You’re a creator, and you’re tired of the content grind. You’re working hard to create carousels, you’re trying to follow the rules, but you’re not seeing the results you want. You feel like the old way of creating carousels is dead, and you’re not sure what to do. The problem isn’t your content; it’s your strategy.
The truth is, the most successful creators don’t just follow the old rules; they have a strategic, new way of creating carousels. They understand that the algorithm has changed and that a new, more strategic approach is needed.
They know that getting your first 5,000 followers isn’t about a single viral video or a massive ad budget; it’s about following a proven, all-encompassing plan.
This article isn’t about some secret algorithm hack. It’s the ultimate blueprint—a guide to “The New Way of Creating Carousels”. We’re going to break down the exact steps you need to take to optimize every aspect of your carousels, from the hook to the call to action, and everything in between.
Stop guessing. Start creating with a purpose.
1. The Hook: From One to Two Slides
You’ve got your new mindset, and you’re ready to build an intentional content strategy. The first and most crucial step is to hook your audience with the first two slides of your carousel.
This is the first impression you make, and it’s designed to get your audience to swipe right. The “old way of creating carousels” was “Focusing on the quality of the 1st slide”, but the “new way of creating carousels” is “Focusing on the quality of the 1st + 2nd slide”.
Here’s exactly why you need to make this shift:
- The first slide: The first slide is designed to grab your audience’s attention and tell them exactly what the carousel is about. This is your hook. It needs to be bold, direct, and actionable.
- The second slide: The second slide is designed to provide a little more context and build a deeper connection with your audience. This is where you can provide a bit more information and tell them why they should keep swiping.
By focusing on the quality of both the first and second slides, you are building a solid foundation that will support all future growth and help you get more customers.
2. The Call to Action: From Last Slide to Early
You’ve mastered the hook, and you’re ready to get your audience to take action. The “old way of creating carousels” was to put a “CTA only in the last slide”, but the “new way of creating carousels” is to include a “CTA in the 3rd or 4th slide too”.
This is the most important part of your carousel, as it is designed to get your audience to take action before they have a chance to leave.
Here’s exactly why you need to make this shift:
- The last slide: The last slide is designed to get your audience to take action, but most of your audience will not make it to the end. You’ve already done the hard work of getting them to swipe right; don’t make them wait.
- The middle slide: The middle of your carousel is where you should put your CTA. This is where you can get your audience to take action before they have a chance to leave. This is what will get you more saves, comments, and shares.
By focusing on the quality of your CTA and putting it in the middle of your carousel, you are building a strategic asset that will serve you and your audience for years to come.
3. The Length: From Ten to Six to Ten
You’ve mastered the hook and the call to action. Now, it’s time to master the length of your carousel. The “old way of creating carousels” was to have “Every carousel is with 10 slides”, but the “new way of creating carousels” is to have an “Optimal # of slides is 6-10”. This is designed to keep your audience engaged and not overwhelm them with too much information.
Here’s exactly why you need to make this shift:
- The fixed ten slides: The fixed ten-slide carousel is a mistake. It forces you to fill every slide, which can lead to a lot of fluff and a boring carousel. Your audience will get bored and swipe away.
- The flexible six to ten: The flexible six to ten-slide carousel is a powerful way to provide a comprehensive story or guide without overwhelming your audience. This is where you can provide a lot of value and keep your audience engaged.
By focusing on the quality of your content and having a flexible slide count, you are building a strategic asset that will serve you and your audience for years to come.
4. The Focus: From Design to Hook
You’ve mastered the hook, the call to action, and the length of your carousel. Now, it’s time to master the focus of your carousel. The “old way of creating carousels” was to be “Focusing heavily on the design”, but the “new way of creating carousels” is to be “Focusing heavily on design + hook”. This is designed to get your audience to stop scrolling and start reading.
Here’s exactly why you need to make this shift:
- The design: The design of your carousel is important, but it’s not the most important part. A beautiful carousel with a weak hook will not get you the results you want.
- The hook: The hook is what gets your audience to stop scrolling and start reading. This is where you can provide a lot of value and keep your audience engaged.
By focusing on the quality of your hook and having a flexible slide count, you are building a strategic asset that will serve you and your audience for years to come.
5. The Goal: From Virality to Authority
You’ve mastered the hook, the call to action, the length, and the focus of your carousel. Now, it’s time to master the goal of your carousel. The “old way of creating carousels” was to be “Optimizing for virality”, but the “new way of creating carousels” is to be “Optimizing for leads + authority building”. This is designed to get your audience to take action and become a paying customer.
Here’s exactly why you need to make this shift:
- The virality: Virality is great, but it’s not a business strategy. A viral carousel will get you a lot of views, but it won’t get you a lot of customers. You need to turn your views into a business.
- The leads and authority: Leads and authority are the number one way to build a profitable business. A carousel that is designed to get you more leads and build your authority will get you more customers and more sales.
By focusing on the goal of your carousel and optimizing for leads and authority, you are building a strategic asset that will serve you and your audience for years to come.
Your Move: The End of Guesswork
You’ve just been handed the complete blueprint for your carousel strategy. You’ve moved from the frustrating feeling of creating carousels that aren’t performing well to a simple, strategic framework that is designed to get you a specific outcome every single time.
Remember, the “old way” of creating carousels is dead, and a new, more strategic approach is needed. By understanding the five key shifts, you can ensure that every action you take is working for you, not against you.
By mastering this guide, you now have the power to:
- Hook your audience by focusing on the “quality of the 1st + 2nd slide”.
- Drive action by including a “CTA in the 3rd or 4th slide too”.
- Keep your audience engaged by having an “Optimal # of slides is 6-10”.
- Grab attention by “Focusing heavily on design + hook”.
- Build a profitable business by “Optimizing for leads + authority building”.
Stop guessing. Start creating with a purpose. Now, go and use this guide to ensure your content is not just good, but intentional.