Instagram Gamechanger: How to go viral with your carousel post

• #Instagram
• #Marketing
• #Social Media

Instagram has another ace up its sleeve. It could be the feature that gives your content the power it needs to succeed on your social media account. Did you know that you can now add music to your carousel posts and have them play as a reel? Not only is this a neat trick to increase reach, but it also gives you the opportunity to present your content in a whole new, dynamic way. Are you ready to make the most of this innovation?

Carousel posts 2.0 – What’s new?

Instagram has long offered carousel posts, a versatile way to combine multiple images and videos in one post. These formats are popular for telling stories, showcasing products or sharing experiences. All in a single post. It encourages user interaction and interest through swiping and the feeling of wanting to discover more. But with the latest update, Instagram is taking it a step further. If you add music to a carousel post, it will also play as a loop. This is brilliant because it gives you the benefits of posts and reels in one.

What does that actually mean?

When you add music to a carousel post, Instagram no longer treats it as a normal post, but displays it at the top in the Reels section. This is where the opportunity lies! Reels have a huge reach because they are prioritised by Instagram. Unlike normal posts, which appear mainly in your followers’ feeds, reels can be shown to a much wider audience thanks to the algorithm. This means more visibility for your content, more interactions and a better chance of attracting new followers. This update is especially exciting for those who want to make their content more dynamic without having to create classic Reels videos. Instead, you can simply add music to your carousel post to create the effect of a reel. It’s an easy way to increase your reach and stand out with this new feature. It’s a win-win situation!

What benefits do you get with the new update?

1. Algorithm in your favour: Instagram favors reels and generally gives them a greater reach than conventional posts. If you post your carousel as a reel, you benefit from this advantage in the algorithm. Instead of just appearing in the feeds of your followers, your post can now be displayed in the Reels discovery section. There are many new users there who are not yet following you and will therefore become aware of you. This increased visibility means more engagement and potentially more followers.

2. Extended lifespan of the content: While normal carousel posts often slide down the feed after just a few hours or days and lose relevance, reels often remain active for longer periods of time. Your post therefore has the chance to be discovered and shared even weeks later. This prolonged presence offers you continuous visibility and the opportunity to collect views and interactions over the long term.

3. Creative freedom without complex video production: With the reels integration for carousels, you can achieve the effect of a reel without necessarily having to produce a video. The combination of photos and short clips within a carousel, complemented by suitable music, makes your contribution look lively and exciting, without any classic video editing. This is ideal if you still feel unsure about video production or prefer to present your content in the form of images or simple clips.

4. Easy way to increase reach: The Reels function for carousels offers you an uncomplicated way to increase the reach of your content with minimal extra effort. By simply adding music to your carousel, you can utilise the benefits of reels without having to invest a lot of time or additional work. This gives you a ‘reach boost’ that helps you reach more people and fully utilise the potential of your post.

Why music boosts reach and interaction

Music is not just a background addition, but a powerful tool that arouses emotions and generates attention. On Instagram, music plays a central role in making posts more lively and appealing. Especially with reels and now also with carousel posts, it opens up new possibilities for you to present your content even more effectively. But why does music actually increase reach and engagement?

• Increasing attention: Music attracts attention and increases the likelihood that users will pause and engage more intensively with your post. At a time when content is only seen for fractions of a second in the feed, music offers you the chance to stand out and appeal to your followers on an additional sensory level..
• Emotional impact: Music can convey feelings such as joy, excitement or calm. By choosing the right song, you create a mood that supports your message and builds a stronger connection with the viewer. For example, a carousel post with nature shots accompanied by calming music is perceived differently than the same post without sound. The emotional connection increases the willingness to interact, be it through likes, comments or sharing the post.
• More interactions: Posts with music have been proven to encourage more interaction because they make the content seem more lively. People tend to interact with content that appeals to them emotionally and in which they can recognise themselves. The choice of music can act as an ‘amplifier’ that increases the likelihood of users liking, commenting or even following if the music and the message of the post are appealing.
• Additional reach through audio pages: If you choose a popular song or trending sound for your post, your post will appear on the audio page. Many users visit these pages specifically to find inspiration or new ideas for their own content. This gives you an additional chance of being discovered by users who are attracted to your post by the music selection.

How to use audio as a branding element

Music has the unique ability to convey emotions and build a strong bond with the viewer. For brands and personal accounts in particular, the choice of music can be a valuable branding element. If you repeatedly use certain musical styles or sounds, followers can already recognise your content acoustically and build an emotional connection to your brand. But what does this mean for you and your carousel content?

1. Recognisability through sound: Similar to a logo or a colour scheme, music can make your content instantly recognisable. If you regularly use certain music genres or moods, you associate your account with a specific atmosphere. Your followers will know from the very first notes that this is a post from you. This recognition strengthens brand loyalty and makes your content appear unique.
2. Create specific moods: Music is a powerful tool for triggering certain emotions in the viewer. Do you want to create a relaxed, positive or motivating mood? With the right choice of music, you can specifically reinforce the feeling you want to convey with your contribution. Whether soothing sounds for nature shots or energetic beats for sports content, music helps to emphasise the message of your carousel post and build a deeper connection with your audience.
3. Reinforce your brand message: Using music allows you to subtly communicate your brand’s values and messages. For example, a yoga account could choose calming, meditative music to convey the values of mindfulness and tranquillity. A fitness account, on the other hand, could opt for energising music to convey motivation and dynamism. This allows you to tailor your content to your image and appeal to your target group on an emotional level.
4. Set emotional anchors: Music is often memorable and has the ability to evoke memories and feelings. If you use certain songs regularly, this can trigger a positive memory of your posts among your followers. These emotional anchors can help make followers more connected to your content and more likely to interact again or eagerly await your next post.

Your recipe for success from roundabouts combined with music

With the new option to add music to carousels and play them as reels, Instagram offers you a powerful feature to present your content even better. This update combines the best features of two formats and opens up new ways to increase your reach, strengthen your brand and inspire your target audience. Try it out and see for yourself how your content is taken to the next level.