Research shows that Instagram carousel posts account for only 18% of content on the platform. If you want to stand out from the crowd and produce engaging save-worthy content, you need to capitalize on Instagram carousels.
Clear, cohesive carousel posts can be powerful when used well. A seamless Instagram carousel post can help you build brand credibility and showcase your value as a creator. This could be the key to building your online community and getting people interested in your account and what your content has to say.
The good news is that creating an effective Instagram carousel doesn’t have to be a challenge. With a basic understanding of what makes great content, you can produce Instagram carousels that resonate with your audience.
Wondering where to get started with Instagram carousels? You’ve come to the right place! Here are just a few of our top social media tips for bringing your next carousel on Instagram to life.
Create a Visual Impact
According to Forbes, an incredible 91% of consumers prefer visual content over written materials. On an image-based platform like Instagram, it’s never been so important to create a visual impact.
Your Instagram carousel post should capture the viewer’s attention fast, stopping the scroll and encouraging users to stick around and read on. In this way, impactful graphic design can unlock greater reach and engagement.
When crafting Instagram carousel posts, your cover slide is what will make or break your post. Be sure to use a combination of graphic elements, photography and text overlays to hook your audience in and inspire them to read more.
Remember to harness your brand fonts and colors, include your company logo and write an attention-grabbing opening statement to compel audiences to stop the scroll and engage with your content.
Prioritize Content Consistency
Whatever kind of content you’re working on, consistency is critical on the path to social media success. That includes Instagram carousel posts!
The beauty of a carousel post is that you can communicate a single message over up to 10 slides. Our tip? Design your carousel so each slide connects seamlessly with the slide before.
Why not break up a single image over 10 slides or use graphic elements (like arrows) to create a unified story, displayed in 10 parts? This is the key to creating a seamless carousel post that delivers tangible value to your audience.
Center Your Brand Identity
Similarly, it’s essential that you use your Instagram carousels as an opportunity to stay true to your brand identity. Good branding can go a long way!
From your logo to your brand colors to a consistent tone of voice, branding details matter. An Instagram carousel allows you to make the most of extra visual space, where you can integrate even more of your brand kit for instant brand recognition.
When you design an Instagram carousel, look for every chance to highlight what makes your account stand out from the crowd. This means:
• Opening your carousel with a witty text overlay that grabs attention and showcases your brand voice.
• Designing a bespoke carousel design that taps into your unique visual identity (rather than using a stock standard template).
• Harnessing original professional imagery across your carousel to showcase the faces of your team (which ensuring your carousel is distinctive and memorable).
Tell Your Audience a Story
Whether you’re watching a movie or scrolling on the ‘gram, humans love a well-told story. That’s why a storytelling approach is so effective for social media marketing.
All the images in a seamless Instagram carousel should work together to communicate one overarching theme or idea. As viewers scroll through the images, each one should add value to the conversation and provide additional clarity on the message you’re trying to convey.
Instead of considering each image in your Instagram carousel post individually, look at images as a series. Evaluate how well one picture flows to the next, and understand the best structure and communication methods to craft a visual narrative with a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Ensure You Have Enough Images
A seamless Instagram carousel post needs to feel complete. Using enough images to fill out your content can help you engage your audience while also providing an extra algorithm boost.
Generally speaking, carousel posts should include at least three images and no more than 10. The best approach is usually somewhere in the middle. This gives viewers enough content to hold their interest without overwhelming the reader or compromising content quality.
Next time you need to share a carousel post, think carefully about how many slides you really need to articulate your message clearly. Structure your carousel so that users are invited to learn, engage, and understand, all while avoiding an Instagram overload.
Include a Call to Action (CTA)
A clear call to action is a staple on social media! A wtell-crafted CTA can help you guide your audience in the right direction when it comes to promoting better engagement results.
In a seamless carousel, you can tell your viewers exactly what steps to take next, whether this is a direction to like, share, comment, or even visit your business website. Calls to action give people a sense of how to proceed and can steer them towards the next step in the buyer’s journey.
As you design your carousel posts, consider setting up a go-to CTA you can use whenever you share something new. This can even be its own visual slide, offering the perfect chance to add your branding and shout out your brand and Instagram account.
Try a Carousel Template
If you’re still feeling a little overwhelmed by the prospect of crafting an effective carousel, why not turn to Instagram carousel templates?
Instagram carousel templates are designed to offer you a starting point so that you can create a post with less stress. You can either turn to the ‘gram greats for guidance, or you can consider developing your own Instagram carousel templates for later use.
The key to getting this process right is to ensure you make any existing templates bespoke and tailored to your brand. Use existing templates are inspiration and inject each slide with a fresh approach that aligns with your brand’s visual identity.
With your own templates ready to go, you can speed up the creation of any future carousel posts too!
Schedule Instagram Carousel Posts?
Sometimes, even with the best of intentions, keeping up with Instagram can be a challenge. Scheduling Instagram carousel posts ahead of time can help!
Using a quality scheduling tool, you can set up all the important details so that your carousel post is ready to go live at the right time. This can be very helpful if you’re working on other tasks or struggling to post when your audience is online.
If you’re searching for an easy way to schedule your next carousel post, Plann has the solution. Start planning your social media calendar ahead of time with a scheduling tool that links to the Instagram app. Interested? Sign up for a FREE 7-day trial today!
