Instagram Carousel

---
name: instagram-carousel
description: "Plans Instagram carousel posts with slide-by-slide copy, design notes, and caption with hashtags. Use when you need educational or storytelling carousel content for Instagram."
allowed-tools: Read Write Glob
metadata:
  author: matthewhitcham
  version: "1.0"
---

# Instagram Carousel

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:
- Create an educational or storytelling Instagram carousel (5-10 slides)
- Plan slide-by-slide content with copy and design direction
- Write a caption with hashtags optimized for Instagram discovery
- Produce swipeable content that drives saves and shares

**DO NOT** use this skill for single Instagram posts, Reels scripts, Stories content, or Instagram ad creative. This is for carousel posts only.

---

## Core Principle

EVERY SLIDE MUST EARN THE SWIPE — IF A SLIDE DOES NOT ADD VALUE OR CREATE CURIOSITY, THE READER STOPS.

---

## Phase 1: Brief

### Required Inputs

| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|-------|------------|---------|
| **Topic** | "What is this carousel teaching or sharing?" | No default — must be provided |
| **Carousel type** | "Educational, storytelling, listicle, before/after, or myth-busting?" | Educational |
| **Target audience** | "Who is this for? Be specific." | Solopreneurs and small business owners |
| **Slide count** | "How many slides? (5-10)" | 7 slides |
| **Brand colors** | "What are your brand colors for design notes?" | Use bold, high-contrast colors |
| **CTA** | "What should people do? Save, share, comment, visit link in bio?" | Save this post |

**GATE: Confirm brief before proceeding.**

---

## Phase 2: Outline

### Carousel Architecture

1. **Cover slide** — hook that makes people stop scrolling and start swiping
2. **Context slide** — why this matters (slide 2)
3. **Body slides** — the core content (slides 3 through N-1)
4. **CTA slide** — tell them what to do (final slide)

### Outline Format

```
**Cover:** [Hook text — what makes someone swipe?]
**Slide 2:** [Context / why this matters]
**Slide 3:** [Point 1]
**Slide 4:** [Point 2]
**Slide 5:** [Point 3]
**Slide 6:** [Point 4]
**CTA Slide:** [Action to take]
```

**GATE: Wait for approval before writing full slide content.**

---

## Phase 3: Write

### Slide-by-Slide Content

For each slide, deliver:

1. **Headline text** (large, bold — the text that appears on the slide image)
2. **Supporting text** (smaller text below the headline, if needed)
3. **Design note** (visual direction for each slide)

### Slide Rules

**Cover Slide**
- 5-10 words max for the headline
- Must create an information gap or promise value
- Proven formats: "X things you're doing wrong with [topic]" / "The [topic] cheat sheet" / "Stop doing [common mistake]"
- Design: bold typography, eye-catching background, brand colors

**Body Slides**
- One point per slide — never two
- Headline: 3-8 words (the point)
- Supporting text: 1-2 short sentences (the explanation)
- Total text per slide: under 50 words
- Alternate visual layouts to maintain interest

**CTA Slide**
- Clear single action: "Save this for later" / "Share with a friend who needs this" / "Link in bio"
- Include author handle or brand name
- Design: clean, minimal, action-focused

### Caption Writing

Write a caption that complements (not repeats) the carousel content:

```
## Caption Structure

**Hook line** (first line people see — must earn the "more" click)
[2-3 sentences expanding on the topic with a personal angle]
[Call to action — question or instruction]

---

**Hashtag block** (30 hashtags organized by category)
Niche (10): #[specific to topic]
Industry (10): #[broader industry tags]
Growth (10): #[community and discovery tags]
```

### Formatting Rules

| Element | Rule |
|---------|------|
| **Slide dimensions** | 1080x1350px (4:5 ratio — takes up max feed space) |
| **Font size** | Headlines: 40-60pt equivalent. Supporting text: 24-32pt |
| **Text per slide** | Under 50 words |
| **Hashtags** | Up to 30 in caption, organized by category |
| **Alt text** | Write alt text for accessibility |

---

## Phase 4: Polish

### 1. Carousel Checklist

```
## Quality Checklist

- [ ] Cover slide would stop a scroll (test: would YOU swipe?)
- [ ] Every slide has under 50 words of text
- [ ] One clear point per slide
- [ ] Design notes are specific enough for a designer to execute
- [ ] CTA slide has a single clear action
- [ ] Caption hook earns the "more" click
- [ ] Caption does not repeat slide content verbatim
- [ ] 20-30 relevant hashtags included
- [ ] Alt text provided for accessibility
- [ ] Carousel tells a complete story from slide 1 to final slide
```

### 2. Alt Text

Write descriptive alt text for each slide for accessibility.

### 3. Posting Notes

- Best times: 8-9 AM, 12-1 PM, or 7-9 PM in target timezone
- Engage with comments in the first 30 minutes to boost distribution
- Share to Stories with a "New Post" sticker for additional reach

---

## Example: "5 Email Subject Line Mistakes Killing Your Open Rate" (7 slides)

```
Slide 1 (Cover): "5 email mistakes killing your open rate"
  Design: Bold white text on dark gradient, envelope icon with red X

Slide 2: "Your subject line has 3 seconds to earn the open"
  Supporting: "Here are the mistakes making people scroll past yours"
  Design: Stat callout with stopwatch icon

Slide 3: "Mistake 1: Being vague"
  Supporting: "'Newsletter #47' tells the reader nothing. Lead with the benefit."
  Design: Bad example crossed out, good example highlighted

Slide 4: "Mistake 2: ALL CAPS SHOUTING"
  Supporting: "Caps trigger spam filters AND annoy readers. Use sentence case."
  Design: Side-by-side comparison

...

Slide 7 (CTA): "Save this for your next email send"
  Supporting: "@yourbrand — follow for more email tips"
  Design: Clean, brand colors, follow button visual
```

---

## Anti-Patterns

- **Too much text per slide** — if it looks like a paragraph, nobody reads it. Under 50 words per slide.
- **Cover slide is boring** — "Email marketing tips" does not make anyone swipe. Create curiosity or tension.
- **Slides that require context from previous slides** — each slide should make sense if screenshotted alone.
- **Caption repeats the carousel** — the caption should add context, personality, or a story the slides did not cover.
- **No design direction** — "Make it look nice" is not a design note. Specify colors, layout, visual elements.
- **Hashtag stuffing with irrelevant tags** — #love #instagood adds zero discovery value. Use niche-relevant tags.

---

## Recovery

- **No design skills:** Recommend Canva carousel templates. Provide content that maps directly to template slots.
- **Topic too broad:** Narrow to a specific sub-topic. "Marketing" becomes "5 email subject line formulas."
- **Too many points for slide count:** Prioritize the 5 most impactful points. Save the rest for a Part 2 carousel.
- **No brand colors:** Default to high-contrast combinations (dark background + white text + one accent color).
- **Caption feels flat:** Add a personal anecdote or ask a specific question ("Which of these mistakes have you made? Drop a number below").