How To Create Engaging Instagram Carousel Posts
Did you know that Carousel posts get the most engagement than any other content format on Instagram?
Reels may be tops for increasing Instagram reach to new people, but when it comes to engagement Carousels are the winner.
Instagram Carousels see an engagement rate of 1.92% (even more when all 10 slides are used) compared to an engagement rate of 1.74% for static images and 1.45% for videos, which people tend to scroll through at mass, according to a recent study published in Search Engine Journal.
However, that same study discovered that Carousels only take up 19% of all content posted to the site, which means there’s a lot of opportunity for you in 2024.
This article covers everything you need to know to create an engaging Instagram Carousel post in 2024. Plus, examples and prompts carousels easy to create.
(Note: Instagram announced in March 2024 it plans to let users post up to 20 slides later this year.)
What Is An Instagram Carousel?
A personal favorite, Instagram Carousels are an Instagram content format that allows you to include up to 10 photos or videos that your followers can swipe through to view.
One of the top reasons to create Instagram Carousel posts is because the Instagram algorithm gives you two chances to get it right.
When a follower skips your Carousel post without swiping through, the algorithm will show it to them again - but this time, displaying the second slide.
This means that by using Carousels, you have an increased chance of your post being seen by your online followers more than once. It's a smart way to maximize your reach and engagement on the platform.
“If you are publishing carousels, they should be 7 to 10 slides long. But the key is to use a hook on slide 1 AND slide 2. Just having a hook on slide 1 isn’t enough… the engagement won’t be as high,” Content Expert Neil Patel wrote in a recent blog.
Why You Should Post Carousels
You’ll get a big payoff from designing a few extra slides.
Increased Engagement: Carousels encourage users to interact more with content by swiping through multiple images or videos.
Storytelling Ability: With the option to include multiple images or videos in a single post, carousels allow for more comprehensive storytelling. You can break down a story into digestible pieces, guiding your audience through a narrative or a process step by step. (See below).
Showcase Variety: Carousels are perfect for showcasing a range of products, services, or ideas in one post. This is particularly useful for brands looking to highlight different features or uses of a product, or for creators wishing to display a portfolio of work.
Higher Potential for Saves and Shares: Because carousel posts can provide value-packed information or tell a compelling story, they are more likely to be saved or shared by viewers. This not only increases engagement but also extends your reach to potential new followers.
Encourages Longer Viewing Times: The nature of carousel posts, requiring users to manually swipe through, naturally leads to longer viewing times. This increased dwell time signals to social media algorithms that your content is engaging, potentially boosting its visibility.
Versatility: Carousels can be used in a variety of ways—educational content, behind-the-scenes looks, before-and-after sequences, event recaps, or even to share user-generated content. This versatility makes them a valuable tool in any content creator's arsenal.
Are Carousel Posts Better than Reels?
Reels were introduced in 2020 as Instagram's answer to TikTok. IG’s short-form video shake up was met with mixed reviews. Perhaps you caught Kylie Jenner‘s not-so-subtly request for Instagram to make photos great again?
Her concerns publicly called out what many users have been saying for years: We don’t Instagram to be a poor man’s TikTok. Instagram has since back tracked on its hyper-Reels focus.
Carousels — which performed well enough during the height of the Reels frenzy — are reclaiming its favorite child status on Insta.
It’s been a good rule of thumb that Carousel posts get better engagement while Reels are top for reaching more people. But that might change.
Instagram recently started to test showing Carousel posts within the Reels feed, which will let users scroll through carousels the same way we scroll through Reels now. That change bodes well for the future of Carousel reach.
Regardless of industry metrics, it’s important to test for yourself.
Even when Reels were all the rage, that format never performed as well as carousel posts on my account. My audience would rather swipe left on graphics than see me lip sync, thankfully. The exact opposite is true for a client whose audience can’t get enough of short-form video.
Here are a few Instagram content experiments to test drive.
How To Structure Carousels on Instagram
Here is a step-by-step guide to creating a great Instagram carousel post:
Carousel Slide One: Eye-Catching Headline
The first slide of your Instagram carousel post is the most important because it's what will capture your followers' attention and make them want to swipe through to see more. Use high-quality images and a font that stands out (I like size you can see from space). Contrast it against the background to make it readable. The text needs to stop the scroll. Here’s a guide to writing catchy Instagram headlines.
Carousel Slide Two: Make A Statement
Think of this as a supporting actress that is just as badass as the main character. Remember, when a follower skips your carousel post without swiping through, the algorithm will show it to them again - but this time, displaying the second slide. Don’t miss the rare second change to hook your reader. Use it as chance to make a bold statement or mission-driven message about the topic you’re about to dive into in the following slides.
The Meat Of The Carousel Slides:
Use the following slides to educate, tell your story, or show the benefit of your offer. One effective strategy is to share brand stories that show the real-life benefits of working with your brand, such as before-and-after photos or testimonials from satisfied customers. Another option is to provide educational content that your followers will find valuable, such as step-by-step guides or how-to videos. The key is to keep your audience engaged and delighted, so be sure to use high-quality images or videos and provide context in the captions.
Second To Last Slide:
The second to last slide of your Instagram carousel post is a great opportunity to wrap up your message and provide a clear takeaway for your audience. Summarize the main points of your post. I often use this slide to promo a blog, offering a discount code or freebie related to the topic of the post.
Final Carousel: Call To Action
The last slide can include a Call To Action. Anytime someone interacts with your content, Instagram takes it as a sign to push more of your content to them. A strong call to action (CTA) encourages people to interact with your posts in a meaningful way. Generic CTAs are like white noise on Instagram. Blanket statements such as “like,” “comment,” or “tag your __!” are most likely going to get your post ignored. What you can do instead is ask a question or a request specifically related to your post. Be sure to make the CTA clear and easy to understand.
I also like to include a headshot on my final slide to humanize my brand. You can see some examples on my Instagram @ascent_storycraft.
Instagram Carousel Post Ideas
Storytelling Carousels: Storytelling is captivating in all formats, but Carousels offer as special element of engagement because people have to swipe through the slides. Think of relatable metaphors, your own brand story, or stories from other iconic brands to help readers remember your message. Storytelling Carousel Example
Memes Carousels: Inject humor and relatability into your content with carousel memes. Create a series of funny or witty images or videos that capture emotions while making concepts more digestible. Memes are highly shareable and can help humanize your brand while increasing engagement and brand awareness. Meme Carousel Example.
Testimonials: “Client love” doesn’t cut it anymore. We used to be able to share quotes from our happy clients on a static image to get a reasonable amount of engagement and interest from new clients. But the more content that comes online, the colder audiences get to concepts they’ve seen already. “Client love” is a prime example of a played out concept. Good news: There are more interesting ways to share testimonials on Instagram, with added context that make people more apt to buy. Testimonial Carousel Example.
Roundups/Listicles: Create curated lists or roundups of related content or products within a carousel. Organize your content into digestible slides, offering recommendations, “top tools,” or resources to your audience. They are great when you need something to post in a pinch because roundups and listicles don’t always have to be content you’ve created. Think: “5 Ted Talks That Will Make You More Productive” or “5 Family Friendly Hotels In Atlantic City.” Roundup/Listicle Carousel Example.
Education: Use Carousels as an educational tool to share valuable knowledge or insights with your audience. Break down complex topics into easy-to-understand slides, providing step-by-step instructions, tutorials, or informative graphics. Educating your audience establishes your brand as an authority in your industry and fosters trust and credibility. Educational Carousel Example.
Add Music To Carousel For More Engagement
You can now add music to Carousels on Instagram to "express your creativity and connect with friends," according to Instagram. This recently added music feature gives you more control over what kind of vibe you want to emanate. This feature comes on the heels of others added to make Carousels more engaging, like the Instagram collaboration feature, caption polls, and "Add Yours" prompts.
Create Engaging Instagram Carousel Posts
Instagram Carousel posts are like a Swiss Army knife for your Instagram content strategy: versatile, message-driven, and engaging. Now that Instagram is testing Carousels within Reels, which lets people post multiple slides in a single Reels post — the potential for higher reach is greater than ever.
What do you think about Instagram Carousel posts? Do you think they have the potential to be more popular than Reels in 2024? Let me know below.
Happy Creating!
Cyndi, Owner of Ascent StoryCraft
Let’s Get Social! Connect with me on: Instagram Or Get More Like This To Your Inbox 📥
Instagram Carousel FAQs
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1.Open the Instagram app and tap the "+" icon at the bottom center of the screen.
2. Select the photos or videos you want to include in your carousel by tapping on them.
3. Once you've selected all the media you want to use, tap "Next" at the top right corner.
Now you can rearrange the order of your photos or videos by dragging and dropping them.
You can also add filters, stickers, or captions to each individual photo or video by tapping on them.
If you want to add more media, just tap on "Add More" at the bottom left corner and repeat the process.
4. When you're happy with your carousel post, tap "Share" at the top right corner.
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Having poster’s remorse? You don’t have to delete the entire post to remove the slides in questions.
Here's how you can remove a slide from an Instagram carousel post:
1.Open your Instagram profile and find the carousel post you want to edit.
2. Tap the three dots at the top right corner of the post.
3. Select "Edit" from the options.
4. Tap on the slide you want to remove.
5. Tap the trash can icon at the bottom right corner of the slide.
6. Confirm that you want to remove the slide by tapping "Delete".
7. Tap "Done" at the top right corner of the screen to save your changes.
And voila! You've successfully removed the unwanted slide from your carousel post.
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According to the SocialInsider study referenced above, when making use of all ten slides available, the average engagement rate per carousel goes over 2%.
The most common carousels have two slides (33.10%) or three slides (19.69%), but some carousels use all 10 slides (6.77%).
A good rule of thumb is short enough to keep it interesting and long enough to cover the point. 7-10 as long been the sweet spot for my brand.
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So, you've posted a carousel, and now you're second-guessing the order of your photos or videos. Not to worry, we've got your back! Here's how you can easily change the order of your Instagram photo carousel after posting:
1.Open your Instagram profile and find the carousel post you want to edit.
2. Tap the three dots at the top right corner of the post.
3. Select "Edit" from the options.
4. Now, you can rearrange the order of your photos or videos by dragging and dropping them.
5. Tap and hold the photo or video you want to move.
6. Drag it to the desired position within the carousel.
7. Once you're happy with the order, tap "Done" at the top right corner of the screen.
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You can include up to 10 images or videos in a single Instagram carousel post.
