Instagram Carousels Are Back—Here’s How to Make Them Work for You

Have you noticed more carousel posts popping up on your Instagram feed lately? You’re not imagining things—carousels are making a big comeback, and it’s time to take advantage of this trend!

Instagram’s Head of Product, Adam Mosseri, recently shared why carousel posts are outperforming single-image posts and even some Reels. If you want to increase visibility and engagement, carousels might just be the secret weapon you’ve been waiting for. Here’s why—and how—you should start using them strategically.

Why Instagram Carousels Are Gaining Traction

1. More Visibility = More Engagement

Instagram’s algorithm is designed to give your carousel posts multiple chances to perform. When you post a carousel, Instagram will show it to your audience with the cover slide first. But if your audience doesn’t engage, Instagram might give it a second shot—this time showing the second slide instead of the first. This gives your post an extra opportunity to grab attention and get the engagement you need.

2.Carousels in the Reels Tab? Yes, Please!

Here’s a game-changer: If you add music to your carousel post while publishing, Instagram might push it into the Reels tab. This means even more reach and visibility beyond just your followers. Carousels combined with trending audio can give you the same viral potential as a Reel—without having to create video content.

How to Design High-Performing Carousels

Now that you know why carousels are a must, let’s talk about how to make them work. A well-designed carousel isn’t just about throwing together a few slides—it’s about strategically grabbing attention and keeping people swiping. Here’s how to do it:

✔ Hook with a Strong Cover Slide

Your cover slide is like the headline of a blog post—it’s the first thing people see, and it determines whether they’ll swipe or scroll past. Use bold, clear text that summarizes the post or poses a compelling question. Think of it as your "hook."

👉 Example: “5 Ways to Skyrocket Your Engagement with Carousels”

✔ Optimize Your Second Slide

Since Instagram might show your second slide first the second time around, you need to make it just as strong as your cover slide. Treat it like a teaser or subtitle to keep people interested.

👉 Example: If your cover slide says "5 Ways to Skyrocket Your Engagement," your second slide could say, "Tip #1: Add Music for More Reach!"

✔ Leverage Text Strategically

Informative, text-heavy slides encourage people to save your post—which boosts reach in the algorithm. However, don’t overwhelm your audience with too much text. Break it up with bullet points, short paragraphs, and plenty of white space.

👉 Example: Instead of writing one long paragraph, try using bullet points or breaking it into smaller chunks.

✔ Mix in Images, Charts, or Graphics

Too much text can feel overwhelming. Use visuals to give your audience a mental break and keep their attention. High-quality images, charts, and graphics make your post visually appealing and easier to digest.

✔ Create a Natural Flow

Structure your carousel like a story. Each slide should naturally lead to the next, creating a sense of curiosity and momentum that makes people want to keep swiping. End with a clear CTA (call to action) like "Save this post!" or "Follow for more!"

✔ Make It Shareable

Relatable, valuable content is more likely to get shared. When people share your post to their stories or send it to friends, it increases your reach and helps you gain new followers. Create content that solves a problem, answers a question, or inspires action.

TL;DR – Quick Takeaways

👉🏼 Add music to your carousels for a chance to be featured in the Reels tab.

👉🏼Optimize your second slide—it’s just as important as the first one.

👉🏼 Balance text with visuals to keep your post easy to read and engaging.

👉🏼 Create a natural flow that encourages continuous swiping.

👉🏼 Make your content easy to share—valuable posts get shared more.

Carousels aren’t just making a comeback—they’re becoming one of the most effective ways to increase reach and engagement on Instagram. By designing thoughtful, well-structured carousels and adding elements like music and strong CTAs, you can create posts that not only get noticed but also drive real results.

Want to level up your social media strategy? Check out KS Marketing Studio and book a call today—we’ll help you create content that converts!