Quick Answer: This is a copy-paste Claude prompt library for Instagram, grouped into eight categories: hooks, reel scripts, captions, carousels, content calendars, hashtags and SEO, competitor decode, and brand-voice setup. Every prompt runs on Claude or ChatGPT for free. The single biggest upgrade is feeding the model real data, a competitor's transcript or your own metrics, exported from IShort, instead of guessing.
Claude is excellent at Instagram copy, but generic prompts produce generic results. The prompts below give Claude a clear role, one goal, and, ideally, real numbers to work from. Claude is a separate product from Anthropic; IShort simply gives you the raw material to make its output sharp.
Screenshots are illustrative and show analysis of publicly available data. IShort is not affiliated with the accounts shown.
The One Tip That Makes Every Prompt Better
The most important idea on this page: prompts work far better when you paste real data. Claude has no idea what is working in your niche right now unless you tell it. Hand it a competitor's actual reel transcript or your own view and engagement numbers, and its suggestions stop being generic and start being grounded in what already performs.
IShort is a free Chrome extension that analyzes any public Instagram account. It collects reels, calculates a Performance Score and best posting times, and transcribes audio server-side in 11 languages (English plus Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, and Punjabi). Its one-click Copy Script grabs a full transcript in a tap, and its "Analyse with AI" button hands your data straight to Claude or ChatGPT. That is the data you paste into the prompts below.
1. Hook Prompts (First 3 Seconds)
The opening line decides whether the reel gets watched. Use these to generate scroll-stopping hooks Claude can iterate on.
Copy-paste hook prompts:
• "Write 10 first-3-second hooks for a reel about [topic] for [audience]. Mix curiosity gaps, bold claims, and pattern interrupts, each under 12 words."
• "Rewrite this weak hook into 5 stronger versions, front-loading tension: '[paste hook]'."
• "Here is a competitor transcript that got [X] views: [paste IShort transcript]. Reverse-engineer its hook formula, then write 5 hooks for [niche]."
• "Turn this benefit into 6 hooks that lead with the outcome, not the setup: [paste benefit]."
• "Give me 8 'POV' and 'Nobody tells you...' hooks for [topic] that open a loop the viewer must close."
• "Write 5 question hooks for [topic] that name my audience's exact pain in the first 5 words."
• "List 5 hooks that drop the viewer straight into mid-action for [topic]."
2. Reel Script Prompts
We keep scripts light here on purpose. For a full breakdown of prompts, frameworks, and structure for spoken and text-on-screen scripts, see our dedicated guide on Claude and ChatGPT for reel scripts and how to write an Instagram reel script. A few starters:
Copy-paste script prompts:
• "Write a 30-second reel script on [topic] for [audience]. Structure: hook, 3 value points, payoff, CTA. Label each beat with its timing."
• "Here is a viral transcript from my niche: [paste IShort transcript]. Keep its pacing and structure but rewrite it around [topic]."
• "Turn this blog paragraph into a talking-head reel script under 45 seconds, conversational tone: [paste text]."
3. Caption Prompts
Captions drive saves, comments, and profile clicks. Give Claude the reel topic, the action you want, and your voice.
Copy-paste caption prompts:
• "Write 5 captions for a reel about [topic]. Each needs a scroll-stopping first line, one value beat, and a CTA driving [saves / comments / shares]."
• "Here is a caption that performed well for me: [paste from IShort]. Write 5 new captions in the same voice for a reel about [new topic]."
• "Rewrite this caption tighter and end with a question that sparks comments: [paste caption]."
• "Give me 3 punchy captions (under 125 characters) and 3 storytelling captions (3-4 lines) for [topic]."
• "Write 5 CTA lines for a link-in-bio reel, no generic 'link in bio' phrasing."
• "Suggest 5 first-line caption hooks that make people stop and read for [topic]."
• "Write a 2-line caption plus 3 comment-bait closing lines for [topic]."
4. Carousel Prompts
Carousels are still one of the highest-save formats. Use Claude to structure slide-by-slide flow.
Copy-paste carousel prompts:
• "Outline a 7-slide carousel on [topic]: slide 1 a hook, slides 2-6 one idea each, slide 7 a CTA. Give exact text per slide."
• "Turn this reel transcript into a 6-slide carousel covering the same points: [paste IShort transcript]."
• "Write a 'mistakes vs fixes' carousel for [niche], 8 slides, one mistake and one-line fix each."
• "Give me 5 carousel cover headlines for [topic] designed to earn the swipe."
• "Rewrite these dense slides into skimmable lines readable in 2 seconds each: [paste slides]."
• "Draft a save-worthy checklist carousel for [topic], one actionable item per slide."
5. Content Calendar & Pillar Prompts
Claude is strong at turning a niche into a structured plan. Give it your pillars and cadence.
Copy-paste calendar prompts:
• "Define 4 content pillars for a [niche] account, each with a one-line purpose and 5 reel ideas."
• "Build a 30-day reel calendar for [niche] posting 4x a week. Balance educational, relatable, and promotional posts, with a hook and topic per day."
• "Here are my 10 best reels by views and engagement from IShort: [paste export]. Identify winning themes and plan next month around them."
• "Suggest 20 reel ideas for [niche] I can batch-film in one afternoon."
• "Turn this topic into a 5-part reel series with a reason to follow for the next part: [topic]."
• "Group these past topics into 3 recurring series I can post weekly: [paste list]."
• "Turn these 8 ideas into a 2-week batch-film shot list: [paste ideas]."
6. Hashtag & Instagram SEO Prompts
Pair these with real hashtag data. IShort's hashtag analytics shows which tags actually correlate with reach so Claude works from evidence, not guesswork.
Copy-paste hashtag & SEO prompts:
• "Suggest a tiered hashtag set for [topic]: 5 niche tags under 100K posts, 5 mid-size, 2 broad, with a few words on each."
• "Rewrite my caption and cover text to include the search terms people type for [topic], without keyword stuffing."
• "Here are the hashtags on my top 5 reels from IShort: [paste]. Find the overlap and recommend a repeatable set."
• "Give me 10 Instagram SEO keywords for my captions and profile in [niche]."
• "Write 3 alt-text and on-screen-text variations for [topic] that aid search discovery."
• "Flag any overused or risky hashtags in this set and swap them: [paste]."
• "Group my hashtags into 3 rotating sets so I never reuse the same block: [paste]."
7. Competitor & Viral Decode Prompts
This is where pasting real data pays off most. Use IShort's competitor analysis and Copy Script to grab a rival's transcript and metrics, then let Claude dissect why it worked.
Copy-paste decode prompts:
• "Here is a competitor transcript plus its views, likes, and comments from IShort: [paste]. Break down why it performed: hook, structure, emotional trigger, CTA."
• "Compare these two reels, one winner and one flop, and tell me what the winner did differently: [paste both transcripts and metrics]."
• "From this viral transcript, extract a reusable template I can apply to 5 of my topics: [paste IShort transcript]."
• "Here are my niche's top 20 reels by Performance Score from IShort: [paste export]. What patterns in topic, length, and hook repeat?"
• "Read this competitor's caption and hook, then write a stronger original version that does not copy it: [paste]."
• "What content gap do these 15 competitor reels leave that I could own? [paste transcripts]."
• "Rank these 10 competitor hooks strongest to weakest and explain why: [paste]."
Feed Claude Real Data, Not Guesses
IShort collects any public account's reels, transcribes them in one click, and hands the data to Claude or ChatGPT. Stop prompting blind, paste what actually works in your niche.
Install IShort Free8. Brand-Voice Setup Prompts (Claude Projects)
For consistent output, set your voice once. In a Claude Project, add custom instructions so every prompt inherits your tone. These go in the project's instructions, not a one-off chat.
Copy-paste brand-voice prompts:
• "You are my Instagram copywriter for [brand]. Voice: [3 adjectives]. Audience: [describe]. No emojis in the first line, never 'in today's world', always one clear CTA. Confirm, then wait for my brief."
• "Learn my voice from these 5 best-performing captions from IShort: [paste]. Summarize my tone in 3 rules you'll follow from now on."
• "Here are 3 phrases I overuse. Suggest fresh alternatives and avoid the originals: [paste]."
• "Create a reusable brief template I fill before each reel: topic, goal, audience, one proof point, CTA."
• "Rewrite this caption in my voice, then explain what you changed so I can teach you: [paste]."
• "From these samples, list 5 words and phrases that fit my brand and 5 to avoid: [paste]."
How to Run These Prompts With IShort in 4 Steps
- Install IShort (free) and open any public Instagram profile's reels tab.
- Collect and transcribe: let IShort pull the reels, then use one-click Copy Script to grab a transcript, or export your metrics.
- Pick a prompt from this page and paste the real transcript or numbers into the bracketed spot.
- Run it in Claude (or tap "Analyse with AI" in IShort to send the data straight to Claude or ChatGPT), then iterate on the best output.
IShort's free plan covers 500 reels and 10 transcriptions per month. The Hobby plan ($10) and Creator plan ($30) raise transcription limits to 250 and 1,000 per month for heavier competitor research.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Claude prompts for Instagram?
The best Claude prompts for Instagram give it a clear role, one goal, and real data. Instead of "write me a caption," paste your niche, target viewer, and actual metrics or a competitor transcript exported from IShort, then ask for 3 to 5 variations. This page has 50+ copy-paste prompts across hooks, reel scripts, captions, carousels, content calendars, hashtags, and viral decode.
Can Claude write Instagram captions?
Yes. Claude is strong at Instagram captions because it holds voice and context well. Give it your brand voice, the reel topic, and the outcome you want (saves, comments, or link clicks), then ask for several options with different hooks and CTAs. Feeding it a caption that already performed well, pulled from IShort, sharpens the output further.
How do I use Claude prompts with my Instagram data?
Use IShort, a free Chrome extension, to collect any public account's reels, then use one-click Copy Script to grab a transcript or export your metrics. Paste that real data straight into a Claude prompt. IShort's "Analyse with AI" button hands the data to Claude or ChatGPT for you, so prompts run on facts instead of guesses.
Are Claude prompts better than ChatGPT for Instagram?
Both work well and every prompt on this page runs on either. Many creators prefer Claude for longer-form voice consistency and nuanced rewrites, and ChatGPT for fast idea volume. IShort's "Analyse with AI" lets you send the same reel data to Claude or ChatGPT, so you can compare and keep whichever output is stronger.
Do I need to pay for Claude to use these prompts?
No. Claude is a separate product from Anthropic and has a free tier that runs every prompt on this page. IShort, which supplies the reel data, is also free for up to 500 reels and 10 transcriptions per month, with paid plans for higher volume. You can start with both at no cost.
Final Thoughts
Great Instagram content is not about one magic prompt. It is about giving a capable model like Claude a clear job and real evidence to work from. Save this library, adapt the brackets to your niche, and make a habit of pasting a competitor transcript or your own metrics before you ask, that single step is what separates generic AI copy from reels that land. Install IShort, grab one real transcript, and run your first prompt today.