Tips for Having a 'Successful' Bookstagram
Followers and views aren't everything...
Starting my Bookstagram three years ago is easily one of the best decisions I’ve made. I would honestly not be the person I am today if I didn’t step out of my comfort zone and start yapping about my favourite books and authors.
Melbourne was still in lockdown, I was knee deep in my postgraduate law degree (or the Juris Doctor for those interested) and I was severely unhappy. So I did what a lot of people did during the pandemic - started posting on the internet!
In the first few months that I started posting, I was editing my pictures in VSCO and my bookshelf was my main claim to fame. I started noticing that a few of my friends and fellow creators were having their accounts take off and it was all because of reels. So I started posting reels as well. Between December 2021 and January 2022, I had several reels get over 100k views and I grew from 1,000 followers to 10,000. But, I was also genuinely excited and loving my content. Looking back, sure it’s a little cringe but I’m proud of the growth and creative direction I’ve evolved into.
Success should not be measured by followers, but by how accomplished you feel and if there is room to grow and evolve your content. In my time as a creator, I’ve discovered a few things as one of the more recognisable accounts that (hopefully) will help you! My Three Year Bookstaversary passed a few days ago so I thought it was time to offer my most valuable tips!
1. Be genuine
Authenticity is a major part of having a successful platform. It’s very easy to weed out the creators that are on Bookstagram for the free books, followers and views and not the community that comes with it.
This is the case for a lot of newer accounts that pop up on Instagram - using reels to gain quick growth and lacking genuine content. My largest qualm with using reels for growth is that it is often inconsistent and difficult to maintain. Especially for myself who is a full-time student, works part-time and does social media part-time, it was difficult to churn out several videos a week. I see a lot of reels about how to get free books and how to gain followers but they all feel disingenuous. My point here is that you should focus on creating content that you love and is authentic within the community, not to gain followers or views.
2. Find your own style and niche
Finding my own style of photo that I LOVED and that made me recognisable didn’t happen overnight. It took a lot of trial and error, using different presets and props, and different photography angles. I finally found a style and aesthetic that I was happy with and it made my photos instantly recogniseable when they were reposted or shared.
Take your time finding what set-up suits you - it doesn’t have to be fancy props or flowers or any fancy camera. I still use my iPhone to take all my photos (I can’t work out cameras to save my life!) and most of my props and flowers are from etsy or Kmart! Don’t try to copy anyone else’s style because trust me, we notice. I’ve had to call out some accounts for copying my exact photo style or reel ideas and it’s not fun for either of us. Moral of the story, take the time to find a set up that you really love and makes you stand out!
3. Be consistent
The Instagram algorithm (ew) loves accounts that post consistently. I try to have a posting schedule every week and post at the same time when I post. This not only helps Instagram push out my content, but also keeps me on track and accountable to myself so I actually post something every week. I also use time optimisation to post at the best times not only for me but for my followers to see my content. A lot of accounts (including myself) are struggling with reach but I’ve found that consistency never hurts!
4. Engage!
This is probably the most important tip of all - engage with other like-minded creators! That was my main motivation for starting my account: to find other people who loved reading as much as I do. Not only did I find an incredible community of readers, I also found life long friends who are stuck with me forever (you’re welcome!). Sharing other creators posts, engaging with businesses and authors and showing up for the community is an invaluable tip that will show your enthusiasm for this incredible community.
5. Post about books!
The only requirement for bookstagram is to post about books. Whether that’s reviews, recommendations, quotes, your favourite tropes or annotated books, there’s no limit! There’s been a lot of accounts that pop up and focus on posting for followers, growth and free books but rarely post an actual book on their feed. Whilst I do believe in posting the content you want, bookstagram is about BOOKS. If I have to scroll far down your feed for an actual recommendation, I typically won’t resonate with your content. Gimmie all the recs!
So, what now?
Think about your purpose for joining bookstagram and TRUST ME, followers and views will come secondary to anything else. Posting genuine, authentic content, engaging with other creators and finding your own niche will ensure your account is successful.
Whilst I’ve had a few reels pop off, I know people stick around because of the quality of my content and my love for the community! Meaningful interactions with everyone in the book community, from other creators to marketing execs in the big publishing houses, authenticity is valued above all else.
My DMs are always open if you’re looking for more advice or tips, but I truly believe this is your best starting point <3
