Hey, Reader —
You've seen them in your feed - those scrollable image decks that keep you swiping. Carousels are everywhere, and for good reason. Recent LinkedIn research shows they boost reach more than 11x — increasing your chance to stand out.
Creating a carousel template has been on my list for months. So I decided to finally make it — and bring you along for the ride. What better way to get it done and share the process?
Today in Part 1, we’ll explore the building blocks needed for every carousel. Next week, in Part 2, we’ll explore design details and how to get people to engage with them.
A structure to stop the scrolling
Think of a carousel like telling a quick story to a group of friends. You need to grab attention, make your point, and end with a clear next step.
Strong carousels balance content and visuals. I like to get the content solid first — otherwise I find myself endlessly iterating as I try to sort out my thinking.
However, it does help to have an understanding of how carousels will function visually. If you're not that familiar with carousels, your first step is to do some scouting and analyzing to find carousels that are appealing to you and that you think are effective.
Put on your analyst glasses. What makes a carousel work? Is it the clarity of the idea, the tone, the visuals — or all three?
For example, on LinkedIn, this carousel from Alex Smith uses minimal text to talk about five hidden laws for entrepreneurs. It’s a curation carousel, reflecting his ideas on five maxims from entrepreneurial figures.
Marsden Kline also uses words to carry her carousels, as shown in this carousel about people who are easy to work with that springs from her decades as a manager.
In contrast, Molina Bagom’s work is much more visually complex, as seen in this carousel on personal branding tips. It serves as a showcase for his graphic design talents.
There are hundreds of examples awaiting your visual review. Spend time browsing and sharpen your visual taste.
From big idea to slide flow
Before I jump into designing, I always sketch a rough structure to organize my thoughts. I usually start with a quick outline — often in Notion, Apple Notes, or even on paper.
Think of this as your storyboard — a quick visual map of how your idea will unfold, one frame (or slide) at a time. Here’s how I break it down:
🔵 Start with one big idea
Your carousel should focus on one clear message or takeaway. For me, it might be “How to make your first visual framework” or “Five ways to boost your visual authority.”
🔵 Break it into chunks
I aim for 5-8 main points that support my big idea. Each becomes a slide. You can go longer, but be careful not to lose readers. Too few and you might leave readers thinking: That’s it?
🔵 Build your flow
Think of your carousel like a conversation:
- Slide 1: Hook them (your cover)
- Slide 2: Set up the problem or context
- Slides 3-10: Deliver your main points
- Next-to-last slide: Sum up key takeaways
- Final slide: Your call to action
This means that your entire carousel typically consists of between 7 and 12 slides.
🔵 Add supporting elements
As you rough out your ideas, for each point, jot down what might support it, such as a quick stat, an example, a mini case study, or a simple visual.
Pro Tip: I keep a running list of carousel ideas in my notes. When I spot something that might make a good carousel, I rough out the structure right away. That way, when I'm ready to create, I’ve already done the preliminary part of organizing my thoughts while the idea is fresh.
Keep it scannable
One of the biggest mistakes carousel creators make? Cramming too much text onto each slide.
Remember, most people view social media on mobile devices while scrolling quickly.
Here’s how to keep each slide punchy and readable:
- Stick to 1-2 key points per slide
- Use short sentences and bullet points
- Aim for 20-30 words max per slide
Pro Tip: After writing your first draft, challenge yourself to cut the text in half. Your carousel will be more engaging and memorable when you focus on the essential message.
Ready for a quick win?
Let’s turn one piece of content you already have into a scroll-stopping carousel. Here’s your jumpstart guide:
1️⃣ Grab something valuable you've already created, such as a blog post, an email, or a workshop slide
2️⃣ Pull out 5-7 key points that could each become a slide
3️⃣ Draft an attention-grabbing headline for your cover slide
That’s all you need to start. Next week, we’ll explore the design principles that grab attention and make your carousel impossible to ignore.