As an avid reader you are probably already aware of #bookstagram and its potential for finding like-minded people readers, but have you ever considered becoming a bookstagrammer yourself?
A bookstagram account is an Instagram account that is dedicated to books. It’s a niche corner of the platform where people share what they’re reading, their books, and anything else book-related. You can create these accounts on other social media platforms, but they are typically more common on Instagram as this is a more visual platform, and the use of hashtags allows you to look for others in your niche and engage in the community easier.
The platform’s flexibility allows you to create content relevant to your niche and grow your following organically with followers who are on the same wavelength as you. It’s great for readers who want to connect with a community of fellow bookworms and who want to give and get recommendations. Plus it’s fun to craft your account with beautiful photos! If you’ve ever wanted to jump into this space, keep reading to find out how.
How to create a bookstagram
1. Choose your username // First you need a username that is relevant to what you will be posting. You can change your name if you already have an account, but keep in mind that if you are opening social media accounts to support a book blog or anything else you have running, you need to keep the name the same. So check every platform you are using to make sure the name works for them, too, not just Instagram. And it’s totally acceptable to have a private account for personal use and a separate account just for bookstagram if you think that would work best for you.
2. Write a standout bio // Your bio needs to be short and sweet and to the point. Save the flowy paragraphs for your captions, and don’t worry about making it perfect; you can tweak it whenever you want. Focus on what people need to know about you, any qualifications, stand-out moments, and passions. If you have a blog or have published your own books, link to the places to find your other work in your bio so people can find you on other platforms.
3. Choose a creator account // Consider switching your account from a personal Instagram account to a creator account. This will give you more insights into how many people see your posts and where they found your account, along with details about your audience, demographics, and location. You can find out what types of posts are more popular and if people have hidden you from their feeds.
You can even see if someone has blocked your account, which helps you to identify the posts that made people remove you from their feed to see if you are getting something wrong. While you can’t identify specific accounts, you can discover how to know if someone blocked you on Instagram.
4. Find Your Style // Now it’s time for you to find your style and decide what type of posts you want to publish on your account. Have a look around at other bookstagram accounts you follow to get a feel for the type of posts they publish and see what grabs your interest.
Next, look at the hashtags being used and list all the news that would work for the content you are planning to publish. The term bookstagram is fairly flexible, and it can lead you to different ideas of content to publish. Some influencers prefer to do close-up shots of book covers; others create elaborate flat lays or choose to wing it and publish images of their travels and various book stores or retailers they purchase from.
If you want to emulate a flat lay setup, you’ll want to figure out what props you need and evaluate filters and setups to get the right shot for you. Editing these images can help you create a flow on your main grid and have a consistent look and theme that people can associate with you.
5. Plan ahead // Using Instagram planning apps can help you plan your posts ahead of time and give you a feel for your grid. You can choose to create a cohesive theme that, when published correctly, creates a bigger picture that ties in colors, ideas, quotes, and more. It leaves a very appealing aesthetic and allows you to create a unique look for what you publish. This helps you organize your content, so it flows smoothly and seamlessly.
Most importantly, have fun with it! When it comes to finding your style as a bookstagram account, you can experiment with different themes until you find a style that works well for you. Keep trying new things until you are happy with the content you are producing, and don’t forget to follow other bookstagrammers with gorgeous feeds for inspiration!
This is a contributed post. You can read more about that here.