carousel-creator

name	carousel-creator
description	Creates Instagram carousel content for BCA clients and BC brand accounts. Use when the user asks to create a carousel, plan carousel slides, write a carousel script, "carousel ideas", "make a carousel for this", "what should the slides say", "educational carousel", "swipe post", or any request to build a multi-slide Instagram post. Works for service-based clients, personal brand clients, and BC's own accounts. Produces slide-by-slide content with copy, design direction, and a matching caption.
metadata	{"version":"1.0.0"}

Instagram Carousel Creator — Better Collective Agency

Carousels are the highest-performing format on Instagram for engagement and saves. Average save rate: 3.4% — the highest of any format. Every carousel produced by BCA must be structured to maximise swipe-through rate (target 65%+) and save/share actions.

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Before Building Any Carousel

Confirm before starting:

1. Who is this for? (client name, what they do, location for local businesses)
2. What carousel format? (see formats below)
3. What is the core topic or idea the carousel is based on?
4. What do we want the audience to do after reading? (save, share, follow, DM)
5. Where does it sit in the 40/40/20 content mix? (Value Add / Social Proof / Promotional)

Never build a carousel without knowing the topic and the intended outcome.

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Carousel Formats

Pick the format that fits the brief. Each has a different structure.

1. Educational / Value Add

Use for: Teaching something useful — tips, steps, mistakes to avoid, how-tos Best for: All client types and BC brand Saves: Very high — people save educational content to come back to Structure: Hook → Why this matters → Teach the thing (one point per slide) → CTA

2. Framework / Checklist

Use for: A process, a system, a checklist the audience can apply Best for: Personal brands, consultants, service businesses Structure: Hook → What this framework solves → Each step/item (one per slide) → CTA

3. Before / After (Social Proof)

Use for: Showing a result or transformation — client work, case study, outcome Best for: All client types Structure: Hook → The starting problem → What changed → The result → CTA

4. List / Countdown

Use for: "5 things", "10 mistakes", "the only 3 things you need to know" Best for: Value Add content, quick wins for the audience Structure: Hook → Context (why this list matters) → One item per slide → CTA

5. Storytime / Case Study

Use for: A narrative — what happened, what was learned, what the outcome was Best for: Founder content, personal brands, BC brand Structure: Hook → Setup (the situation) → What happened (build tension) → The turn → Lesson / Result → CTA

6. Myth vs. Reality

Use for: Correcting industry misconceptions — positions the client as the expert Best for: Trades, finance, any client in an industry full of bad advice Structure: Hook → State the myth → Destroy it with specifics → What's actually true → CTA

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Carousel Structure — Every Format

Slide 1 — The Hook (most important slide)

This slide alone determines whether anyone swipes. It must:

• Stop the scroll in 2-3 seconds
• Answer two questions instantly: "Is this for me?" and "What do I get if I swipe?"
• Be under 8-10 words of text
• Use high contrast and dominant typography
• Never bury the hook in context or a brand logo

Hook types that work:

• Bold claim: "Most [tradies / founders / homeowners] are doing this wrong."
• Curiosity gap: "The reason your [X] isn't working (and it's not what you think)"
• Specific promise: "5 questions to ask before you hire a scaffolding company."
• Transformation: "Before: $0 from Instagram. After: 3 new leads this week."
• Challenge: "We took on a client who'd been burned by two agencies. Here's what we found."

Hook types that don't work:

• Vague teasers: "Something exciting is coming..."
• Brand-first: Leading with a logo or company name
• Long sentences: More than 10 words loses people before they start

Slides 2–3 — The Setup

Why does this matter? Who is this for? Establish the stakes in 1-2 slides. Keep it tight — this is the bridge between the hook and the value. Don't over-explain.

Slides 4–(N-1) — The Body

One idea per slide. One. Do not cram two points onto a single slide.

Rules for body slides:

• Each slide should deliver a standalone "that's useful" moment
• Each slide should also make the viewer want to swipe to the next one
• Use consistent heading + short supporting line structure (not paragraphs)
• Include at least one slide with a specific number, metric, or data point
• Keep body copy under 20 words per slide
• Add a swipe prompt on slides 2 through second-to-last: "→" or "swipe →" in the corner

Last Slide — The CTA

Clear. One action only. Tied directly to the topic of the carousel.

CTA format:

• Reinforce what they just learned in one line
• State the action clearly
• Match the CTA to the content type (see caption-writer skill for CTA formulas)

Good: "Save this for the next time you're hiring a contractor." Good: "Follow along — we post this kind of breakdown every week." Bad: "Like and follow for more content!" Bad: "DM us [word] for more info."

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Slide Count

Carousel Type	Recommended Slides
Educational / Value Add	7–10
Framework / Checklist	6–10 (one step per slide + hook + CTA)
Before / After	6–8
List / Countdown	5–10 (one item per slide + hook + CTA)
Storytime / Case Study	8–15
Myth vs. Reality	6–10

Never go under 5 slides — not enough value to earn the save. Never go over 15 slides unless it's a genuine deep-dive case study. Sweet spot: 8–10 slides.

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Design Direction (Canva)

For BC Brand Carousels

• Start from BC Canva Brand Kit: kAGYgTJJDIo
• Colours: Charcoal (#1A1A1A) + Off-White (#FAF9F6) + BCA Blue (#194689) as accent
• Heading font: Bebas Neue (always uppercase)
• Body font: Barlow (400 or 500 weight)
• All slides same dimensions — 1080 x 1350px (portrait) preferred for reach

For Client Carousels

• Use the client's Canva Brand Kit or folder if available
• If not: manually input their brand assets — do not use BC's palette
• Confirm client's fonts and colours before starting

Design Rules for Every Carousel

• All slides must match — same margins, same fonts, same colour scheme. No exceptions.
• Minimum margins: 60px on all sides (Instagram crops the edges on some devices)
• Slide 1 sets the aspect ratio — every other slide must match (1080x1350 or 1080x1080)
• Text never more than 20% of the slide area
• White text on dark backgrounds — always add a colour block behind text on photos
• Swipe arrow indicator on slides 2 through second-to-last (small "→" bottom right)
• Logo or handle on Slide 1 and last slide at minimum

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Output Format

When building a carousel, produce the following:

CAROUSEL BRIEF
---
CLIENT: [name]
FORMAT: [carousel type]
TOPIC: [what this is about]
PLATFORM: Instagram
DIMENSIONS: 1080 x 1350px
SLIDES: [number]
---

SLIDE 1 — HOOK
Heading: [text]
Visual direction: [what the slide should look like]

SLIDE 2 — [label]
Heading: [text]
Body: [1-2 supporting lines if needed]
Swipe prompt: →

SLIDE 3 — [label]
...

SLIDE [N] — CTA
Heading: [closing line]
Body: [CTA action]

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CAPTION
[Full Instagram caption — follow caption-writer skill rules]

HASHTAGS
[3-5 relevant hashtags]

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Quality Check

Before presenting any carousel:

• Does Slide 1 stop the scroll — strong hook, under 10 words, clear value promise?
• Is there one idea per body slide — not two crammed together?
• Does each slide make the viewer want to swipe to the next?
• Is there a swipe prompt on body slides?
• Is the last slide CTA tied to the content — not a generic follow/like ask?
• Are all slide counts within the recommended range (5–15)?
• Is design direction consistent — same margins, fonts, colours throughout?
• Does the caption reinforce the carousel without just repeating it?
• Does it pass the graphic-quality 7-point check?
• Does it sound like the specific client — not a generic brand voice?

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Common Carousel Mistakes to Avoid

Hook is too vague: "Here are some tips for your business" — no one swipes for that. Replace with a specific, bold claim or a clearly stated outcome.

Too much text per slide: If you have to squint or scroll within the slide, it's too much. One heading + max 20 words of body per slide.

Inconsistent design across slides: Every slide looks slightly different — fonts change, colours shift, margins vary. This breaks trust and looks amateurish.

No swipe prompts: Viewers often don't know to swipe. A small "→" costs nothing and increases swipe-through rate. Always include it.

CTA on the last slide is generic: "Follow us for more content!" is weak. The CTA must connect directly to what they just read.

Caption repeats the slides: The caption should add context or a fresh angle — not just summarise what the carousel already said.

All text, no design: Walls of text on every slide kill engagement. Use hierarchy — large heading, small supporting line, nothing more.