Carousel Planning Template: Outline Slides Before You Design Them
Write the story first, then design the slides
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Download the worksheet, jump to the template section, or preview its fields first.
What is carousel planning?
A carousel is a post with several slides that people swipe through. Planning means writing what each slide says before you open a design tool. Text-first planning keeps the idea tight and makes the design step faster.
Step 1: Choose one idea and one reader
State the idea in one sentence and name who it is for. If you need the word "and" to describe the idea, you probably have two carousels. Pick the one you can explain in the fewest slides.
Step 2: Write the cover promise
The cover decides whether anyone swipes. State the specific outcome or question the slides answer, in plain words. Avoid promises the slides do not keep. If the cover says five steps, deliver five steps.
Step 3: Outline one point per slide
Write each slide as a short headline plus one supporting line. Order them so each slide makes the reader want the next one. Cut any slide that repeats another or does not move the idea forward. Short slides are easier to read on a phone, so keep text large and sparse.
- Slide 1: the promise.
- Middle slides: one step, fact or example each.
- Last slide: one action, such as saving the post, replying with a question, or visiting a page.
Step 4: Check the format on each platform
Carousels exist on several platforms, but supported image sizes, file types, and slide limits change over time. Check the current rules on the platform before you finalise the design, and check that your post format is supported for scheduling on the account you connect.
A worked example (illustration only)
A creator who teaches budgeting might outline a carousel titled with a clear promise, then give one slide per step of a monthly review and close with a prompt to save it for the next month. The outline is invented to show the structure and is not a performance claim.
Common mistakes
- Putting too much text on a slide.
- A cover that does not match the slides.
- Ending with several different calls to action.
Reference tables
Carousel outline fields
One row per slide.
| Slide | Headline and supporting line | Job of the slide |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (cover) | The specific promise | Earn the first swipe |
| 2 to n-1 | One step, fact or example each | Deliver the promise one point at a time |
| Last | One action | Tell the reader what to do next |
| Caption | Context plus the same action | Support the slides, not repeat them |
| Alt text | Short description of each slide's text | Make the post accessible |
Source: Original Repping.AI worksheet; fill it with your own data
Interactive tool
Carousel planning checklist
Tick each item before you call the work finished. Use your own evidence, not assumptions.
Downloadable template
Download the carousel planning template
A Markdown worksheet with the fields and checklist from this guide. Fill it in with your own data.
Download templateFrequently asked questions
How many slides should a carousel have?
Use as many slides as the idea needs and no more. Cut any slide that repeats a point.
Should I write the caption first or the slides first?
Outline the slides first. Then write a caption that adds context and repeats the one action.
Can Repping.AI schedule carousels?
Format support varies by platform, so check the platform's page and test with a draft before you rely on it.
Related reading
Plan webinar promotion on social media in three stages: pre-event registration posts, live reminders, and post-event follow-up. Includes a free worksheet.
Plan a social media thread in four steps: state one claim, order the supporting posts, write a strong first post, and end with one action. Free worksheet.
Run a social media content audit in four steps: inventory your posts, label each one keep, fix, repurpose or retire, then change your calendar. Free template.
Related product pages
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