Instagram Carousels 101: Everything You Need to Know

Instagram’s image-driven platform is what makes it stand out from other social media sites. This is one of the reasons for the huge draw of brands and influencers looking to showcase their products or collaborations!

But what happens when one regular post just isn’t enough – and you have more content to share?

Meet the carousel Instagram post, a multi-image slideshow right on your feed!

Whether you want to add some variety to your Instagram account, increase engagement rates, or showcase a new collection, Instagram carousel posts might be the answer. And you have options!

What Is a Carousel Post?

Before you can start using them, you need to define carousel posts.

Officially called “multiple-image posts” by Instagram, these are posts that feature up to 20 photos or videos (or a combination) that followers can swipe through.

Should I Use a Carousel on Instagram? Do’s and Don’ts 

While carousel posts can be a great tool, they aren’t the right choice for every situation. That’s why it’s a good idea to understand the do’s and don’ts of multi-image posts ahead of time.

How to Create a Carousel in Instagram Feed 

When you’ve taken a series of photos or videos of new products or have some reviews or features that you’d like to share with followers, creating a carousel post will allow you to share them together.

But creating an Instagram feed carousel is a different process from your typical post. To do so, use the following steps:

• Open your Instagram app and tap Add Post.
• In the bottom right corner of the app, click Multiple-Image Post.
• You can select up to 20 images or videos to include. Make sure to select them in the order that you would like them to be posted.
• Tap Next.
• Swipe to look through the images that you have selected. You can tap the overlapping circles to edit or add filters to each individual photo.
• When you’re finished with your edits, tap Next.
• Write your caption and add any tags you’d like to include. Then, tap Share to make your post go live.

Sounds like a lot of work, right? Don’t worry, we got your back! Now you can automatically post your Instagram carousel with Tailwind!

How to Create Instagram Carousel Ads 

While not all Instagram carousel posts are ads, they do make excellent marketing tools! Especially for creating lookbooks of products that you’re selling on the platform or to showcase multiple reviews at once.

Instagram’s potential advertising reach is 849.3 million users. Tools like carousel ad posts help you make the most of that reach!

You can set your target audience and goals for each individual post. This allows you to maximize the impact of your carousel ads.

Before you can create Instagram carousel ads, you’ll need to have a Facebook Business Account. Once you have an account, you’ll need to set up Facebook Ads Manager as well. Once both are set up, follow these steps to create your first Instagram carousel ad.

Post Your Carousel Posts to Instagram 

Now that you know how to create Instagram carousel posts, it’s time to start using them to connect with your followers and show off your latest products, services, reviews, and more!

With Tailwind’s new carousel post support feature, you can upload and schedule your carousel posts easier than ever before!

Simply upload your carousel hero image to drafts, and then click to upload each additional image. Drag and drop them to check the order, and schedule for the best time!

When it’s time to post, we’ll take care of the heavy lifting for you by automatically publishing your carousel to Instagram – no push notification necessary!

You can simply select and post your new creation! Want to try it for yourself? Sign up for a free trial of Tailwind for Instagram– no credit card required!

Whether you want to showcase your latest collection or sell more on Instagram, or use the auto posting tool – we can help you make the most of your Instagram marketing.

Pin Me For Later