How to Create a Valuable Carousel Post on Instagram | Instagram Growth Tips

Is Instagram all about reels now and what happens to regular posts?

Recently as I was scrolling through the Instagram feeds, I noticed how it is dominated by Reels but some posts stand out because people share them and bookmark them.

So I wanted to find out what made these posts stand out and how you can use them to grow your business on Instagram.

My marketing strategy is called Create-Grow-Profit and while reels are really great for creating content and growing your audience, Instagram posts, they’re very good at nurturing the relationship with your audience and even making sales.

But there are some problems with the Instagram standard posts such as:

1. We can only see how many likes and comments they get but we can’t see how many views or Impressions they have
2. Regular posts on Instagram are usually shown just to your followers so they have less reach than reels that you post in the reels section of Instagram

However, I think one element is easily overlooked when it comes to posts.

If you post something that your followers really love, they’ll be sharing it with other people. Being recommended by your followers is one of the most powerful ways how you can reach new people.

That’s why the goal of this article is to break down successful carousel posts and create a framework that you can use.

Instagram Carousel Examples

First Example

So here’s the first example of a very successful carousel post. It has over 9,000 likes and the account that posted has 33,000 followers. The title for this post says 3 Months of Content Done For You which already sounds amazing, right?

Now, the first slide of this post isn’t just a cover, it’s a hook. That is the part where you either grab someone’s attention or they scroll next.

When you swipe through this carousel, the content plan is laid out from Week 1 to Week 12. It is very easy to follow but it doesn’t just stop there.

The last few slides, add even more information by teaching you about:

• The importance of setting up your profile correctly
• Your bio
• And an overall Instagram strategy

Second Example

Now, let’s look at another example this time by an account called Investing Fusions and their bio says that they’re the number one source for motivation and growth.

As you can see, the title for this carousel says 50 Ways Of Living A Happy Life. When you move to the next slide you’ll see a list of 50 things that can make you happy. This slide is really easy to understand. It’s just like a simple checklist for feeling good.

In a way, it’s similar to the last carousel that we looked at in the sense that:

1. Both are easy to follow
2. Simple to digest

Even though the first one is a step-by-step format and the second is a list.

Based on these two examples, let’s break down a simple framework that you can use for your next few carousel posts.

Carousel Post Framework

First of all, let’s talk about the Content.

These Carousel posts, all teach something. They’re highly valuable.

Think of them almost like creating a lead magnet but instead of them having to sign up for it or pay a small fee for it, it is available for free, right there on your Instagram profile.

For a successful carousel post, use content that you can teach either :

• In a list format
• In a fill-in-the-blanks type of template
• Or in a step-by-step format

The second step: is the very first slide it’s your attention grabber and it’s your Hook.

The very first slide of these carousel posts is usually just the title and it has very little distraction. So people can focus on the hook.

Ask yourself this:

1. Is this title catchy for your audience?
2. Does your audience want to swipe to the next slide when they read this?

The third step is the meat of your post, it is the Main Content.

I recommend that you focus on CVD:

1. Clarity: Ask yourself this: Are the points easy to understand?
2. Value: Each slide should offer something useful or actionable
3. Design: You want it to look good but more importantly, you want a clean layout that is free of distractions and lets them focus on the value that you’re providing

The fourth and final step in this framework is the Engagement Booster.

We’ve already seen this in my previous videos on Instagram Reels where having a call to action that asks people to leave a comment that helps with boosting engagement.

1. If somebody likes your post and swipes through all the slides in your carousel, then you want to give them clear instructions on what you would like them to do next.
2. If you have something else to offer like a free lead magnet or a course that is on sale, then ask them to leave a comment and you will send them over.
3. If you’re on Instagram to grow your business then be sure that you ask people to leave a comment to request an additional resource from you. That additional resource could either be something free that you give them to build your list or you can sell them something or book a call with them.

Now I hope that with these two examples and the framework you will have a much easier time creating your own posts and use that to create value for your followers and also promote your business.

For next steps with your marketing, read this article here.

My Three Takeaways

1. Sure, Reels grab attention and grow your audience, but regular posts are where the magic of building relationships and even driving sales happens. They’re great for nurturing your followers!
2. The first slide is everything. It’s your hook. Make it catchy, and clear, and leave people curious enough to swipe through. That’s how you keep them engaged.
3. Always wrap it up by telling your audience what to do next! Ask for comments, suggest they request a resource, or point them to your product. It’s a super easy way to keep the conversation going and drive interaction.

And don’t forget to subscribe on my YouTube channel, @creategrowprofit