Quick Answer
Yes, it is possible to create a carousel post using Canva. Canva has a specific template and tools to help you easily design an Instagram carousel post with multiple images or videos that users can swipe through.
What is a Carousel Post?
A carousel post on Instagram allows users to swipe through multiple images or videos in one post. Instead of only being able to upload a single photo or video, a carousel Instagram post can contain 2-10 images or videos that users view by swiping.
The carousel post format gives creators more flexibility to share more visual content, tell a story over multiple slides, and showcase different products or images within one post.
Benefits of Using Carousel Posts
There are several benefits of using carousel posts on Instagram:
- Share more content – Get to showcase up to 10 images/videos in one post
- Engagement – Carousels encourage more engagement as users swipe through the post
- Storytelling – Use multiple slides to tell a story or show a progression
- Showcase more products – For businesses, it’s a way to display more inventory in one post
- Creativity – Mix up your grid with both single posts and carousels
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Carousel Post on Canva
Here is a step-by-step guide to easily creating a carousel Instagram post on Canva:
1. Go to Canva
– Open the Canva website or mobile app. You’ll need to create a free Canva account if you don’t already have one.
2. Create a new Instagram Post design
– Click ‘Create a Design’ and select ‘Instagram Post’ as the template type you want to use.
3. Select the Carousel Post template
– You’ll see multiple Instagram post template options. Choose the template called ‘Instagram Carousel Post’.
4. Add images/videos
– The carousel template is preset with 5 image placeholders. Click on each placeholder to upload your own images or videos from your computer.
5. Edit and style images
– Use Canva’s editing tools to crop, filter, or edit your images and videos. Add text, stickers, and any design effects.
6. Rearrange slides
– You can easily rearrange the order of the carousel slides just by dragging and dropping them into the order you want.
7. Resize as needed
– If your images or videos don’t fit the preset slide size, resize by clicking and dragging the corner handles.
8. Download and post
– When finished, click Download and choose to export your carousel as a JPG or MP4 file. Post this exported file to Instagram from your phone.
Tips for Creating Effective Carousel Posts
- Tell a story – Use the multiple images to take the viewer through a narrative or progression.
- Consistent aesthetic – Have cohesive editing, colors, and fonts across slides.
- Limit text – Avoid overloading slides with too much text.
- Engaging content – Use interesting images, graphics, videos that will grab attention.
- Call to action – Include a strong CTA to drive clicks, sales, signups, etc.
Ideal Number of Slides
Experts generally recommend keeping your carousel posts to 2-4 slides. Here’s why:
- 1 slide – Defeats the purpose of a carousel!
- 2-4 slides – Keeps users engaged without being overwhelming.
- 5+ slides – Risks losing audience attention as they scroll.
Of course, this guidance isn’t set in stone. Test out different slide numbers and see what performs best for your audience!
Examples of Creative Carousel Posts
Here are some examples of brands effectively leveraging carousel posts:
Lego
Lego uses carousel posts to showcase multiple product images and sets:
Starbucks
Starbucks carousels showcase seasonal menu items:
Shopify
Shopify uses carousels to share quotes, tips, and statistics:
Conclusion
Carousel posts are a creative way for brands and creators to share collections of images and videos within one Instagram post. Canva makes it simple to design beautiful, cohesive carousels.
The most effective carousel posts tell a story, showcase products, or convey a lot of information through well-edited visual slides. Following best practices for slide number, content, and design will help you get the most engagement out of carousel posts.
Number of Slides | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
1 slide | – Very focused on one visual
– Prevent users from getting overwhelmed |
– Defeats the purpose of a carousel post
– Limits the ability to tell a story or showcase more |
2-4 slides | – Balances telling a narrative across slides
– Maintains user attention – Allows showcasing some products/visuals |
– Less flexibility than longer carousels
– May limit some storytelling |
5+ slides | – More flexibility to showcase content
– Can tell a very long narrative |
– Users may lose interest while scrolling
– Important info/visuals can get buried |