LinkedIn Carousel Cheat Sheet

Use this cheat sheet to build a five-slide LinkedIn carousel from any single research topic.

The five-slide structure

| Slide | Purpose | Max words | What to include | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Hook | 12 | The change and why it matters right now | | 2 | Cause | 20 | What drove the change | | 3 | Implication | 25 | What it means for your specific audience | | 4 | Action | 20 | One concrete step the reader can take | | 5 | Follow | 15 | One line + a connection or comment prompt |

Slide-level rules

• Total carousel copy should be under 100 words.
• One idea per slide.
• Use short sentences. No paragraphs.
• Avoid jargon unless your audience expects it.
• Every claim must tie back to a source from your research step.

Design rules

• Use one consistent template.
• Keep background simple so text stays readable on mobile.
• Limit each slide to one accent color.
• Use the same font pairing across all five slides.

Pre-publish checklist

• [ ] The hook is clear in the first 3 seconds.
• [ ] Every claim has a source.
• [ ] The action step is specific, not generic.
• [ ] The follow slide asks for a low-friction response.
• [ ] Images are high-resolution PNGs.
• [ ] The tone matches your personal brand.

Quick formula

Slide 1: [Trend or change] is happening.

Slide 2: It was caused by [driver].

Slide 3: This means [audience] will face [outcome].

Slide 4: Do this: [specific action].

Slide 5: Want more? Follow or comment below.

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