Carousels & Presentations

Multi-slide content consistently outperforms single images. Whether it's an Instagram carousel, a LinkedIn document, or a presentation deck, the format keeps people engaged longer and lets you tell a complete story.

This guide covers how to create effective multi-slide content from your documents, reports, and written material.

Why Multi-Slide Content Works

Longer engagement. Each swipe or click is a micro-commitment. People who start often finish.

Better for complex ideas. Some things can't be communicated in a single image. Multiple slides let you build understanding step by step.

Algorithm-friendly. Platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn reward content that keeps users engaged. Carousels get more reach.

Versatile. The same carousel can often work across multiple platforms with minor adjustments.

Carousels for Social Media

Instagram Carousels

Instagram allows up to 10 slides. The key is hooking people on slide one and delivering value through the rest.

Slide structure that works:

1. Hook slide — A compelling question, bold statement, or promise that makes people want to swipe. "5 things I wish I knew before..." or "The strategy that changed everything"
2. Content slides — One idea per slide. Don't cram. If you have 5 points, use 5 slides.
3. Summary or CTA slide — Wrap it up. Either summarize the key takeaway or tell people what to do next (save, share, comment, visit link).

What to turn into carousels:

• How-to guides and tutorials
• Listicles and numbered tips
• Step-by-step processes
• Key findings from reports
• Chapter summaries from longer documents

LinkedIn Document Carousels

LinkedIn's document feature lets you upload PDFs that display as swipeable carousels. They're incredibly effective for B2B content.

The same principles apply, but the audience is different:

• More professional tone
• Data and insights perform well
• Industry-specific content gets engagement
• Thought leadership and frameworks resonate

What works on LinkedIn:

• Industry reports and research findings
• Process frameworks and methodologies
• Case study breakdowns
• Professional development tips
• Strategic insights and analysis

Presentation Decks

Presentations are different from social carousels. They support a speaker or stand alone as a document, rather than being designed for quick social consumption.

When to Generate Presentations

Internal communication — Turn reports, updates, or documentation into slides for team meetings.

Client deliverables — Transform proposals, findings, or recommendations into polished decks.

Training materials — Convert how-to documents or guides into training slides.

Webinars and talks — Create visual support for presentations you're giving.

Presentation Best Practices

One idea per slide. If you're tempted to add "one more thing" to a slide, make it a new slide instead.

Less text is more. Slides support what you're saying—they don't replace it. Use keywords and phrases, not paragraphs.

Visual hierarchy matters. The most important thing should be the most prominent. Don't make people hunt for the point.

Consistency throughout. Same fonts, same colors, same style from start to finish. Canvora handles this automatically when you use a brand kit.

Setting Up Multi-Slide Visuals

When you select a carousel or presentation format in Canvora, you'll see a slide count option.

Choosing the right number:

• 3-5 slides — Quick tips, simple processes, short lists
• 6-8 slides — Standard how-tos, detailed explanations
• 10+ slides — Comprehensive guides, full presentations, training decks

The content you provide determines how many slides make sense. A short tip list doesn't need 10 slides. A detailed report summary might need more.

Structuring Your Input

The better structured your input, the better your slides. Here's how to set yourself up for success:

For Carousels

Topic: [Clear topic statement]

Hook: [The attention-grabbing opening—what makes someone stop and swipe?]

Main points:
1. [First point with a brief explanation]
2. [Second point with a brief explanation]
3. [Third point with a brief explanation]
...

Takeaway: [The one thing you want people to remember]

CTA: [What should they do next? Save, share, comment, visit link?]

For Presentations

Title: [Presentation title]

Purpose: [What's this presentation for? Training, proposal, update?]

Sections:
1. [Section heading]
   - Key point
   - Key point

2. [Section heading]
   - Key point
   - Key point
...

Key message: [The main thing the audience should take away]

From Existing Documents

If you're uploading a PDF or document, Canvora extracts the structure automatically. But you'll get better results if your document has:

• Clear headings and sections
• Bullet points or numbered lists
• A logical flow from beginning to end

Reports with executive summaries, documents with clear section headers, and well-organized guides all translate well to slides.

Platform-Specific Tips

Instagram (1:1 or 4:5)

• Portrait (4:5) takes up more screen space and often performs better
• Keep text large—people scroll on phones
• Bold colors and high contrast help stop the scroll
• First slide is everything—spend extra time on it

LinkedIn Documents (1:1)

• Square format works best for document uploads
• More text is acceptable than on Instagram
• Professional but not boring—personality still matters
• Data visualizations and frameworks perform well

Presentations (16:9)

• Standard 16:9 ratio for most use cases
• Leave room for speaker notes if presenting live
• Consider how it looks projected, not just on screen
• Make sure text is readable from the back of a room

Examples: Document to Carousel

Quarterly Report → LinkedIn Carousel

Your 20-page quarterly report becomes an 8-slide carousel:

1. Key headline finding
2. Revenue highlights
3. Growth metrics
4. Customer insights
5. Product updates
6. Challenges addressed
7. Next quarter priorities
8. Summary + CTA

Training Manual → Presentation Deck

Your onboarding document becomes a training presentation:

1. Welcome + overview
2. Company background
3. Role expectations
4. Key processes
5. Tools and systems
6. Resources and support
7. First week checklist
8. Q&A slide

Research Paper → Instagram Carousel

Your research findings become shareable content:

1. Attention-grabbing finding
2. Context and background
3. Key insight #1
4. Key insight #2
5. Key insight #3
6. Implications
7. Summary takeaway

Editing Multi-Slide Content

After your visuals are ready, you can edit individual slides just like single images. Click on any slide to preview and edit it.

Common edits for slides:

• "Make the headline more prominent"
• "Reduce the text on this slide"
• "Add more visual interest"
• "Match the style of the previous slide"

You can also regenerate individual slides while keeping the rest of the deck intact.

Ready to create your first carousel? Head to Create Visual, select a carousel or presentation format, and try it with your content.