| 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
- Cover slide — hook that makes people stop scrolling and start swiping
- Context slide — why this matters (slide 2)
- Body slides — the core content (slides 3 through N-1)
- 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:
- Headline text (large, bold — the text that appears on the slide image)
- Supporting text (smaller text below the headline, if needed)
- 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").
