Ever dabbled with LinkedIn carousel ads? They're like the fun slide shows of the online marketing world, letting you tell vibrant stories one slide at a time. But, let's be real – making them isn't super easy. And once they've had their moment in the spotlight, what next?
No worries. We've got you covered.
Ready to slide into success? Dive into this friendly guide for some nifty tricks on crafting those attention-grabbing carousels and fun ways to give them a second life.
Note: While carousel posts are no longer active, carousel ads are still thriving on LinkedIn.
Understanding LinkedIn carousel ads
If you're still a bit fuzzy on the details, here's the breakdown: LinkedIn carousel ads are a series of up to ten swipeable cards, each containing its own unique visual and ad copy.
Each card also has its own unique URL and destination within your website. When a user clicks on your ad, they are taken to the specific card they clicked on.
The beauty of carousel ads lies in their versatility. You can use them to showcase a range of products or services, highlight different features of a single product, or even tell a story through a sequence of visuals.
Benefits of using carousel ads on LinkedIn
So, what sets carousel ads apart from other LinkedIn ad formats?
- They allow you to include multiple pieces of information within a single ad, making them particularly useful for promoting multiple products or features. This means that you can showcase a variety of offerings to your target audience, increasing the likelihood that they will find something that resonates with them.
- Due to the interactive nature of the format, users are more likely to engage with carousel ads than with static ads. By allowing users to swipe through a series of visuals, you are creating a more immersive and engaging experience that encourages them to spend more time with your brand.
- With a higher engagement rate and clickability, carousel ads can ultimately lead to increased conversions. By showcasing multiple offerings and creating an engaging experience, you are increasing the chances that users will take action and convert into customers.
By leveraging the benefits of this format, you can drive engagement, increase conversions, and ultimately achieve your marketing goals.
Best practices for designing effective carousel ads
If you're considering using carousel ads as part of your marketing strategy, there are a few key elements to keep in mind to ensure that your ads are effective.
Selecting high-quality images
The first step to designing an effective carousel ad is to select visually impactful images. High-resolution, clear, and relevant images will draw in users and keep them engaged with your ad. But how do you choose the right images?
Consider using images that showcase your product or service in action, or images that highlight the benefits of your offering. For example, if you're advertising a new fitness app, consider using images of people working out or using the app to help users visualize how they could benefit from your product.
Crafting compelling ad copy
While selecting the right images is important, it's equally essential to craft compelling ad copy that resonates with your target audience. Keep your messaging direct and succinct, highlighting the benefits of your product or service. Use action-oriented language to encourage users to take action, whether it's to download your app, sign up for your newsletter, or visit your website.
Remember, your ad copy should be clear, concise, and compelling.
Utilizing calls-to-action
One of the most important elements of any carousel ad is the call-to-action (CTA). A strong CTA encourages users to take action and can significantly increase the effectiveness of your ad. Consider using a clear and concise CTA that aligns with your overall marketing goals.
For example, if your goal is to increase app downloads, use a CTA that encourages users to download your app. If your goal is to drive traffic to your website, use a CTA that encourages users to visit your site.
Ensuring consistency in design and messaging
Finally, it's important to ensure that your ad designs are visually consistent throughout the entire carousel.
This means using the same color scheme, font style, and overall design aesthetic for each card in the carousel. Inconsistencies in design can be confusing to users and may cause them to disengage with your ad.
Additionally, ensure your messaging remains consistent throughout, with each card seamlessly leading to the next.
Design for desktop and mobile
Ensure that your ad is optimized for mobile devices. With a significant portion of LinkedIn users accessing the platform through their mobile devices, it is crucial to ensure that your ad is easily viewable and navigable on smaller screens.
Test it on both screens before launching so you don’t waste your budget on an unreadable ad.
Experiment
Finally, it is essential to test and iterate your carousel ads to determine what works best for your brand and audience. This means experimenting with different images, messaging and calls to action to identify what resonates with your target audience and drives the desired results.
By following these key elements, you can design effective and engaging carousel ads that resonate with your target audience and drive results for your business.
Take a look at this carousel ad one that LinkedIn designed. It has great graphics that fit together, tells a story and has a string call to action.
Here are 31 LinkedIn Carousel ad examples to start inspiring you.
Repurposing tip: Turn your carousel ads into video
Carousel ads have become increasingly popular on social media platforms due to their highly engaging format and numerous customization options. Being able to showcase multiple images within a single ad unit, makes it an effective way to tell a brand’s story or showcase a product or service.
However, the potential of your carousel ad doesn't end when the campaign is over.
Take the text in your carousel slides and transform it into an event more compelling video. By repurposing your carousel ad content into a video, you can amplify your brand's message and reach an even wider audience.
Here is an example of the LinkedIn carousel ad we showed above as a simple video that we made in Storykit:
Concluding thoughts...
Don't be afraid to dive into the storytelling world with LinkedIn carousel ads. Experiment with diverse messages and viewpoints to truly tap into what makes your audience tick.
And don't forget that your ads have multiple lives! Reuse them in creative ways to keep spreading your messages.
For more LinkedIn marketing tips: The ultimate guide to LinkedIn marketing [best practices for 2023]
