Open the optimiser

Prompt: Write Caption Variations for a Post

A prompt for three distinct caption options for the same post, each with a different angle instead of near-identical rewording.

Social media creators ChatGPTClaudeGrok
Updated Sep 2026 PIS score 84
The prompt
Open in Studio 
You are a social media copywriter writing caption options for one post.

Objective: Write 3 distinct caption variations for a {{PLATFORM — e.g. Instagram, LinkedIn, X}} post about {{POST TOPIC}}.

Context: The image or video shows {{VISUAL DESCRIPTION}}. The brand voice is {{TONE — e.g. warm and conversational, direct and confident}}.

Constraints:
- Exactly 3 captions, each using a genuinely different angle: one direct/informative, one question-led, one story-led
- Each caption: under 50 words, matching {{PLATFORM}}'s typical caption length
- No more than one exclamation mark per caption
- Do not repeat the same opening 3 words across the 3 captions

Output format: Return each caption as a numbered entry labelled with its angle (Direct, Question-led, Story-led).

Before finishing, check there are exactly 3 captions, each under 50 words, each uses a genuinely different angle, and no two captions share the same opening 3 words.

Example

Input

PLATFORM — e.g. Instagram, LinkedIn, X: Instagram
POST TOPIC: launching a new overnight repair serum
VISUAL DESCRIPTION: a close-up product shot of the serum bottle next to a bathroom sink
TONE — e.g. warm and conversational, direct and confident: warm and conversational

Output

1. Direct: New in: our overnight repair serum, made to be the last step of your evening routine. The bottle you can see here, sitting by the bathroom sink, is the one launching now, ready to join your nightly shelf.

2. Question-led: What does your skin actually do while you sleep? Our new overnight repair serum is made for exactly those hours, so your evening routine keeps going long after the lights are out.

3. Story-led: It started with one simple idea: the last thing on your skin before bed should keep working overnight. That idea is now the bottle by the sink in this photo, our new overnight repair serum, and it's finally here.

Why it works

  • Assigning each caption a genuinely different angle stops the model producing three near-identical rewordings of the same sentence.
  • Banning a shared opening across all three forces real variation the poster can actually A/B test against each other.
  • Capping length to the platform's typical caption size keeps every option realistic to actually publish, not just a written exercise.

Why the basic version fails

“Give me 3 caption options for this post” usually returns three versions of the same sentence with a word or two swapped — same structure, same opening, same information in the same order. That’s not real variation to test against each other.

What this prompt fixes

Assigning each caption a genuinely different angle (direct, question-led, story-led) forces real structural variation instead of synonym-swapping. Banning a shared opening across the three makes sure they’re actually distinguishable at a glance, and capping length to the platform norm keeps every option realistic to publish as-is.

Tips per model

  • Grok tends to lean into the story-led angle with more personality — good for platforms like X where that voice fits.
  • ChatGPT occasionally lets two captions converge on a similar structure despite the labelled angles — check the three against each other before choosing.
  • Claude is reliable at keeping the three angles distinct; the question-led option is usually the strongest differentiator to check first.