LinkedIn carousels are a great content format for many reasons. First, the LinkedIn algorithm prioritizes this content format, probably thanks to the visual appeal and subsequent engagement. Much like Instagram carousels, they tend to be very appealing because they differentiate from the other types of content you might come across on your feed.
They also tend to perform quite well – I’ve only posted a few, but they tend to be one of my top-performing formats, a win for my personal branding efforts. And according to our internal data, they have the third-highest engagement rate after video and photo posts at 4.2 percent.
However, I’ll also be the first to admit that they can be difficult to work with, especially if your design skills are sorely limited. Thanks to tools like Canva (and our handy guide to creating and scheduling this format in Buffer), that hurdle is less difficult to climb – until you reach the next one: idea generation.
So, in this article, I’ll give you some ideas for your next carousel from different creators and share some best practices to make this engaging format easier than ever to produce.
1. Share news related to your industry
Keeping your audience informed about the latest industry news not only positions you as a knowledgeable source but also provides value to your followers.
Here are two creators who have mastered the art of sharing industry news through LinkedIn carousels:
Girl Power Marketing uses a distinct tone of voice and visual branding to share important social media updates.
Why this works: The carousel is visually appealing, and the information is presented in a concise, easy-to-understand format. This makes it easy for the audience to stay informed about the latest trends and changes in the social media landscape.
Pretty Little Marketer shares their favorite marketing moments of the year in a visually engaging carousel.
Why this works: By highlighting key campaigns and explaining their effectiveness, they provide valuable insights and learnings for her audience. The carousel is not only informative but also invites engagement by asking the audience to share their own favorite marketing moments.
2. Share company culture and employee highlights
Showcase your company's culture, values, and team members through a carousel. This can help build brand awareness, humanize your brand, and build trust with your audience. For instance, you could create a carousel featuring employee spotlights or behind-the-scenes glimpses of your office.
Beehiiv uses LinkedIn carousels to welcome new hires. In this post, they introduce two new employees, sharing their roles and expressing excitement about their joining the team.
Why this works: This approach works because it not only introduces new team members but also gives a sense of the company's growth and global reach. It creates a sense of community and shows that the company values its employees. This can help to attract potential employees and customers who value a strong, inclusive company culture.
Deel, an international company, uses LinkedIn carousels to highlight individual employees. In this post, they spotlight David Alejandro Lira, expressing their excitement about having him on board and hinting at his potential future influence.
Why this works: This approach works because it puts a face to the company, making it more relatable and human. It also shows that the company values its employees and their individual contributions. This can help to build trust with potential employees and customers, who may be more likely to engage with a company that values its people.
3. Give step-by-step instructions and advice
Use carousels to provide step-by-step instructions or guides. This can be useful for sharing how-to content, tutorials, or tips. For example, you could create a carousel that walks users through setting up a specific software or tool.
Jay Clouse shares a guide to posting over the holiday season. He provides a step-by-step approach to repurposing content and scheduling posts.
Why this works: This approach provides actionable tips clearly and concisely. The step-by-step format makes it easy for the audience to follow along and implement the advice. Additionally, the timely nature of the content (posting over the holiday season) makes it particularly relevant and useful for the audience.
Alex shares five things everyone should know about strategy. He breaks down complex strategic concepts into easily digestible points.
Why this works: This approach simplifies complex ideas (strategy) into easily understandable points. The use of a numbered list helps to structure the content and guide the reader through the key points. This makes the content more accessible and engaging, helping the audience to better understand and apply the concepts.
4. Share interesting information and facts
Sharing interesting facts, trivia, or insights related to your industry or niche can position you as a thought leader and engage your audience. For instance, you could create a carousel highlighting little-known facts about your industry.
Mad Over Marketing shares an interesting fact about how Heinz is fighting ketchup fraud with a genius hack, 'The Label of Truth.'
Why this works: This approach works because it shares an intriguing story about a well-known brand, which can capture the audience's attention. The post also highlights the brand's innovation and customer-centric thinking, which can inspire other businesses and marketers. The information is presented in a fun and engaging way, making it more likely to be shared and remembered by the audience.
Verneri Brander shares a comparison between Claude AI and ChatGPT for email marketing. He provides insights into how these AI tools can be used to create effective email marketing campaigns.
Why this works: This approach works because it provides valuable insights into a trending topic (AI in email marketing). The post not only shares information but also provides a practical application, making it more useful for the audience. By sharing his experiences and opinions, Verneri adds a personal touch to the post, making it more relatable and engaging.
5. Turn complex data and ideas into easily digestible frames
Transforming complex data or information into visually appealing slides is an excellent way to make your content more accessible and engaging.
For example, you could create a carousel that breaks down a complex topic or showcases key statistics to help your audience better understand and retain the information.
Here are some creators who excel at turning complex data and ideas into easily digestible frames:
Why this works: Josue's carousel effectively breaks down his content system into simple, actionable steps. The clean and consistent visuals make it easy for the audience to follow along and understand the process.
Why this works: Chase's carousel highlights three design principles from an eye-catching ad. The carousel itself is visually appealing, with clear and concise explanations that make it easy for the audience to grasp the concepts and apply them to their own marketing efforts.
Why this works: Erica's carousel focuses on the importance of parallelism in writing. By using clear examples and explanations, she helps her audience understand the concept and how to apply it to their own writing. The visuals are simple and consistent, making the content easy to digest.
6. Showcase your products or services
Use carousels to showcase your products or services in a visually appealing way. By highlighting different features, benefits, or use cases with each slide, you can demonstrate how your product solves a specific problem for your target audience. For example, you could create a carousel demonstrating how your product solves a specific problem for your target audience.
Jens Joseph Mannanal, Co-founder & COO at Passionfroot, shares a case study of how Superhuman, one of the biggest and fastest-growing AI newsletters globally, leverages Passionfroot to streamline their workflow and sponsorship process.
Why this works: This approach works because it provides a real-world example of how the product (Passionfroot) solves a specific problem (inefficient and inconvenient ways of organizing sponsorships and tracking payments). The post also includes a testimonial, which adds credibility and shows the product's value. The carousel format allows for a detailed breakdown of the problem, solution, and results, making the case study easy to follow and understand.
Remote, a company that provides solutions for global employment, shares information about hiring talent in Portugal. The post highlights their services, such as visa sponsorship and standard onboarding processes.
Why this works: This approach works because it provides valuable information related to the company's services. By addressing potential challenges (like visa applications and health check