Instagram Carousel

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

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").