150+ Instagram content templates — carousel outlines, Reel hooks, caption formulas, and hashtag strategies you can adapt to any niche in minutes.
Stop staring at a blank screen wondering what to post. This repo gives you proven content structures that drive engagement, saves, and follows. Every template is a fill-in-the-blank framework tested across accounts from 1K to 500K+ followers.
- 20 Carousel Outlines
- 15 Caption Templates
- Reel Hook Formulas
- Hashtag Strategy
- Content Calendar Framework
- Go Deeper
Carousels are Instagram's highest-engagement format. Average carousels get 1.4x more reach and 3.1x more engagement than single images. Here are 20 proven structures:
1. The "X Mistakes" Carousel
Slide 1: "[Number] [Niche] Mistakes That Are Costing You [Result]"
Slide 2: Mistake #1 — [Common mistake] + why it's wrong
Slide 3: Mistake #2 — [Common mistake] + why it's wrong
Slide 4: Mistake #3 — [Common mistake] + why it's wrong
Slide 5: Mistake #4 — [Common mistake] + why it's wrong
Slide 6: Mistake #5 — [Common mistake] + why it's wrong
Slide 7: "The Fix" — Quick summary of what to do instead
Slide 8: CTA — "Save this so you don't forget. Follow @handle for more [niche] tips."
Best for: Any niche. Works because people want to check if they're making these mistakes.
2. The "Step-by-Step" Carousel
Slide 1: "How to [Achieve Result] in [Number] Steps"
Slide 2: Step 1 — [Action] + brief explanation
Slide 3: Step 2 — [Action] + brief explanation
Slide 4: Step 3 — [Action] + brief explanation
Slide 5: Step 4 — [Action] + brief explanation
Slide 6: Step 5 — [Action] + brief explanation
Slide 7: Recap slide — all steps listed together
Slide 8: CTA — "Follow @handle for more [topic] tutorials"
Best for: Tutorials, how-tos, processes. High save rate because people bookmark for later.
3. The "Before vs. After" Carousel
Slide 1: "[Thing] in 2020 vs. 2026" or "Beginners vs. Pros"
Slide 2: Comparison #1 — Left: wrong way / Right: right way
Slide 3: Comparison #2 — Left: wrong way / Right: right way
Slide 4: Comparison #3 — Left: wrong way / Right: right way
Slide 5: Comparison #4 — Left: wrong way / Right: right way
Slide 6: "Which side are you on?" — engagement prompt
Slide 7: CTA — "Share with someone who needs to level up"
Best for: Design, fitness, marketing, cooking — anything with a visual transformation.
4. The "Cheat Sheet" Carousel
Slide 1: "[Topic] Cheat Sheet (Save This)"
Slide 2-7: Dense, reference-style information organized in lists, tables, or quick-hit format
Slide 8: CTA — "Bookmark this for next time you need it"
Best for: Reference material. Gets the highest save rates of any format.
5. The "Myth vs. Reality" Carousel
Slide 1: "[Number] [Niche] Myths You Still Believe"
Slide 2: Myth #1: "[Common belief]" / Reality: [Truth with evidence]
Slide 3: Myth #2: "[Common belief]" / Reality: [Truth]
Slide 4: Myth #3: "[Common belief]" / Reality: [Truth]
Slide 5: Myth #4: "[Common belief]" / Reality: [Truth]
Slide 6: Myth #5: "[Common belief]" / Reality: [Truth]
Slide 7: "Stop believing everything you read" — summary
Slide 8: CTA — "Which myth surprised you? Comment below"
Best for: Health, finance, marketing, fitness — any niche with misconceptions.
6. The "Personal Journey" Carousel
Slide 1: "How I went from [bad state] to [good state]"
Slide 2: "Where I started" — relatable struggle, specific details
Slide 3: "The turning point" — what changed
Slide 4: "What I did differently" — 2-3 key actions
Slide 5: "The results" — specific metrics or outcomes
Slide 6: "What I learned" — universal lesson
Slide 7: CTA — "Your journey starts with one decision. What's yours?"
Best for: Personal brands, coaching, fitness transformations.
7. The "Day in the Life" Carousel
Slide 1: "A day in my life as a [role/title]"
Slide 2-3: Morning routine (relatable + aspirational)
Slide 4-5: Work/core activity (shows expertise)
Slide 6: Evening/wind-down (humanizing)
Slide 7: "The reality" — one honest, imperfect detail
Slide 8: CTA — "What does your typical day look like?"
Best for: Lifestyle, entrepreneurship, creative professionals.
8. The "Behind the Scenes" Carousel
Slide 1: "What [making/building/creating X] actually looks like"
Slide 2-3: The messy process (raw, unpolished)
Slide 4-5: Key decisions and why you made them
Slide 6: The final result
Slide 7: CTA — "Want to see more BTS? Let me know in the comments"
Best for: Creators, designers, makers, chefs, artists.
9. The "Tools I Use" Carousel
Slide 1: "[Number] Tools I Use Every Day for [Activity]"
Slide 2-7: One tool per slide — Name, what it does, why you use it, free/paid
Slide 8: CTA — "Which tools are you using? Drop them below"
Best for: Any niche. High save rate + comment engagement.
10. The "Starter Pack" Carousel
Slide 1: "The [Niche] Starter Pack"
Slide 2: Thing #1 every beginner needs
Slide 3: Thing #2 every beginner needs
Slide 4: Thing #3 every beginner needs
Slide 5: The one mistake every beginner makes
Slide 6: The one thing that actually matters most
Slide 7: CTA — "Tag someone who's just getting started"
Best for: Hobbyist niches, professional development, lifestyle.
11. The "Data-Driven Insight" Carousel
Slide 1: "I analyzed [number] [things]. Here's what I found."
Slide 2-3: Methodology (brief — how you got the data)
Slide 4-6: Key findings with charts/visuals
Slide 7: Actionable takeaway — "What this means for you"
Slide 8: CTA — "Surprised by any of these? Save for reference."
Best for: Marketing, business, science, tech.
12. The "Do This, Not That" Carousel
Slide 1: "[Niche]: Do This, Not That"
Slide 2: DON'T: [Bad practice] / DO: [Better alternative]
Slide 3: DON'T: [Bad practice] / DO: [Better alternative]
Slide 4: DON'T: [Bad practice] / DO: [Better alternative]
Slide 5: DON'T: [Bad practice] / DO: [Better alternative]
Slide 6: DON'T: [Bad practice] / DO: [Better alternative]
Slide 7: Summary — "Small changes, big results"
Slide 8: CTA — "Save this and share with your [friend/colleague/partner]"
Best for: Any niche. Clear, actionable, highly shareable.
13. The "This or That" Carousel
Slide 1: "[Niche] Edition: This or That?"
Slide 2-6: Two options per slide (e.g., "Morning workouts vs. Evening workouts")
Slide 7: "My pick" — your opinion + reasoning
Slide 8: CTA — "Drop your picks in the comments: 1 or 2 for each?"
Best for: Driving comments. Works in every niche.
14. The "Unpopular Opinions" Carousel
Slide 1: "My Unpopular [Niche] Opinions"
Slide 2-6: One opinion per slide — bold statement + 1-sentence reasoning
Slide 7: "The most controversial one..." — save the hottest take for last
Slide 8: CTA — "Agree or disagree? Fight me in the comments"
Best for: Maximum engagement. Controversial takes drive shares and comments.
15. The "Quiz" Carousel
Slide 1: "Test Your [Niche] Knowledge"
Slide 2-3: Question + multiple choices (answer on next slide)
Slide 4-5: Question + multiple choices (answer on next slide)
Slide 6-7: Question + multiple choices (answer on next slide)
Slide 8: "How did you score?" — CTA to comment their result
Best for: Education, trivia, niche knowledge — high engagement through interaction.
16. The "Save-Worthy Resource" Carousel
Slide 1: "[Number] [Resources] You'll Wish You Found Sooner"
Slide 2-7: One resource per slide (website, tool, book, account) with why
Slide 8: CTA — "Save this. You'll need it. Follow @handle for more."
Best for: Driving saves (the most important engagement metric for reach).
17. The "Transformation Framework" Carousel
Slide 1: "The [Name] Framework for [Achieving Result]"
Slide 2: Overview — what the framework is and why it works
Slide 3-6: Each component of the framework explained
Slide 7: How to implement it starting today
Slide 8: CTA — "Save this framework and try it this week"
Best for: Coaches, consultants, educators — positions you as an authority.
18. The "Beginner to Advanced" Carousel
Slide 1: "[Topic]: Beginner to Advanced"
Slide 2-3: Beginner level — foundational concepts
Slide 4-5: Intermediate level — deeper strategies
Slide 6-7: Advanced level — expert tactics
Slide 8: "Where are you on this journey?" — CTA to comment
Best for: Skill-based niches. Creates engagement because people self-identify their level.
19. The "Weekly Recap / Top Picks" Carousel
Slide 1: "This Week's Top [Number] [Things] in [Niche]"
Slide 2-7: One item per slide with brief analysis
Slide 8: CTA — "Follow for weekly [niche] roundups every [day]"
Best for: Building a recurring content series that trains the algorithm and your audience.
20. The "Controversial Take + Evidence" Carousel
Slide 1: "[Bold controversial statement about niche]"
Slide 2: "Before you unfollow me, hear me out..."
Slide 3-5: Evidence supporting your take (data, experience, examples)
Slide 6: "But here's the nuance..." — balanced perspective
Slide 7: Your conclusion
Slide 8: CTA — "Change your mind? Or do you still disagree?"
Best for: Thought leadership. Polarizing content drives algorithmic distribution.
[Bold opening line that stops the scroll]
Here's what most people get wrong about [topic]:
They [common mistake].
But the truth is [insight].
When I [specific experience], I learned that [lesson].
Here's what to do instead:
1. [Action step]
2. [Action step]
3. [Action step]
Save this for later. You'll need it.
#[niche] #[topic] #[related term]
[Year/time reference] I was [relatable struggling state].
[Specific detail that makes it vivid].
Then [turning point happened].
I [action you took].
[Specific result with numbers].
The lesson? [Universal takeaway].
If you're where I was, here's your sign to start.
[Hashtags]
[Number] things I wish someone told me about [topic]:
1. [Thing] — [brief explanation]
2. [Thing] — [brief explanation]
3. [Thing] — [brief explanation]
4. [Thing] — [brief explanation]
5. [Thing] — [brief explanation]
Which one hit different? Comment the number.
[Hashtags]
Unpopular opinion: [Bold statement].
I know this is going to upset some of you, but [reasoning].
[Supporting evidence or personal experience].
The reality is [nuanced conclusion].
Agree? Disagree? I want to hear it. Drop a comment.
[Hashtags]
Real talk: [Question that your audience struggles with]?
I've been thinking about this a lot lately.
[Your perspective in 2-3 sentences].
But I'm curious what you think.
Drop your answer below. No wrong answers.
[Hashtags]
How to [achieve specific result] in [timeframe]:
Step 1: [Action] → This [explains why]
Step 2: [Action] → This [explains why]
Step 3: [Action] → This [explains why]
That's it. No complicated strategies. No expensive tools.
Try it today and DM me your results.
[Hashtags]
[Screenshot/metric that proves results]
[Time period] ago, I [was in a specific starting state].
Here's exactly what I did (no gatekeeping):
[Bullet points of actions taken]
The biggest insight? [Key learning].
If I can do this, so can you. Seriously.
Save this. Come back to it when you need motivation.
[Hashtags]
BOOKMARK THIS — you'll need it later.
[Title of the resource/tip]
[Dense, reference-style information in a list or structured format]
That's your complete [topic] cheat sheet.
Save it. Share it with someone who needs it.
Follow @handle for more [niche] breakdowns every week.
[Hashtags]
I'll go first: [Your honest answer to a question].
Now your turn:
[Question that's easy to answer but reveals something interesting].
Drop yours below. I'm reading every single one.
[Hashtags]
Can I be honest for a second?
[Admission of struggle, failure, or imperfection].
I used to think [old belief].
But [experience] showed me that [new understanding].
If you're going through something similar, know this: [encouragement].
It gets better. Keep going.
[Hashtags]
After [number] [years/clients/projects] in [niche], here's what I know for sure:
→ [Insight #1]
→ [Insight #2]
→ [Insight #3]
→ [Insight #4]
→ [Insight #5]
The one that changed everything for me? Number [X].
Which one resonates with you? Let me know.
[Hashtags]
Everyone says [common advice].
I disagree. Here's why:
[Reasoning with specific evidence].
What actually works is [alternative approach].
I've seen this work with [proof/examples].
Try it. Then come back and tell me I was right 😏
[Hashtags]
What you see: [The polished result].
What you don't see:
- [Struggle #1]
- [Struggle #2]
- [Struggle #3]
- [How many attempts it actually took]
The highlight reel is never the full story.
[Encouraging message about the process].
[Hashtags]
[Bold prediction about your niche for the next 6-12 months].
Here's why I'm confident:
1. [Evidence/trend #1]
2. [Evidence/trend #2]
3. [Evidence/trend #3]
The creators who adapt now will [positive outcome].
The ones who don't will [negative outcome].
Which side are you on? Screenshotting this to check back in [timeframe].
[Hashtags]
[One powerful sentence that delivers value].
If this resonated with you:
→ SAVE this for when you need a reminder
→ SHARE with someone who needs to hear it
→ FOLLOW @handle for daily [niche] content
→ Comment "[word]" and I'll send you [free resource]
[Hashtags]
The first 1-2 seconds of a Reel determine everything. Here are hooks that stop the scroll:
| Category | Hook Formula |
|---|---|
| Curiosity | "Nobody's talking about this [niche] hack..." |
| Contrarian | "Stop doing [common thing] — it's actually hurting you" |
| Results | "This one change got me [specific result]" |
| Tutorial | "Here's how to [desirable thing] in under [time]" |
| Story | "The worst [niche] advice I ever received..." |
| Challenge | "I tried [thing] for [time] and here's what happened" |
| Listicle | "[Number] things you NEED to know about [topic]" |
| Authority | "As a [credential], here's what I see people getting wrong" |
| FOMO | "Everyone's sleeping on this [tool/strategy/method]" |
| Relatable | "POV: You just realized [common relatable moment]" |
Pro tip: Put the text hook on screen AND say it aloud. Double sensory input = higher retention.
Use this distribution for maximum reach:
| Category | Count | Size | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niche-specific | 10 | 10K-500K posts | #instagramcarousels, #contentcreationtips |
| Broad niche | 8 | 500K-2M posts | #socialmediamarketing, #digitalmarketing |
| Community | 5 | 50K-500K posts | #creatoreconomy, #smallbusinessowner |
| Engagement | 4 | 1M+ posts | #savethispost, #tipoftheday |
| Branded | 3 | Your own | #yourhandle, #yourseries, #yourbrand |
- Mix sizes every post — don't use 30 massive hashtags (you'll get buried)
- Create 5 hashtag sets and rotate them (Instagram penalizes identical hashtag blocks)
- Put hashtags in the caption, not the first comment (Instagram confirmed this doesn't matter for reach, but caption placement is easier to manage)
- Research monthly — hashtag effectiveness changes. Check what's working in your niche.
- Track performance — use Instagram Insights to see which hashtags drive the most reach
| Day | Content Type | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Carousel (Educational) | Saves + Follows |
| Tuesday | Reel (Hook + Value) | Reach + New Followers |
| Wednesday | Story-only day | DMs + Relationship |
| Thursday | Carousel (Engagement) | Comments + Shares |
| Friday | Reel (Trending + Niche) | Reach + Virality |
Pick 3-4 pillars for your niche and rotate:
Example for a Marketing Account:
- Educate — How-tos, tutorials, frameworks
- Inspire — Results, transformations, success stories
- Entertain — Memes, relatable content, hot takes
- Sell — Product features, testimonials, CTAs
Every post should clearly fit one pillar. If it doesn't, it's off-brand — skip it.
This repo covers the frameworks. If you want complete, ready-to-customize templates:
Get 50 Done-for-You Carousel Templates — 50 Canva-ready carousel templates across 10 categories. Fully customizable with your brand colors, fonts, and content. Just swap the text and post. Includes educational, storytelling, engagement, and sales carousel designs.
Get the Food Creator Template Pack — 75+ templates designed specifically for food bloggers, recipe creators, and restaurant accounts. Includes recipe carousels, ingredient lists, cooking tip formats, meal prep templates, and food photography caption formulas. The complete system for food content that gets saved and shared.
Have a template that consistently drives engagement on your account? Open a PR with:
- The template structure (with bracket placeholders)
- What niche it works best for
- Approximate engagement metrics if you have them
MIT License. Use these templates freely. Credit appreciated but not required.
Built by WEDGE Method — practical content creation resources that skip the fluff.
This resource is part of the WEDGE Method ecosystem — AI-powered tools and systems for content creators, consultants, and business owners.
- Website: thewedgemethodai.com
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- Articles: dev.to/wedgemethoddev
Built by Jacob Olschewski | [email protected]