viewer gets]" / "How to [result] in [time]" / "[Number] [topic] secrets" / "Why [common belief] is wrong"
- Description length: 150-300 characters. First 100 chars visible before "Show more" — front-load the hook
- Description structure: Hook sentence (repeats/expands title) → 1-2 sentences of value → CTA → hashtags
- Hashtags: 3-5 MAX, placed at the end of description. 1 broad category + 1-2 niche + 1 topic-specific. NEVER #shorts as the only tag
- SEO: YouTube is a search engine. Match exact phrases people type: "how to use Claude", "AI productivity tips", "Claude tutorial"
- CTA: Subscribe prompt or "watch [linked video] for more" — channel growth > likes for Shorts
- Completion rate: Critical metric. Title must match video content exactly or retention tanks
- NO: Misleading titles, keyword stuffing, #shorts #viral #fyp as primary tags
CAPTION FORMULAS (use different ones for each platform)
For REACH:
- Trend-Hook + Benefit: "[Trend]: [benefit] for [audience]"
- Curiosity X vs Y: "[A] vs [B]: which works better for [situation]?"
- Myth Buster: "Myth: [belief]. Fact: [rebuttal]"
- Data Teaser: "[Number] → [result] in [timeframe]"
- What Works Now: "What works in [niche] right now: [1], [2], [3]"
- Watch Time Promise: "In [time] you'll get [result]. Watch till end for [bonus]"
- Beginner's Path: "New to [field]: [step 1] → [step 2] → [step 3]"
For ENGAGEMENT:
- Micro-Decision: "Are you [A] or [B]? And why?"
- Hot Take: "Unpopular opinion: [thesis]. Agree or disagree?"
- Rate These 3: "Rank by importance: [1], [2], [3]"
- This or That: "[A] or [B] for [situation]? Your pick?"
- Fill in the Blank: "Complete: 'The best advice about [topic] was...'"
For SALES:
- POOPC: "Struggling with [pain]? [Result] in [time] with [product]"
- Objection Destroyer: "Think '[objection]'? Actually, [counter]"
- Social Proof Lead: "'[Client quote]'. Here's how:"
For GROWTH:
- Series: "Day [1/N] of [topic]. Follow for the rest"
- Lead Magnet: "Free [resource] on [topic]. Comment '[word]'"
- Cliffhanger: "10 lessons from [experience]. Today — first 3. Rest for followers"
HOOK LIBRARY
Provocation:
- "Stop [doing X] — here's why"
- "Nobody talks about this [topic] hack"
- "You're doing [X] wrong"
Curiosity:
- "Here's what no one tells you about [topic]"
- "Mistake #1 that kills your [metric]"
- "I tested [N] methods. These [N] destroyed the rest"
Value:
- "Save this for when [situation]"
- "[N] things I wish I knew before [X]"
- "In [time] I [result]. Here's how:"
Emotion:
- "Honest truth about [topic]"
- "One change flipped everything"
- "Unpopular opinion: [bold claim]"
TikTok-specific:
- "Stop scrolling if you [situation]"
- "POV: you just discovered [thing]"
- "I spent [money/time] so you don't have to"
ANTI-PATTERNS (NEVER do these)
Engagement bait (-50-90% reach on ALL platforms):
- "Like if you agree" / "Comment YES" / "Tag 3 friends"
- "Share before they delete this" / "React with [emoji] if..."
Shadow ban triggers:
- Violence words (even in innocent context)
- Adult content words
- Financial promises: "guaranteed income", "get rich quick"
- Letter substitution does NOT help — algorithms detect it
Format crimes:
- Same hashtags on every post (spam flag)
- More than 5 hashtags (limit since late 2025)
- Wall of text without line breaks
- #fyp, #foryou, #viral — useless and harmful
POWER WORDS (use 2-3 per caption)
| Category | Words |
|---|---|
| Urgency | Now, Today, Limited, Last chance |
| Trust | Proven, Tested, Research-backed, Results |
| Exclusivity | Secret, Hidden, Insider, Behind-the-scenes |
| Emotion | Shocking, Surprising, Honest, Raw, Real |
| Action | Discover, Unlock, Transform, Master, Grab |
| Value | Free, Bonus, Cheat sheet, Blueprint, Toolkit |
SIGNAL HIERARCHY (all platforms, 2025-2026)
- Shares/DM sends — strongest (~10x a like)
- Saves — very strong, especially Instagram
- Comments — strong, especially meaningful ones
- Watch time / Completion rate — dominant for video (70%+ for viral)
- Likes — weakest, "vanity metric"
QUALITY CHECKLIST (verify before presenting)
- Hook in first 80-125 characters
- 1-3 SEO keywords naturally integrated
- ONE clear CTA per caption
- 2-3 power words (not more)
- 3-5 niche hashtags (not generic) where applicable
- Zero engagement bait
- Zero shadow ban triggers
- Zero Facebook trigger words (for FB captions)
- Short paragraphs with line breaks
- Different formula for each platform