8 Ways to Grow Your Bookstagram
When it comes to social media platforms, Instagram is an entirely different animal. The platform is all about aesthetics. The quality of your pictures will matter, not the text. So ultimately, you can’t use Instagram the same way as Twitter or Facebook.
Last time, we discussed 5 things that you should keep in mind on a daily basis to grow your Bookstagram. Today, I’m sharing with you 8 ways to speed up the growth of your Bookstagram.
If you’re active on other platforms and experienced rapid growth, don’t necessarily expect the same with Instagram. This social platform has its own set of rules and challenges, especially since the new algorithm is in place. Your picture will be successful if it meets a number of requirements – FYI no one really knows what they are.
The only thing experts online seem to agree upon is engagement, quality, and your overall activity. So, here are a few ways that should help you create the buzz you need. Again, please keep in mind that the quality should be there to gain momentum. Growth on Instagram is usually slow and steady, but here are 10 tips you can use to speed up that growth.
1. Giveaways
Giveaways are the most popular and effective way to attract the right audience to your profile. As a bookstagrammer, there are many options for a giveaway such as books, gift cards, bookmarks, or even bookish items.
The only caveat is that it will cost you time and money. Maybe host a giveaway when you reach a new milestone or when you’re celebrating something special to keep the cost down to a minimum.
There are also different types of giveaways: loop giveaways, flash giveaway, tour giveaway… Look into them and see if you prefer to run a giveaway on your own or maybe involve other bookstagrammers so that the cost is shared.
2. Shoutout for Shoutout (SFS) Session/Follow Train Session
I’m not very familiar with SFS or Follow Train, but I’ve seen them working for other bookstagrammers. I’ve done one SFS before, and the purpose of this SFS is, as its name indicates, to get a shoutout meaning a mention of the participant in your story in exchange for a mention of your account in theirs.
Usually, you would partner up with a few other bookstagrammers so that you can reach a bigger audience. The session usually last a week, but you can do it for a longer or shorter period of time, as you see fit.
As for the Follow Train, it’s a way to get exposure to other accounts that you would not normally follow.
I personally don’t do much of them, only because I feel like most follow won’t be genuine. I care about who follows me, just because of the engagement. I can’t engage with individuals who don’t like books. There is no point for me in following them either. They will be bored out of their mind on my page.
3. Comment
This tip is probably one of the most important. If you comment on my posts, you may have noticed that I also comment on yours. Doing so increased y engagement. I do it because I genuinely enjoy doing it.
Comment on other bookstagrammers’ feed
The best way to start engaging is to introduce yourself to the world, meaning go on Discovery, meet book lovers and talk to them. Comment on their feed, like their pictures. Discuss your favorite books. GET. EXCITED.
Your enthusiasm and love for books are what will make you connect with the rest of the world. A connection can only work if it’s genuine.
Comment on your feed and Return the favor
Don’t comment with one or two words or just an emoji, unless appropriate. I’ve seen accounts who tries to get people to comment on their feed do that. For me (And I’m sure for the algorithm too), it’s kind of spammy. I have zero connection to the person and guess what? I won’t be commenting.
I love connecting with other bookstagrammers. My comments are genuine because the people who comment are also book lovers. I only comment if I feel that the topic is relevant to my account. I don’t comment to comment.
Comment on stories
I also comment on stories. Why? Because it’s a glimpse at the other bookstagrammers’ life and a good way to connect. Again, if you decide to start a
4. A Shoutout in your story
Once in a while, I would look at who commented the most on my feed, which account has the most stunning feed, or even a more random choice. There is no rule when I do this, but I screenshot their main
Why? Because it’s a nice thing to do. I don’t expect the person to do the same. I only help this person gain more exposure. If they return the favor, I thank them of course, but I certainly do not get upset if they don’t.
5. Bookish Tags
Another way to engage is to do tags. For example, when I post my picture, I’ll return (or create) a meaningful hashtag, answer the question, and tag up to 20 bookstagrammers that I know or just connected with.
I.e – #name5authorsyouwanttomeetinreallife #5favoritefictionalplaces
6. Share your bookish life
Share your bookish life in your stories. How? Did you get bookish mail (i.e. books, candles…)? Then, share it in your stories. Unboxings are very popular. New bookshelf? Share how you organize it. Visited a new bookstore? Share your opinion/book haul.
There are many things you can do to keep your stories alive. It’s all about being genuine. If it feels forced, you won’t last. Only if you enjoy doing it, then it’ll come easily.
7. Participate in Bookish Challenges
Whether the challenge is from a book box subscription or a list posted on another bookstagrammer feed, participating should be seen as a game. They are fun, you get to see what other people did with the same prompt. It’s always interesting to see how different the pictures can be.
This is a good way to connect with new people you may not have had the opportunity to connect with because they evolve in a different group as yours. These challenges are really fun. Give it a try!
8. Represent Bookish Products.
If you’re looking to get free products, don’t do this. I’m a huge supporter of small businesses, and I think that trying to rep only get freebies is the best way to harm them. The connection to the product isn’t genuine. I’ve only repped or applied to rep search for products I believed in and genuinely care about.
We all share the same love for books. Let’s rep for products you care about and will do what you can to help spread the love.
Bookstagram is a wonderful way to share your love for books and connect with individuals as passionate as you are. How committed and how passionate you are about it will determine your success. I’ve heard many book bloggers wanting to create a Bookstagram to gain more traffic to their site. Honestly, Bookstagram will only help after you’ve reached a certain amount of followers and engagement, but Pinterest is probably your best bet if this is the goal.