LinkedIn Carousel: How to Optimize Your Carousels (Formats, Templates, & Best Practices)

What You'll Find In This Guide:

• Why Use a LinkedIn Carousel?
• The Best Format for Creating a LinkedIn Carousel
• How to Publish Your LinkedIn Carousel
• LinkedIn Carousel Best Practices

‍

The LinkedIn carousel has emerged as one of the highest-performing content formats on LinkedIn today. More than just a simple image post, it's an interactive document—often a PDF or slideshow—that users can scroll through page by page. It combines visuals, text, and clear calls-to-action while increasing the time spent on your post, which improves its distribution through LinkedIn's algorithm.

But to optimize a LinkedIn carousel, everything must be carefully planned. You need to respect certain dimensions, choose the right number of slides, adapt content for mobile, define a strong message, lay out pages correctly, and finish with a call-to-action (CTA).

To better understand how to build your LinkedIn carousel, we're offering a complete guide that summarizes everything you need to know.

→ If you want more tips for optimizing your LinkedIn content, download our free influencer marketing eBook. We've referenced numerous successful campaigns in our comprehensive guide.

Why Use a LinkedIn Carousel?

Recent data from multiple studies shows that the carousel format (or "document" on LinkedIn) often outperforms other traditional formats (single image, video, text) in terms of visibility.

Several analyses demonstrate this:

• The Buffer study we shared reveals that carousels retain attention longer. You've probably noticed this format is one of the most prevalent. It encourages users to swipe to gather all the information, spending more time on the content.
• One study indicates that carousels generate up to 1.44 times more reach than the average post.
• According to Metricool, carousel engagement rates reach nearly 32%, compared to about 11% for images.

This is largely explained by the fact that carousels encourage swiping and internal navigation, which increases the time users spend viewing the publication. The more time a user spends on content, the better it performs with the algorithm, which then distributes it to a larger audience.

Beyond this aspect, the carousel is a superb communication tool. It allows you to tell a story, present a method, list tips, or structure a thought process.

It's particularly suited for "how-to" content, lists, case studies, or mini-guides in a B2B context. From an editorial standpoint, a carousel isn't much more complex than a standard post, but it creates a different experience for the audience since everything is more visual.

Understanding what types of content B2B influencers post on LinkedIn can help you determine when carousels are the most effective format for your message.

‍

‍

The Best Format for Creating a LinkedIn Carousel

To create a LinkedIn carousel, you need to keep several specifications in mind.

Here are the technical aspects:

• LinkedIn primarily accepts carousels as PDF documents
• Recommended dimensions are 1080 × 1080 px for a square format
• Avoid overly wide horizontal formats or atypical proportions, which can penalize visibility
• File size is also important. Ideally, the file should be under 10 MB for fast loading, especially on mobile

Based on the previously cited studies, LinkedIn experts specify that approximately 12 slides optimize your content. With fewer than 5 pages, reach drops (-35%). Between 5 and 10 slides, the decrease becomes moderate (-15%). However, to ensure optimal readability, it's recommended to create 6 to 10 slides. Be careful—too many pages can tire your audience. Aim for clarity.

Beyond the number of slides, an essential element to keep in mind is the text written on each carousel slide. Text per slide should remain short and concise. One sentence or less per slide is too little; this can decrease engagement by approximately 30%. You need to think about word choice, sentence structure, and be careful to share only essential information.

On the other hand, ensure your content is readable on mobile. Text poorly adapted for mobile reading can reduce reach by up to 75%.

Additionally, limit the number of colors in your visual identity. Opt for a maximum of 3 colors to strengthen visual consistency and avoid overwhelming users with information. Yes, color is also considered information. The more cluttered the visual, the more exhausted users will be before even reading it.

Finally, keep in mind that the first page is crucial. It must capture attention, pose the problem, or trigger curiosity. The last page must contain a clear call-to-action (CTA). It should invite users to comment, share, or click on a link. Don't neglect the beginning or the end.

‍

How to Publish Your LinkedIn Carousel

To publish your carousel on LinkedIn, you need to upload it in PDF format. It can be accompanied by text. The key challenge here is to entice users to read your carousel. Prioritize a short, enticing sentence to spark your community's curiosity. You can then write text optimized for LinkedIn, with a CTA at the end.

To share your carousel on LinkedIn, follow these steps:

1. Click on Start a post
2. Then, at the bottom, click Document
3. Upload your PDF
4. Give the document a title
5. Add your text
6. Publish

When planning your LinkedIn content strategy, carousels work exceptionally well as part of a broader approach. Learn how to combine formats effectively in our guide on launching a successful B2B influencer marketing campaign on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn Carousel Best Practices: Key Takeaways

Creating high-performing LinkedIn carousels requires attention to both technical specifications and content strategy:

Technical Requirements:

• Square format: 1080 × 1080 px
• PDF document under 10 MB
• 6-10 slides for optimal performance
• Mobile-optimized text and visuals

Content Strategy:

• Hook readers with a compelling first slide
• Keep text concise but substantial (more than one sentence per slide)
• Use maximum 3 colors for visual consistency
• End with a clear, actionable CTA
• Adapt your message for mobile viewing

Engagement Optimization:

• Leverage the carousel format for how-to guides, case studies, and educational content
• Structure content to encourage swiping through all slides
• Pair your carousel with engaging post copy that drives curiosity
• Focus on value-driven content that resonates with your B2B audience

For more insights on creating content that performs on LinkedIn and avoiding common pitfalls, review our article on 10 mistakes to avoid in your B2B influence marketing campaigns.

→ At Les Années Folles, we design B2B influencer campaigns on LinkedIn that leverage the platform's best features. 

To see real-world examples of how we've helped brands optimize their LinkedIn presence with strategic content formats, explore our client case studies.