Instagram post formats: image, carousel, story, reel

Instagram rewards content made for each format. A great reel script flops as a carousel, and the other way round. Here's how to brief Mavic for each format so the result is ready to use.

Whatever you ask for, Mavic plans the work, shows you the plan and asks before it makes anything. See The chat: complete guide.

Single image post

Goal: stop the scroll, deliver one idea, drive saves or comments.

Prompt template:

Write a single Instagram image post about [topic] using @Writing style. Include: 1) a 5-word hook for the image, 2) a caption with the hook, 2 short paragraphs, a CTA and 5 hashtags.

Mavic writes the caption and designs the image on a layout matched to your brand, with your colors, fonts and logo.

Strong image-post rules:

• One idea per post. Don't cram.
• The hook does the work. Write 10, pick 1.
• The first line of the caption must repeat or extend the hook.
• End with a question or a save trigger ("Save this for your next launch").

Just the image, or the whole post? "An image for an Instagram post" gives you only the image. "An Instagram post with an image" gives you the caption and the image together. To make only the visual after the caption is approved, ask:

Make a square Instagram image for this post in our brand colors with @Logo. Style: [photographic/illustrated/typographic].

Carousel (10 slides)

Goal: teach something. Carousels still get the highest reach for educational content.

Prompt template:

Write a 10-slide Instagram carousel teaching [topic] for @Customer profile. Slide 1 = hook, slides 2–9 = one idea each with a 1-line headline and 2-line body, slide 10 = CTA and save prompt. Use @Writing style.

Ask for it in your brand's carousel template so every slide matches. There's also a seven-page brand-building carousel in the public template gallery.

Carousel structure that works:

Pro tip: ask Mavic to add transition cues between slides ("Slide 4 → ...") so the flow from slide to slide is clear.

Story (9:16, 15 sec)

Goal: drive a single action: a link tap, poll vote or DM reply.

Prompt template:

Write a 5-frame Instagram Story sequence promoting [thing]. Each frame: 1 short headline (max 8 words) and 1 interactive sticker suggestion (poll, quiz, slider, question, link). End with a clear CTA frame.

Story rules:

• One sticker per frame at most
• Use polls and sliders early; they keep people watching
• Last frame: a link or "DM me [keyword]"

To post a video as a Story, open it in the Post editor, select Instagram, and turn on Post as Story under Channel settings.

Reel (15–60 sec)

Goal: reach. Reels are still the top surface for new followers.

Prompt template:

Write a 30-second Instagram Reel script. Hook in the first 1.5 seconds, problem-agitate-solve structure, on-screen text for every line, CTA at the end. Topic: [topic]. Voice: @Writing style.

Reel hook formulas (pick one):

• "Stop doing X. Do Y instead."
• "This is the [thing] no one's talking about."
• "POV: [relatable situation]"
• "I tried [thing] for 30 days. Here's what happened."

What the script includes:

• Hook line (0–1.5s)
• Beat-by-beat script with timestamps
• On-screen text for each beat
• B-roll and shot suggestions
• Caption (separate from the script)
• 5 trending sound vibes to search

Don't skip: ask for on-screen text. Most reels are watched on mute.

Want the video too? Ask for the reel itself, not only the script: "Make this into a reel." Mavic makes the clips and delivers one complete video, sized to the design and using your brand's headline style. If a clip fails, it's skipped so you still get the rest. See Generating videos.

Related articles

• Creating content with Mavic
• Creating social media posts
• Generating images
• Generating videos
• Writing Style

Updated: November 2026

Updated on: 01/11/2026