In recent years, short-form videos have stolen the spotlight on our social feeds, but the trusty carousel post remains a hidden gem that can engage, educate, and captivate your audience in ways that fleeting videos simply can't (and yes, there are stats to back this statement up!). We love a carousel post and its versatility so let’s dive into everything you need to know about carousels and why they should be a central part of your social media strategy.
What is a carousel post?
A carousel is a content format that allows users to share multiple images, videos, or a combination of both in a single post. Viewers can swipe through the slides, creating an interactive and engaging experience. Like regular posts, you can add location tags, tag other accounts and products, and include captions, hashtags, and filters. Carousel posts are recognizable by a stacked square icon on a user’s Instagram feed. When viewed, they display the total number of slides in the top right corner, with small grey dots beneath the images that turn blue to indicate your current position in the carousel.
Carousel post facts
Ok, it’s true, we love a carousel post but don’t just take our word for it! There are stats to back up the fact that carousels are the most engaging content format on Instagram (from Industry powerhouse reports from Later, Hootsuite & Socialinsider:
- Higher Engagement Rate - Carousel posts generate a 1.92% higher average engagement rate per post compared to images and videos. This is because users often spend more time interacting with multiple slides, leading to more likes, comments, and shares.
- More Impressions - On average, carousel posts receive more impressions compared to single-image or video posts, as there is more potential for the second slide to appear separately in users' feeds.
- Better Performance Across Accounts - Data suggests that carousel posts perform particularly well for business accounts, driving up to 5.13% more engagement compared to single-image posts. This makes them a go-to format for brands looking to maximize reach and interaction.
- Higher Completion Rates - A significant percentage of users tend to swipe through all the slides in a carousel, with some studies indicating completion rates as high as 70%. This indicates that carousels effectively hold user attention, leading to deeper engagement.
What makes carousel posts so engaging?
Let’s take a deeper dive into what makes carousel posts so engaging:
- Interactive – the swipeable format encourages users to interact with content keeping the attention of users for longer and teasing them with info or images further on in the carousel.
- Versatile – carousels can be used for so many different purposes e.g. photo dumps, storytelling, tutorials, product showcases, transformations, making them a super versatile format that breaks down information or a story for users.
- Increased visibility – on Instagram, the second slide in a carousel also has the potential to appear separately in users' feeds or Explore pages, increasing the chances of the post being seen by a wider audience.
- Combine formats – Instagram carousels allow you to share video, images and graphics all in one post, making it multifaceted. Just FYI, Instagram doesn’t consider carousel videos to be reels, so they won’t show up in the Reels tab.
- Time – carousels naturally encourage users to spend more time engaging with your content, increasing the likelihood of interaction or action at the end. This extended user engagement is favored by the algorithm, which rewards content that keeps people on the app longer.
Recent updates to carousel posts
Due to the popularity and engaging nature of carousel posts, social media platforms have recently introduced some updates to help users make the most of the format.
Instagram – recently updated carousels to allow up to 20 images in one post (the previous limit was 10). Users can now also add text directly to their images in the post editor (see tutorial on how here).
TikTok – for once, TikTok seemed to be copying Instagram by introducing the ability for users to share single images and carousels posts. You can now add up to 35 images or videos that users can swipe through at their own pace.
LinkedIn - LinkedIn retired its carousel feature in 2023, but you can still share "document carousels" by converting your graphics into PDFs for posting. Pro tip: Want to repurpose your Instagram carousel graphics? With Rapidely, you can easily duplicate the post in your content calendar, schedule it, and our tool will automatically convert your graphics into PDFs for seamless posting on LinkedIn!
Carousel posts ideas
Ready to start sharing carousel posts and see your engagement get a boost? Great! Here are some ideas to inspire you:
Product Showcase and Features
If you are a product based business, highlight products by dedicating each slide to a different product, feature or benefit. Start with an eye-catching image, then use the following slides to break down what makes the product unique, ending with a call to action. If you have an Instagram shop set-up, don’t forget to tag your products!
Before-and-After
Everyone loves a good transformation, and a carousel is the perfect format for showcasing a dramatic transformation. This works well for brands in beauty, fitness, home renovation, or any service that provides visible results. Each slide can walk the audience through the steps or stages of the transformation. Don’t forget to tease users by adding text or captions with phrases like "swipe to see the transformation" or "swipe to the end for the final reveal."
Photo Dump
A photo dump on social media refers to a casual collection of images shared in a single post, often featuring a mix of personal moments, random snapshots, or behind-the-scenes glimpses. Unlike curated posts that are carefully edited and planned, a photo dump is typically more spontaneous and unfiltered, showcasing a variety of content without a specific theme. This format allows users to share memories, everyday life, or candid moments with their audience, creating a more authentic and relatable connection.
Step-by-Step Tutorial or Guide
Create a mini-tutorial related to your product or service. Each slide can cover one step in the process, making it easy for your audience to follow along. This could be anything from a recipe, DIY project, or styling tips.
Behind-the-Scenes Look
Offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into your brand. Showcase how your products are made, a day in the life at your company, or introduce your team members. This helps to humanize your brand and build a stronger connection with your audience.
Tailored carousel ideas
If you’re looking for carousel posts tailored to your unique brand, click here for help with building a custom strategy which will then generate a month of ideas for you ready to add to your content calendar. We even have a handy carousel maker tool which helps you write educational and informative carousel posts tailored to your audience in minutes, ready to download and add to your Canva graphics (cos we know carousels can be time consuming to create!).
Ready to embrace carousels?
When it comes to formats on socials, carousels will always have our hearts! Have we convinced you to embrace carousel posts yet? The stats don’t lie, there are so many reasons to back up the humble carousel post’s power on socials so why not give it a try and watch your engagement rocket?
Create tailored carousel post ideas, schedule and repurpose them for various platforms, and manage all your social media content effortlessly with our user-friendly tool. Try it for free today and get started now!
