What Is Instagram Carousel and Why You Need to Use It

An Instagram carousel is a digital marketing strategy that effectively boosts user engagement. This feature allows you to upload up to ten photos or videos, enabling you to convey a more comprehensive message or story.

Instead of just uploading multiple images, carousel content allows you to present information gradually and in a structured manner on Instagram. Are you curious about carousel content and tips for creating it? Check out more about it here!

What Is a Carousel?

A carousel is a feature on social media platforms that lets users upload multiple photos or videos in a single post. It's popular on Instagram as it captures the audience's attention and encourages interaction with the content.

Figure 1.1. Example of a Carousel Post on Instagram

The image above is an example of an organic carousel from one of VISUWISU's clients, cmlabs. It allows a maximum of ten photos or videos in one post, which can be swiped left or right. Each slide can include captions, tags, geotags, and alternative text for images.

Why Use an Instagram Carousel Post?

An Instagram carousel is engaging and versatile, often receiving more reach and interaction than single posts. To learn more about what is an Instagram carousel, here are some of its advantages:

1. Organic Content

Carousel content is an effective form of organic content that increases reach without relying on paid advertising. This type of content naturally attracts an audience and allows you to allocate your advertising budget elsewhere.

2. More Creative Content

Carousels offer a platform to showcase creative ideas freely. You can combine images, illustrations, and messages in one post, creating engaging content that builds your brand's design character.

3. Content Flexibility

Carousels aren't limited to photos; they can include videos or a mix of both. With up to ten slides, you can tell a complete story, such as introducing your business, showing your work process, and ending with an engaging video.

4. Increase Follower Engagement

Carousels tend to receive many comments. Adding interactive elements like quizzes, crosswords, or games can strengthen your connection or interaction with followers and attract new ones.

How to Make an Instagram Carousel Post

Creating a carousel post on Instagram is simple. You can select 1-10 photos or videos to upload and Instagram will automatically organize them into a carousel. Now, you can also mix photos and videos, such as a photo on the first slide and a video on the second slide, with a maximum duration of 1 minute.

Carousels are suitable for various types of content, including:

• Tutorials

• Infographics and data

• Brand introductions

• Product details

• Product or service reviews

• Product or service updates

Tips for Maximizing Instagram Carousel Content

Now that you know the advantages of a carousel and how to create them, it's time for you to learn the tips to optimize carousel posts. Here are tips for maximizing carousel content on Instagram:

1. Use an Attractive Photo on the Cover

The first tip is to use the most interesting image or video on the first slide to grab attention and make the audience curious. This cover should reflect the overall theme and entice the reader to scroll through the rest.

2. Create Compelling Visuals

Aside from the cover, each slide should be visually appealing to enhance the overall impression. You can use consistent color combinations that match your branding and add elements like icons, illustrations, or interesting typography to make the content dynamic and interactive.

3. Utilize Description or Copywriting

Next, you should accompany your visual content with compelling copywriting. You can use a call to action to encourage engagement. Also, make sure the text is concise and informative, guiding the audience to interact further by asking questions or leaving comments.

4. Avoid Too Much Information

If you want to create a Instagram carousel, yo need to keep the message clear and concise. You need to focus on one main point per slide and use visuals or infographics to clarify. Then, avoid overwhelming the reader with too much information at once. 

5. Use Slots Sparingly

While Instagram allows up to 10 slots, it’s often better to use 2-6 high-quality pieces of content rather than filling all slots unnecessarily. However, you can still use all slots if you need to provide more detailed information.

6. Ensure Continuity Between Slides

Another important tips is to maintain a consistent theme or information flow between slides. You can utilize uniform design elements like colors, fonts, and illustration styles to ensure visual harmony. The narrative you want to tell should also flow seamlessly and creating a coherent story.

In conclusion, an Instagram carousel is content that should be interesting and structured to convey complete information to your customers and increase their engagement. Therefore, you need to create the right carousel content to attract your target audience.

In this case, VISUWISU can help! As a professional graphic design partner, we can help you create a creative carousel that makes your brand look more attractive and credible to your customers.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact VISUWISU today to discuss the best solution for your brand.