How to Create the Perfect Instagram Carousel Post

Instagram’s carousel feature is one of those things that have been around seemingly forever but are only becoming popular now. It’s a shame because carousels are super user-friendly and perfect for creating educational or product posts.

They get more engagement than reels if all ten slides are used. Still, only 19% of content on Instagram consists of carousels. That is a missed opportunity for brands and content creators.

So, if you’ve been ignoring this feature, it’s time to become acquainted with it. The following steps will introduce you to carousels and help you create perfect carousel posts.

What Is an Instagram Carousel?

While there are no eternally prancing ponies or horses on an Instagram carousel, this feature does draw some inspiration from merry-go-rounds.

You can use up to ten photos or videos to fill in the blank slides, and viewers can swipe through them to see each one.

Instagram's algorithm loves this content format so much that it will present it a second time to viewers who skipped it the first time they saw it.

When a carousel appears on someone’s feed for the first time, they see the first slide. If they don’t tap on the carousel, it will appear in their feed again, with the second slide visible first.

This means that carousels have a better chance of engaging your followers, and you have an opportunity to increase your reach on Instagram.

How to Create an Instagram Carousel

Carousel images must be square or portrait, so 1080 x 1080 or 1350 x 1350. Your subject or intro should appear on the first image or slide, and the rest of the images must follow logically.

The best practice is to include a CTA on the last slide, but some brands have successfully added one to the first slide.

You can create a carousel post on your phone or laptop by opening the Instagram app and tapping or clicking the + sign.

Select the ten images or videos you want to add, apply filters and special effects, and then post. That is how simple the technical side of carousel posts is.

You can also schedule your carousel posts if you don’t have the time to log in and post them daily. The Meta Business Suite allows you to schedule them using your business Facebook page.

Why Use Instagram Carousels?

In addition to receiving higher engagement, a carousel allows you to tell a longer story on Instagram. You can use a mix of photos, videos, and text to create content that draws and holds your audience’s attention.

Carousels are excellent for promoting products and announcing events. Some content creators even use it to make quick and easy DIY tutorials.

You can use Instagram carousels for any content marketing as long as you know your ultimate goals and target audience.

Creating the Perfect Instagram Carousel Content

Carousels and reels have one factor in common: Content creators must hook viewers with the first image. And like reels, you can start your carousel with a visual or a question.

If you decide to mix your content, keep the flow logical. Use plain slides for crucial information so viewers don’t miss anything as they swipe through.

Ensure that your color palette and theme remain the same throughout the slide. If you use contrasting colors, ensure they work with your branding to convey a message.

Don’t forget to add captions to slides and end (or start) with a strong CTA. If you get your CTAs just right, it will determine how well your viewers respond to them.

Popular Instagram Carousel Content Ideas

Some content ideas work better for the carousel format than others. For instance, you could use a carousel to create a humorous post filled with memes and funny videos. This is almost like the manual version of a funny reel.

Use funny images and memes while still showcasing your brand personality. Achieving this balance will make your carousel highly shareable, which increases engagement.

Carousels are also great for list content or articles. Brands that create a lot of roundups or review articles often use carousels to highlight the best part of each list item.

Moreover, if you have educational information to share, carousels can help you structure it in a digestible format.

You can use the ten slides to create step-by-step instructions or tutorials. You can even use a carousel to break up infographics into bite-sized pieces.

Advanced Instagram Carousel Strategies

A carousel is a straightforward content format, but you can spice it up using different strategies.

For instance, you can add interactive elements like stickers to encourage your followers to act on the CTA or to share your carousels. You can also add polls and quizzes to your carousel slides to make the content more exciting.

If you want to create a carousel for something other than a tutorial or how-to guide, you can use it to offer behind-the-scenes glimpses into your working process.

If you run a brick-and-mortar business, you can use carousels to let viewers in on a typical day in the office. Doing this will help you build stronger relationships with your followers.

You can also collaborate with other brands or content creators to reach new audiences and get more traffic to your Instagram feed. This way, you will keep building brand awareness (for both parties) while promoting products or services.

Don’t forget to add music to your carousels to give them that extra spark. Music evokes emotions, whether happiness, sadness, shock, etc. Use music and sounds that fit the message you want to convey.

Always check your personalized Instagram Analytics to see how well your carousels perform. This will allow you to make the necessary changes if some don’t perform well.

Be Consistent With Carousel Content to Reap the Benefits

Once you start a carousel content campaign, you must be consistent. Consistency is the only way to make an impact on a massive platform like Instagram.

If you have limited design experience, use third-party tools like Canva for inspiration. Canva can help you set up a campaign using well-designed slides and captions.

With these strategies, you can create carousel posts to keep your Instagram followers captivated, helping you leave a lasting impression.