Understanding Carousels

A guide to creating engaging content using carousels in the most efficient manner📝🎯

Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash

If you’ve been using Instagram for a while, you might have come across a feature called “Carousels.” Instagram Carousels allow you to share multiple photos or videos in a single post, allowing you to tell a story, share a series of tips, or showcase a product in a more engaging way. Here we’ll look at what Instagram Carousels are, how to make them, and why you should consider using them in your content strategy.

What are Instagram Carousels?

Instagram Carousels are a feature that allows you to share up to 10 photos or videos in a single post. Users can swipe left to see the rest of the content, making it an ideal format for sharing a series of related images or videos. Carousels can be used for a variety of purposes, such as showcasing a product, telling a story, sharing a recipe, or offering tips and advice.

How to Make an Instagram Carousel?

(Method 1: Direct)

1. Open the Instagram app and tap the “+” icon to create a new post.
2. Tap the “Select Multiple” icon and choose up to 10 photos or videos from your camera roll.
3. Tap and hold on to the first image or video to select it as the cover image. You can also add a filter or edit the image if you like.
4. Tap “Next” and arrange the images or videos in the order you want them to appear.
5. Add a caption, hashtags, and location if desired.
6. Tap “Share” to publish your Carousel.

(Method 2: Through Design applications like Adobe Illustrator)

1. Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document with the dimensions you want for your carousel. (Ideally 2560 * 2560 pixels for 6 Artboards)
2. Create a new artboard for each slide in your carousel. You can do this by selecting the Artboard tool from the toolbar on the left-hand side of the screen and clicking on the New Artboard button in the toolbar at the top of the screen. Repeat this step until you have created all the necessary artboards.
3. Design your carousel slides on each artboard. You can use text, images, graphics, and other design elements to create visually appealing slides. Make sure to keep a consistent style throughout all of your slides so that they look cohesive when viewed together.
4. Once you have designed all of your carousel slides, select all of the artboards by holding down the Shift key and clicking on each artboard. Then go to File > Export > Export As.
5. In the Export As dialog box, select JPEG as the file format and choose the desired resolution and quality settings. Make sure to select the Use Artboards option and choose Range: All so that all of your slides are exported.
6. Click Export and choose a location to save your files.
7. Upload your carousel to Instagram by selecting the carousel icon when creating a new post and then selecting the images you just exported.

Carousel made using multiple artboards within Adobe Illustrator

Why Use Instagram Carousels?

There are several reasons why you might want to use Instagram Carousels in your content strategy:

1. Tell a Story: Carousels allow you to share a series of related images or videos, allowing you to tell a story in a more engaging way.
2. Showcase a Product: If you’re a business, you can use Carousels to showcase a product from different angles, show how it’s made, or highlight its features.
3. Share Tips and Advice: Carousels are a great way to share a series of tips or advice on a specific topic, such as cooking, fitness, or fashion.
4. Increase Engagement: Carousels are more engaging than single-image posts, as users can swipe through the content and spend more time on your post.
5. Save Time: Instead of creating multiple posts, you can share all your content in a single Carousel, saving you time and effort.

Photo by Luke van Zyl on Unsplash

In conclusion, Instagram Carousels are a powerful tool for creating engaging content on Instagram. By sharing multiple photos or videos in a single post, you can tell a story, showcase a product, or offer tips and advice in a more engaging way. If you haven’t used Carousels before, give them a try and see how they can help you increase engagement and grow your following on Instagram.

If you found this helpful, do give my works a look 🔍

Adri Mukund | Twitter, Instagram | Linktree

I’m sure you won’t regret it 🙌 Thanks for reading! 🤗