Video carousels are crushing on Instagram right now. The best ones are getting the kind of engagement most posts never see.
Why do these work so well? First off, they’re educational while still being easy to watch (much like posts from another BAM favorite). They’re also filmed in everyday locations your local audience will recognize.
Plus, all you need to create the visuals are your phone and a tripod.
Structured Media put out a great example of this recently, featuring David Stultz. Seven slides. None of them wasted.
David’s example has racked up nearly 11K likes so far, along with over 200 comments.
Here’s why this belongs in your real estate content library and how to make one of your own.
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Why Video Carousels Are Worth Your Time
Video carousels are one of the most shareable formats on Instagram. When someone finds a post useful, they save it, send it to a friend, or share it to their Story.
That’s organic reach you don’t have to pay for.
They also happen to be one of the more efficient ways to create content. You’re not starting from scratch every time. Once you’ve filmed a solid batch of clips around your business and brand, you can reuse that footage across multiple carousels or pull clips into a reel.
The information you’re sharing comes straight from what you already know, so putting it together doesn’t take long.
Here’s what makes the format work in your favor:
- Followers swipe through at their own pace, which keeps them engaged longer than a static post
- The educational format plays well with Instagram’s algorithm right now
- Carousels are saveable, which means your content keeps getting discovered after you post it
- Audio in the background sets the mood and keeps people swiping to the end
- No professional production required. Your phone, a tripod, and a clear topic are all you need to get started
The best part is that once you build your template and your shot list, the process gets faster every time you do it.
How to Make a Video Carousel
Here’s how to put one together, from the first clip to the final post.
Step 1: Film Your Clips
A tripod frees you up to move naturally in front of the camera without worrying about shaky footage.
Before you hit record, think through the locations and situations that reflect your day-to-day work.
- Walking a neighborhood
- Sitting at your desk
- Standing outside a property.
Moving between settings gives each slide its own visual identity.
Pay attention to how you frame each shot. You want some breathing room in the composition where text can sit cleanly without competing with what’s happening in the background.
Step 2: Choose Your Topic
Go back to what your clients are always asking you. Those recurring questions and conversations are a goldmine for carousel topics because they’re already proven to be relevant to your audience.
Narrow it down to one clear idea and build out from there. A focused carousel will always outperform one that tries to cover too much ground.
Stultz nailed it:
“One main idea. A handful of subpoints.”
Step 3: Build It in Canva
Set up a 4×5 Canva template with your brand fonts and save it so you’re not rebuilding from scratch every time.
When you drop in your clips, aim for about 5 seconds per slide. Anything longer and you risk losing people before they get to the end.
Layer a gradient or semi-transparent overlay on top of your footage so the text doesn’t get lost in the background.
Once everything looks good, export each slide as its own file at the highest resolution available.
Step 4: Post It on Instagram
When you’re ready to publish,
- Pull your clips into a new post in the sequence you want viewers to follow.
- Write a caption that zeroes in on the main point.
- Add music that fits the tone of the content
Also, if you filmed with someone or want to bring in a collaborator, tag them before you go live.
Consistent, useful content is what builds an audience on Instagram over time. Video carousels give you a repeatable way to deliver that without rebuilding the process from scratch every time you post.
Build your template once, keep a running list of topics your clients care about, and the hardest part is already behind you.
Pick a topic you know cold and start filming this week.
