ktg-plugin-marketplace/plugins/linkedin-thought-leadership/assets/templates/carousel-templates.md

Carousel Templates

Slide-by-slide blueprints for LinkedIn carousels (PDF document posts). Carousels have the highest engagement rate of all LinkedIn formats (6.6%) because they maximize dwell time and encourage swipe completion.

Universal Design Specs

• Slide dimensions: 1080 x 1350 px (4:5 portrait, recommended)
• Font: Sans-serif, minimum 24pt body, 36pt+ headlines
• Colors: Max 3 per carousel (background, text, accent)
• Text per slide: 5-7 lines maximum
• Optimal length: 5-8 slides (including cover and CTA). 7 slides is the sweet spot (18% better performance)
• Export format: PDF
• Caption length: 300-500 characters with hook and context

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Template 1: How-To Guide

Best for: Teaching a process, explaining a method, step-by-step instructions Structure: 6-8 slides

Slide	Purpose	Content Pattern
1	Cover/Hook	Bold question or promise: "How to [achieve X] in [timeframe]"
2	Problem	"Most people [common mistake]. Here's what actually works."
3	Step 1	Step name + 2-3 lines of explanation
4	Step 2	Step name + 2-3 lines of explanation
5	Step 3	Step name + 2-3 lines of explanation
6	Step 4	Step name + 2-3 lines of explanation
7	Step 5	Step name + 2-3 lines of explanation
8	Common mistakes	"3 mistakes to avoid: [quick list]"
9	Summary	Recap all steps in a numbered list
10	CTA	"Save this for later. Follow for more [topic]."

Cover slide formula:

How to [specific outcome]
(without [common pain point])

[Your name] | [Your title]

Step slide formula:

Step [N]: [Action verb] + [Object]

[2-3 sentences explaining the step]

Pro tip: [One practical detail]

Caption template:

Most [audience] struggle with [problem].

I've been doing [process] for [timeframe], and here's the method that consistently works.

Swipe through for the full breakdown.

Save this if you want to come back to it later.

#[topic] #[niche] #[format]

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Template 2: Listicle / Top N

Best for: Curated lists, tool recommendations, lessons learned, tips Structure: 6-8 slides (1 item per slide)

Slide	Purpose	Content Pattern
1	Cover/Hook	"[N] [things] every [audience] should know about [topic]"
2	Item 1	Name/Title + Why it matters (2-3 lines)
3	Item 2	Name/Title + Why it matters
4	Item 3	Name/Title + Why it matters
5	Item 4	Name/Title + Why it matters
6	Item 5	Name/Title + Why it matters
7	Item 6	Name/Title + Why it matters
8	Item 7	Name/Title + Why it matters
9	Bonus	"One more that most people miss: [unexpected item]"
10	CTA	"Which one was new to you? Tell me in the comments."

Cover slide formula:

[N] [things] that changed how I
[outcome]

(#[N] surprised me the most)

Item slide formula:

#[N]: [Item name]

[Why it matters in 2-3 lines]

[Optional: One specific example or data point]

Caption template:

I spent [timeframe] learning about [topic].

Here are [N] things I wish someone told me from the start.

#[N] is the one most people get wrong.

Which one resonates most? Drop a number in the comments.

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Template 3: Story / Before-After

Best for: Personal narratives, transformation stories, lessons from failure Structure: 6-8 slides

Slide	Purpose	Content Pattern
1	Cover/Hook	"How [situation] changed everything I knew about [topic]"
2	Setting	"[Timeframe] ago, I was [situation]."
3	Problem	"The problem: [specific challenge in 2-3 lines]"
4	Turning point	"Then [event/realization] happened."
5	What changed	"I started [new approach]. Here's what shifted:"
6	Result 1	Before: [old state] → After: [new state]
7	Result 2	Before: [old state] → After: [new state]
8	Result 3	Before: [old state] → After: [new state]
9	Lesson	"The real lesson: [insight in 2-3 lines]"
10	CTA	"Has this happened to you? I'd love to hear your story."

Cover slide formula:

[Time period] ago, I [starting state].

Today, [current state].

Here's what changed.

Before/After slide formula:

BEFORE:
[Specific old behavior or result]

AFTER:
[Specific new behavior or result]

The difference: [one-line insight]

Caption template:

[Timeframe] ago, I made a mistake that [consequence].

Looking back, it was the best thing that could have happened.

Swipe through for the full story and the lesson I learned.

What's a mistake that turned into your biggest learning?

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Template 4: Comparison / vs.

Best for: Tool comparisons, approach differences, myth-busting, framework contrasts Structure: 6-8 slides

Slide	Purpose	Content Pattern
1	Cover/Hook	"[Option A] vs [Option B]: Which one actually works?"
2	Context	"Everyone argues about [topic]. Here's what the data says."
3	Dimension 1	[Criteria]: A = [detail] / B = [detail]
4	Dimension 2	[Criteria]: A = [detail] / B = [detail]
5	Dimension 3	[Criteria]: A = [detail] / B = [detail]
6	Dimension 4	[Criteria]: A = [detail] / B = [detail]
7	Dimension 5	[Criteria]: A = [detail] / B = [detail]
8	Summary table	Side-by-side with checkmarks/scores
9	Verdict	"My recommendation: [nuanced answer based on context]"
10	CTA	"Which one do you use? Agree or disagree with my verdict?"

Cover slide formula:

[Option A] vs. [Option B]

I tested both.
Here's what I found.

Comparison slide formula:

[Criteria name]

[Option A]: [Rating or description]
[Option B]: [Rating or description]

Winner: [A or B] (because [one-line reason])

Caption template:

"Should I use [A] or [B]?"

I get asked this [frequency]. So I compared them across [N] dimensions.

The answer isn't what you'd expect.

Swipe through for the breakdown. My verdict is on slide [N].

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Template 5: Framework / Mental Model

Best for: Original frameworks, decision matrices, thinking models Structure: 6-8 slides

Slide	Purpose	Content Pattern
1	Cover/Hook	"The [Name] Framework: How to [outcome]"
2	Problem	"Why most [audience] fail at [topic]"
3	Overview	Visual diagram or named components of the framework
4	Component 1	Name + What it means + How to apply
5	Component 2	Name + What it means + How to apply
6	Component 3	Name + What it means + How to apply
7	Component 4	Name + What it means + How to apply
8	Example	"Here's what it looks like in practice: [specific scenario]"
9	Quick-start	"Start here: [simplest first step]"
10	CTA	"Save this framework. Tag someone who needs it."

Cover slide formula:

The [Name] Framework

[One-line promise of what it enables]

[Optional: diagram or visual representation]

Component slide formula:

[Component Name]

What: [Definition in 1 line]
Why: [Why it matters in 1 line]
How: [Actionable step in 1-2 lines]

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Caption Best Practices

Carousels need strong captions because the caption appears alongside the cover slide. A weak caption means no one swipes.

Caption structure:

1. Hook (first line): Question, bold claim, or surprising stat
2. Context (1-2 lines): Why this matters to your audience
3. Swipe prompt: "Swipe through for..." or "Slide [N] is the one most miss"
4. Engagement CTA: Question that invites comments
5. Hashtags: 3-4 maximum, at the end

Do:

• Reference a specific slide to create curiosity
• Ask which point resonated most
• Tell them to save it for later

Don't:

• Write a long caption that says everything the slides say
• Use "link in comments" (carousel IS the content)
• Add more than 4 hashtags

Carousel Quality Checklist

• Cover slide has a clear promise or question
• Each slide has one point (not multiple ideas)
• Text is readable on mobile without zooming (24pt+ body)
• 5-8 slides total (7 is optimal. Completion drops 40% beyond 15)
• Last slide has a clear CTA
• Caption hooks attention and prompts swipe
• Consistent font, colors, and layout across all slides
• Exported as PDF, under 100 MB