Carousels have become a popular way for brands to showcase multiple pieces of content in a condensed format on LinkedIn. Typically displayed as a horizontal band of images or videos that rotate automatically, carousels allow brands to feature several updates in one post. This provides flexibility to get more content in front of followers without flooding their feeds.
However, carousels also have drawbacks. The rotating images can be distracting, and important information is not always conveyed effectively when condensed into a small visual snippet. Many users scroll past carousels without fully engaging. So brands should consider alternatives that promote more meaningful engagement.
Why Use Something Other Than a Carousel?
Here are some of the limitations of carousels that make exploring alternatives worthwhile:
- Carousels often have low click-through rates. Viewers may glance at them without delving into the content.
- Key information does not stand out. Carousels condense multiple updates into images, so crucial details may get lost.
- They can appear disjointed. Switching rapidly between images makes it hard to convey a cohesive message.
- Engagement can be superficial. Viewers flip through without dedicating time to absorb the content.
- The format is overused. With so many carousels, it is hard to stand out in feeds.
Rather than a series of flashing images, many types of updates are better suited to a more static, unified format. This allows key information to be presented clearly and enables deeper engagement.
Alternative Formats That Foster Meaningful Engagement
Here are some highly engaging alternatives to promote focused attention from viewers:
Long-Form Article or Post
Draw users in with an in-depth article or long-form post. Take the time to explore a topic thoroughly with an insightful analysis. This shows you have substantive knowledge versus condensed snippets. Make complex topics digestible with an engaging writing style. Include relevant images to break up text. Articles allow readers to immerse themselves in a subject and build affinity for your brand as a thought leader.
Behind-the-Scenes Videos
Offer a glimpse behind the scenes with a video. This might include profiles of team members, virtual facility tours, presentations of your processes in action, or interviews. Videos give a transparent insider view that photos cannot always capture. Viewers appreciate the authenticity. Keep videos focused and professional. Polished production is not required – raw clips can relay authenticity. Just ensure lighting and audio are clear.
Q&A Format
Engage your audience with a question and answer session. Solicit questions in advance through a poll or comments. Then post a video or article addressing the topics consumers want to know about most. This empowers them and demonstrates you listen to their interests. Alternately, interview an expert from your team with questions followers would likely ask. Address misconceptions or field inquiries you often receive.
List Post
Lists are highly scannable and skimmable, allowing readers to rapidly extract information. Summarize key takeaways from a recent webinar, conference, or research in list format. For example, share top 10 tips from an event or findings. Numbered lists with brief descriptive sentences or bullet points convey information concisely. Images and graphics can also enhance visual interest.
Infographic
Infographics visually transform complex insights into accessible information. Creative designs, charts, illustrations, timelines, diagrams, icons, and graphics communicate significant details at a glance. Viewers can rapidly digest information rather than wading through dense text. Infographics are engaging, eye-catching and easy to consume. Use them to map out processes, share research, or compare options. Just ensure design keeps key information easy to locate.
Case Study or Success Story
Demonstrate value with a detailed case study or success story. For a product or service, explain how it solved a problem for a client or customer. Outline their unique situation, challenges faced, and process you guided them through. Share tangible results and testimonials of their exceptional experience working with your company. For an internal initiative, show how it impacted profitability, productivity, or company culture. Prove your credibility and allow readers to connect with the human experience.
Interactive Quiz
Prompt visitors to engage further by taking a short interactive quiz. This could be a fun quiz testing knowledge related to your industry. Or have users answer several questions, then share customized recommendations based on their responses. Quizzes pique interest while conveying your expertise. Let users instantly share results on social media to spread the word.
Format | Benefits |
---|---|
Long-form article/post | In-depth information and analysis, thought leadership |
Behind-the-scenes video | Authentic view into your brand, culture and people |
Q&A | Engaging, responsive to audience interests |
List post | Skimmable information, key takeaways |
Infographic | Visually engaging, quick consumption of data |
Case study/success story | Demonstrate credibility and human impact |
Interactive quiz | Fun, sharable, convey expertise |
Choosing the Right Alternative for Your Goals
The most impactful alternative to a carousel depends on your specific objectives for the post. Here are factors to consider:
- Desired level of engagement – Do you want in-depth interactions or quick conveyance of information?
- Type of content – Is informational, visual, interview-based, or data-focused content most appropriate?
- Production resources – Do you have bandwidth for high quality video production or designing an infographic?
- Target audience – Will certain formats resonate more based on their preferences?
- Call to action – Does the format enable an effective CTA to drive conversions?
Analyze your goals, resources, audience, and desired outcomes. Select the format that aligns best. While carousels let you cram in content, followers often prefer more focused engagement with one compelling update.
Best Practices for High-Impact Post Formats
While carousels can be disjointed and overwhelming, alternative formats promote more meaningful engagement when executed effectively. Here are best practices for creating standout posts:
Long-Form Articles/Posts
- Craft a compelling title and introduction pulling readers in.
- Structure content with clear headings and subheadings.
- Use an engaging writing style combining facts with narrative elements.
- Include relevant statistics and data points, but focus more on analysis.
- Embed relevant media like images, graphics, infographics and videos.
- Wrap up with key takeaways and a call to action.
Behind-the-Scenes Video
- Highlight an interesting process, team, facility, or activity.
- Capture authentic moments rather than overly polished clips.
- Add graphics to briefly explain processes displayed.
- Incorporate short interview segments for additional context.
- Close with a meaningful call to action based on video content.
Q&A Format
- Promote the Q&A in advance so audience can submit questions.
- Select 5-10 most common or pressing questions to answer.
- Briefly summarize the question before providing the response.
- Close with invitation for followers to ask additional questions.
List Post
- Hook readers with an interesting fact or stat in the introduction.
- Break down information into digestible numbered or bulleted points.
- Use images to complement key data points.
- Link to sources for additional details.
- Wrap up with a summary of significant takeaways.
Infographic
- Present information visually through charts, graphs, icons, and creative designs.
- Allow key data points to stand out through bold fonts and colors.
- Include minimal text to supplement graphics.
- Use a clean, organized layout that directs the flow of information.
- Make complex insights easy to digest at a glance.
Case Study/Success Story
- Spotlight a specific client or customer experience.
- Provide background on their situation and challenges.
- Outline the process you took them through.
- Quantify results with facts and testimonials.
- Relay the emotional impact your services had.
Interactive Quiz
- Craft 5-10 intriguing multiple choice or short answer questions.
- Share quiz widely with a compelling promotion.
- Provide customized recommendations based on user responses.
- Let users instantly share results on social media.
- Prompt participants to opt-in for more resources.
Formatting your content strategically based on goals fosters more meaningful engagement than carousels. Follow these best practices for the selected format to maximize impact.
Conclusion
While carousels provide flexibility to showcase multiple updates in one post, they have significant drawbacks including low click-through rates and limited ability to convey details effectively.
Rather than condensing information into a series of fleeting images, brands should consider more immersive formats. Long-form articles and videos enable in-depth storytelling. Infographics and list posts present data visually and concisely. Interviews, Q&As and case studies bring a human connection.
The ideal alternative depends on campaign objectives, audience preferences, available resources and desired outcomes. But strategic formats that promote focused attention often generate greater engagement. Avoiding carousel overload keeps followers interested while enabling brands to share substantive content that drives results.