Harnessing the Power of Instagram Carousels: The Strategy Behind Second Chances

With Instagram carousels, users post a series of images or videos in one post. You might have noticed that when you’re swiping, the second photo in a carousel shows up first sometimes, before the cover image? Many Instagram users are aware of it but probably don’t know the reason behind it. Until recently, when the head of Instagram Adam Mosseri explained the feature. Understanding Instagram flow can help your posts get more views and engagement on the platform. Let’s see how to use the force to your advantage on Instagram.

The Mechanism Behind Instagram Carousels

If a person scrolls past an Instagram carousel (a post with multiple images or videos that you can swipe through) but doesn’t bother to swipe, Adam Mosseri – Instagram’s chief – told the world in an Instagram Reel that the platform often gives the post a ‘second chance’ by showing the second item in the carousel first. This isn’t just some funny little feature. It’s a carefully orchestrated scheme to force users to spend more time with the content. Why does Instagram do this, and how can content creators benefit from it?

The FORCE of Engagement: Why Second Chances Matter

Carousels ask for more engagement than single-image posts, too. ‘You need to swipe to see them all,’ Mosseri said, ‘and people spend more time with a post.’ Thus the ‘second-shower’ effect: Instagram users can post once, then reach people who didn’t see their original post by posting the exact same images and text again as a carousel. Mosseri said that carousels ‘often get more reach than photos’ because of both the second-shower effect and also because ‘multiple pieces of media are going to mean more interactions with your carousel posts, and more interactions are going to mean more reach on average’.

Enhancing Your Carousel's Appeal

If you want your carousel to succeed, and potentially succeed a bit more, you can add music to your post, which will make your carousel eligible for the video experience, like the Reels tab, which can get it more reach. ‘Now don’t overdo it, but if you are on the fence and you can go either way, a carousel over a photo will often help you get more reach.

The Art of the Carousel: Maximizing Impact

Curate Content Thoughtfully

The carousel works best if it tells a story – multiple facets of a single theme, perhaps – where each frame is related in a coherent way, yet enticing enough to make someone swipe.

Leverage the Second Screen

Armed with the knowledge that Instagram might show your second item first as a ‘second chance’, you can tilt the deck appropriately. Try placing a particularly beautiful or curious-making image or video as item two in your carousel.

Consistency and Quality

You could also use high-quality images and a theme or specific aesthetic to make your carousel more interesting so that users want to interact with it.

The Hidden FORCE of Carousels: Insights for Marketers

By strategically utilising these learnings, marketers and creators can enhance their Instagram content strategy and increase the visibility of their posts. Carousels give you more opportunities to bring products to life, show how to use them, and tell stories that are more interactive and engaging.

Embracing Creativity and Strategy

Instagram is a place where creativity marries strategy so, when it comes to carousels, don’t underestimate their power. Remember that Force, harnessed well, is not to be reckoned with.

The Underlying Force Behind Instagram Success

After all, the secret to Instagram success is creating or sharing good content – be it in a carousel, a single post, in a story or a reel. There really is nothing like the carousel, with its second dawn of life as thumbnails, for keeping people on Instagram longer, and for giving content creators new ways to tell their stories.

Explaining the FORCE of Instagram Carousels

The power of Instagram carousels comes from the ability to capture attention in a pelting storm of social media static, so, monitor and fine-tune your carousel posts to make them more cohesive and engaging, using Instagram features such as titles, arrows, headlines and text as much as you can. Remember to share because you want to connect and engage rather than create fans and followers.

Taking advantage of the multidimensional nature of Instagram carousels is the best way to stay creative and show your followers you’re not just following orders. Whether you’ve gathered inspiration from this Instagram carousel guide, or are using it to deepen your existing social media skills, we hope you’ll be able to harness the power of carousels to tell a story with greater depth and engagement.