Carousel

About carousel ads

The carousel format lets you show two or more images and/or videos, headlines and links or calls to action in a single ad. People can scroll through the carousel by swiping on their mobile device or by clicking the arrows on their computer screen.

The carousel format can support various business types and needs. Advertisers use it to showcase property, service offerings, events and more.

You can create carousel ads from Ads Manager or from your Facebook Page. Carousel ads appear in multiple placements across Facebook, Instagram, Audience Network and Messenger.

What is the difference between a carousel ad and a slideshow ad?

Carousel ads sound deceivingly similar to slideshow ads, which are another available Facebook ad format. 

Both ad types can show viewers a process, demonstrate how your product works step-by-step, highlight your brand or product advantages, or tell a story through a series of images. However, slideshow ads are essentially video ads that compile 2-15 images, whereas carousel ads can showcase up to 10 images or videos through interactive swiping.

The key difference between the two ad types lies in user experience. Consider how you want your target audience to interact with the variety of ad creative you present to them: do you want them to actively swipe through images or videos to learn about your business or product, or do you want them to watch a video slideshow that tells the story for them? Carousel ads inherently prompt your audience to an action (through swiping), which can help make the ad experience much more memorable, and lead them down the conversion funnel.

Why should you use Facebook carousel ads?

Easy engagement opportunity

Carousel ads provoke user interactivity just based on their design. 

Interactive feature = engagement. Engagement = a win.

Use your Facebook Carousel ads to incite curiosity. Some will indeed click-through or buy, but for those who just swipe through, don’t just let them go. Turn the engagers into a retargeting audience. They’re clearly interested, so stay top of mind.

Can be lower cost than other ad types

Carousel ads, on average, lead to better conversion rates than single-image link ads, which can also help you lower costs on your social media ad budget. 

 

Easy to show different dimensions of your product or service 

Carousels can help you zero in on the details of your product or service so that audiences can understand it more closely. You can share different angles, details, or features on each carousel card so potential customers can get more familiar with what you’re offering (this is especially helpful if you’re selling a complex or innovative product and want to boost recognition). 

You can highlight multiple products

Show off your range of products across your carousel, and link each carousel card to product landing pages so that audiences can click-through to buy and explore all your products. But then you can loop them in by putting your best products in the carousel. 

Creative way to explain processes and benefits

If you primarily sell a service or software, you can use carousel ads to give a step-by-step explanation of your offerings. You can also highlight all the individual benefits your business has to offer.

Built to tell a story

Use sequential images or videos, or use a single image spread across multiple carousel cards to tell a story that audiences can engage with. This is a creative way to boost brand awareness and encourage people to engage with your carousel ad content further.

Ability to let Facebook determine (and take advantage of) the best-performing slide

Yep, Facebook can take the reigns. If your carousel images and captions don’t rely on the order you can tell Facebook to put the best-performing card first. This will lead to higher engagement, less testing, and an easy win.