instagram

name	instagram
description	Automate Instagram carousel marketing for your app using AI-generated images, text overlays, and Dropspace for publishing/analytics. Use when creating Instagram posts, analyzing carousel performance, or managing Instagram content strategy.

Instagram Carousel Marketing

Automate Instagram carousel marketing: generate images → overlay text → publish via Dropspace → track → iterate.

Pipeline Architecture

All platforms share a common engine at ~/markus/. No per-platform scripts — everything runs through shared engines with platform config from platforms.js.

Data: ~/markus/apps/{app}/instagram/ (strategy.json, posts.json, failures.json, pending-batches.json, posts/) App config: ~/markus/apps/{app}/app.json

Key Scripts (all in ~/markus/)

# Create a carousel (auto-picks from queue)
node engines/create-visual-post-engine.js --app <APP> --platform instagram --next --schedule "2026-03-04T13:00:00Z"

# Pre-generate images via OpenAI Batch API

# Self-improve (analytics + strategy optimization)
node engines/self-improve-engine.js --app <APP> --platform instagram --days 14

# Validate setup

# Add posts to queue
echo '{"posts":[...],"notes":"..."}' | node scripts/add-posts.js --app <APP> --platform instagram

Instagram Details

• Format: Carousels — 5 content slides + engine CTA (1024×1536 portrait).
• 1 post/day at 8:00 AM ET
• Hashtags: Up to 20 per post (core + niche + discovery rotation)
• Min 2 images per carousel (Instagram requirement)
• CTA pool: "DM me 'launch' for the link", "link in bio", "tap the link in bio"
• UTM: `

The Slide Formula (5 content + engine CTA)

Slide	Purpose	Text Style
1	HOOK — stop the scroll	Full hook text, relatable problem
2	PROBLEM — amplify pain	Build tension
3	DISCOVERY — turning point	"So I tried this..."
4	TRANSFORMATION 1 — first result	"Wait... this actually works?"
5	TRANSFORMATION 2 — escalate	"Okay I'm obsessed"

Note: Slide 6 (CTA) is engine-appended. The LLM generates 5 content slides only.

Text Overlays

Same rules as TikTok:

• Centered at ~28-30% from top (safe zone)
• REACTIONS not labels
• 4-6 words per line, 3-4 lines per slide
• No emoji in overlays (canvas can't render)
• Full hook on slide 1

Content Rules

Tone

• Conversational — like texting a friend about something cool
• Emoji encouraged — Instagram is emoji-native, 3-5 per caption
• Storytelling > feature lists — long captions get more engagement
• No corporate voice — "I found this" not "We're excited to announce"
• Relatable struggles — the audience is founders/creators

Caption Formula

[hook matching slide 1] 😭 [2-3 sentences of relatable struggle].
So I found [APP NAME] that [what it does in one sentence] —
you just [simple action] and it [result].
I tried [thing 1] and [thing 2] and honestly?? [emotional reaction].
[funny/relatable closer]

DM me "launch" for the link 🔗

#hashtag1 #hashtag2 ... #hashtag20

Rules:

• Storytelling, not feature lists
• Up to 20 hashtags (mix core + niche + discovery)
• "DM me" CTA is Instagram-native and drives engagement
• Mention app naturally

Post Blueprint Structure

story-slideshow uses sceneAnchor + slideMoods (locked architecture — see formats.js):

{
  "format": "story-slideshow",
  "text": "Hook text",
  "slideTexts": ["Slide 1", "Slide 2", "Slide 3", "Slide 4", "Slide 5"],
  "sceneAnchor": "Detailed scene (150-300 words). Shared across all slides.",
  "slideMoods": ["mood 1", "mood 2", "mood 3", "mood 4", "mood 5"],
  "caption": "Caption"
}

Other visual formats use slidePrompts. Video formats use videoPrompt. See formats.js for full format specs.

Self-Improvement Thresholds

Instagram has lower organic reach than TikTok:

• Tier 1 (double down): 10,000+ avg views
• Tier 2 (keep): 3,000+ avg views
• Drop threshold: 1,000 avg views
• Individual hook drop: <300 views
• Winner for variations: 3,000+ views

Metrics Tracked

views, likes, comments, shares, saved, engagement rate

Note: The pipeline now uses engagement rate as the primary optimization signal. Raw view thresholds are secondary guidance.