How to Make a Carousel on Instagram (2025 Ultimate Guide)

What Is an Instagram Carousel?

Instagram carousels allow you to share up to 10 photos or videos in a single post that users can swipe through. First introduced in 2017, carousels have become one of Instagram's most powerful content formats, driving higher engagement than single-image posts.

With carousels, you can:

• Tell a complete story across multiple slides
• Share step-by-step tutorials
• Showcase products from different angles
• Present before-and-after transformations
• Create seamless panoramic experiences

Why Carousels Drive Higher Engagement

According to recent studies, carousel posts generate 1.4x more reach and 3.1x more engagement than standard single-image posts. Why? They:

• Increase time spent on your content
• Give multiple opportunities to capture interest
• Encourage users to swipe and interact
• Trigger Instagram's algorithm to reshare unseen slides
• Provide greater value in a single post

How to Create a Carousel Post Manually

Step 1: Open Instagram

Tap the "+" icon in the top-right corner (or bottom center on some devices) of your Instagram app.

Step 2: Select Multiple Photos/Videos

Choose the "Multiple" option or simply select more than one image/video from your gallery. You'll see numbered circles appear on your selected media.

Step 3: Arrange Your Slides

Tap and hold to drag your media into the desired order. Remember, the first image will be your cover, so make it compelling!

Step 4: Edit Individual Slides

Tap on each slide to apply filters or make adjustments individually. For a cohesive look, consider using the same filter across all slides.

Step 5: Complete Your Post

Add a caption, location, tags, and any other details, then share your carousel with your followers.

Best Practices for High-Performing Carousels

1. Lead with your strongest visual

Your first slide acts as a "thumbnail" in feeds, so make it eye-catching to encourage users to stop scrolling.

2. Create a visual flow

Design your carousel to guide viewers naturally from one slide to the next, maintaining consistent colors, fonts, and styling.

3. Tell a complete story

Each slide should build upon the previous one, creating a cohesive narrative that delivers value from start to finish.

4. Include a clear CTA

Use your final slide to prompt specific action, whether it's visiting your profile, clicking a link in bio, or saving the post.

5. Design for mobile first

Remember that most users will view your carousel on mobile devices, so keep text large and visuals clear.

Carousel Design Formats That Convert

The Tutorial Carousel

Break complex processes into simple, actionable steps across 5-7 slides. These save-worthy posts build authority and drive engagement.

The Product Showcase

Feature your product from multiple angles, highlighting different features on each slide to create a virtual showroom experience.

The Before/After Reveal

Show transformations across slides, perfect for demonstrating your product or service's impact.

The Data Storytelling Carousel

Present statistics or data points across multiple slides, using visuals to make complex information digestible.

The Testimonial Collection

Showcase customer reviews, case studies, or testimonials across multiple slides for social proof.

The Easier Way: Automating Carousels with Genviral

While creating carousels manually can be effective, it's also time-consuming. That's where Genviral comes in.

How Genviral Automates Instagram Carousels

Genviral's AI-powered platform revolutionizes carousel creation by:

1. Automatically generating complete carousels from a simple prompt or topic
2. Creating on-brand designs that match your visual identity
3. Writing engaging captions optimized for conversion
4. Scheduling and posting directly to your Instagram account
5. Analyzing performance to improve future carousels

Instead of spending hours designing slide by slide, Genviral can create professional-quality carousel posts in minutes, freeing you to focus on strategy and growth.

The Genviral Workflow

1. Enter your topic or prompt
2. Select your brand style and preferences
3. Review and approve the AI-generated carousel
4. Schedule for optimal posting time or post immediately
5. Track engagement and performance

Common Carousel Mistakes to Avoid

• Inconsistent design elements across slides
• Too much text on individual slides
• Poor quality images or videos
• No clear narrative connecting the slides
• Missing call-to-action on the final slide
• Neglecting accessibility considerations like alt text

Measuring Carousel Success

Track these metrics to evaluate your carousel performance:

• Saves ratio (number of saves divided by reach)
• Slide-through rate (how many viewers make it to the last slide)
• Engagement rate compared to your single-image posts
• Profile visits generated from the carousel
• Time spent on your post

Final Thoughts

Instagram carousels offer unparalleled opportunities to engage your audience with richer, more valuable content. While the manual creation process requires time and design skills, tools like Genviral make it possible to leverage this powerful format at scale.

By automating the design, creation, and posting of high-converting carousels, you can maintain a consistent presence on Instagram without the usual time investment.

Whether you create carousels manually or use Genviral's AI-powered solution, incorporating this format into your Instagram strategy will help you stand out, increase engagement, and build a stronger connection with your followers.