5 Types of Carousels Every Small Business Owner Should Post This Month

If creating Instagram carousels always feels like starting from scratch, here’s some good news.

You don’t need to come up with a brand-new format every week.

In fact, some of the best creators I’ve followed for years repeat the same handful of carousel styles over and over again. The topic changes, the examples change, but the format stays the same.

Once you recognize these patterns, creating content becomes a whole lot easier.

Here are five carousel types I’d recommend adding to your content rotation.

Want a quick head start?

 Grab this free Canva carousel template I made for you!

1. My [X] Guide to Avoid [Y]

This format works because people are naturally looking for shortcuts and ways to avoid common mistakes. Position yourself as the person who’s already been there and can help them skip the trial and error.

Examples:

• Therapist: My Guide to Avoiding Burnout as a New Therapist
• Financial Advisor: My Guide to Avoiding Common Investing Mistakes
• Wedding Planner: My Guide to Avoiding Last-Minute Wedding Day Stress
• Professional Organizer: My Guide to Avoiding Clutter Before It Starts
• Business Coach: My Guide to Avoiding Business Burnout

These posts are valuable because they promise a clear outcome while positioning you as the guide.

2. Split Screen Then vs. Now

These posts create curiosity because they show a shift in thinking.

Start with something you used to believe.

Then explain what changed.

Examples:

• Therapist: I Used to Think Healing Had to Be Linear…
• Financial Advisor: I Used to Think Budgeting Was About Restriction…
• Wedding Planner: I Used to Think Bigger Weddings Were Better…
• Business Owner: I Used to Think I Needed to Be Everywhere Online…
• Interior Designer: I Used to Think Every Room Needed to Match…

These posts often lead to some of the best conversations because people see themselves in your journey.

3. Ranking Things I’ve Done This Year

People love seeing what actually worked for someone else.

Rank things you’ve tried, invested in, tested, or learned based on your own experience. It feels personal, sparks conversation, and gives your audience a behind-the-scenes look at how you think.

Examples:

• Ranking the Marketing Strategies I Tried This Year
• Ranking Every Productivity App I’ve Used This Year
• Ranking the Books That Changed My Business
• Ranking My Favorite Client Gifts
• Ranking the Investments I’ve Made in My Business

This format works well because people enjoy comparing their own experiences with yours and often share their opinions in the comments.

4. Step-by-Step Carousels

These are some of the most valuable posts you can create because they teach your audience how to accomplish something.

Examples:

• Therapist: How to Prepare for Your First Therapy Session
• Financial Advisor: How to Start Investing as a Beginner
• Professional Organizer: How to Declutter One Closet Without Feeling Overwhelmed
• Wedding Planner: How to Build Your Wedding Day Timeline
• Interior Designer: How to Choose Paint Colors for an Open Floor Plan

These posts tend to get saved because people want to come back and follow the steps later.

5. Things I Wish I Knew Earlier

This is one of my favorite formats because it doesn’t feel like you’re teaching from a pedestal. It feels like you’re sharing experience.

Instead of generic advice, you’re giving people lessons you learned along the way.

Examples:

• Photographer: Things I Wish I Knew Before Photographing My First Wedding
• Bookkeeper: Things I Wish Every Small Business Owner Knew About Taxes
• Travel Advisor: Things I Wish More Travelers Knew Before Booking a Cruise
• Nutritionist: Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Dietitian
• Business Coach: Things I Wish I Knew During My First Year in Business

People connect with this format because it feels honest and relatable.

Want content like this each month?

The next time you’re staring at a blank Canva page wondering what to post, don’t feel like you have to invent something completely new.

Instead, pick one of these formats and give it a fresh topic.

Inside the Ivory Mix Content Membership, you’ll receive a fresh Content Kit every month filled with ready-to-use ideas, captions, templates, and marketing resources designed to help you show up consistently without starting from scratch.

Follow it. Customize it. Or simply borrow the pieces.

However you like to create content, there’s a place to start.

Explore the membership →