book review instagram story

31 Bookstagram Post Ideas for Growing Your Account

It can be tricky to come up with Bookstagram post ideas when you’re trying to juggle everything else in your life. We’ve had a Bookstagram account for three years and although the book world provides lots of inspiration, we sometimes still run out of ideas. To help with this, we’ve assembled useful bookstagram prompts and book photo ideas from a variety of popular bookstagrammers in this post. You can either mix and match these, or stick with one theme. Bookstagram seems to favour consistency, but enjoyment has to come first and if you’re a beginner, we would recommend experimenting with lots of styles.

This post contains affiliate links which means that we may receive a small amount of commission at no cost to yourself if you buy a product through this page. Please see our disclosure here .

We update this page with new book photo ideas as we either make them or spot them! The latest update was in January 2022.

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Book Reviews

Bookstagram wouldn’t be bookstagram without book reviews! This is one place on the internet that you can visit and be sure to find other booklovers and some accounts only post book reviews. Word count can be an issue on Instagram so aim to keep your reviews compact and break up text with emojis. Flatlays work best for these types of posts. You want to ensure that the cover is clearly visible.

If you’re hoping to be sent advance copies then make sure you tag the publishing house. This isn’t a guarantee that you’ll receive books for review, but if you’re consistent, have a nice feed and good engagement, then publicists will start to notice. We’ve expanded on this in our post about Bookstagram influencing .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel (@thebookfamilyrogerson) on Jul 13, 2018 at 4:33am PDT

Book Collections

Tying in with the above, book collections are easy to assemble and can look fantastic on your feed. You can go with a co-ordinated flatlay of covers or a stack of spines. Here are some suggestions for how to co-ordinate reading collections on Bookstagram without the use of props.

Publishers, Editions and Book Series

There’s something very satisfying about seeing books with similar designs photographed together. The account Places_and_Books posts classic book collections that are styled by publisher, edition and book series – blending lots of different layouts to create a great effect.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andy reads a lot (@places_and_books) on Jul 9, 2020 at 11:25am PDT

Author Collections on Instagram

If you love a particular author then it’s very likely that someone else will enjoy their work too and want to collect ALL the titles. If you own a book set then great, but don’t worry too much if your covers don’t match. It’s always interesting to see different designs and interpretations.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel (@thebookfamilyrogerson) on Nov 9, 2017 at 10:52pm PST

Display books by colour

A popular and striking way to showcase books on Bookstagram. This kind of book photography is fun to create and means you don’t necessarily need to own entire sets of books (which can be expensive and be tricky to source). You can arrange your books either by spine or cover.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel (@thebookfamilyrogerson) on Mar 5, 2018 at 2:15am PST

Photograph books by theme and genre

There are an almost unlimited number of ways to theme books and the_book_bug_ is really great at doing this. Look for tags to prompt you (more on this below)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kathryn (@_the_book_bug_) on Sep 6, 2020 at 10:25am PDT

TBR Piles (to-be-read piles)

Most bookstagrammers will have a TBR pile in some shape or form. We store ours in a book trolley but you can simply stack these or arrange them on a shelf.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel (@thebookfamilyrogerson) on Oct 4, 2020 at 9:09am PDT

If you’re short on books we’ve shared tips for building a book collection on a budget . Remember that if it’s open, you can borrow from your local library as well.

Share your Book Nooks on Instagram

On one of our favourite bookstagram post ideas is to show off book nooks! They don’t need to be fancy. There’s a wide range of tastes on Bookstagram so whether you go full rainbow or minimalist, bookstagrammers are bound to enjoy seeing your reading corner. This can be as simple as a bedside table or as a expansive as a home library. If you have photogenic bookshelves you can make this the focus of your entire feed – @wordchild does this to stunning effect.

One tip here would be to make sure that you take out as much artificial light as possible. This shows as a yellow tint on your image. To remove this, use the tint or white balance adjustment button to alter the tone.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by books, travel, movies, music (@wordchild) on Jun 13, 2020 at 1:31pm PDT

Bookstagram Photo Ideas for Book Corners

If you’re still working on creating a special corner for your books then you can still use other places around the house to conjure up that cosy feel.

Books in bed

This is super easy to do and doesn’t need anything other than a book, a bed and a blanket. I’ve found that the best way to do this is just to capture the moment naturally. Of course if you want to include extra items like mugs and cushions then that’s up to you.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel (@thebookfamilyrogerson) on Jan 26, 2020 at 1:36am PST

Reading in the bath

Check out the #readinginthebath tag to discover lots of other bath-inspired book photo ideas without revealing too much!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel (@thebookfamilyrogerson) on Feb 24, 2018 at 12:08am PST

Travels from an Armchair

Another simple one to capture. It doesn’t even have to be an armchair – just a place where you like to curl up and read.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel (@thebookfamilyrogerson) on Jul 5, 2020 at 10:08am PDT

Using Light Patterns in Bookstagram

We tend to post light patterns in stories, but this shot of our home library gives an idea how an unusual slant of sun or shadow can add interest to an image. Keep an eye on light shifts in your house – you might be surprised by what you find!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel | Bookish Adventures (@thebookfamilyrogerson)

Do you need Bookstagram Props?

When we started our account we bought a few bits and pieces, but over time found that we didn’t need these. If you are a bookstagram beginner then you might want to experiment with different themes until you find your voice. What we will say is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money! Don’t feel that you have to collect every Funko or buy special backgrounds.

Look at what already own and try out different shots. Maybe you can display your books creatively or trial a feed that has lots of neutral space (blank space around the object). Blankets and bookish signs can also theme a page, but use them sparingly. Here are two of our most effective ‘props’:

The Vintage Suitcase

We picked up this small vintage suitcase cheaply and it has been great for bookstagram photos, as well as being a lovely feature within the home. You can find similar at car boot sales, flea markets and antique shops. If you don’t have any of these nearby, check out Etsy .

The Book Trolley

I mentioned this earlier, but the book trolley itself deserves to be highlighted as it’s such a useful piece of bookstagram kit. Not only does it provide much-needed storage space, the trolley is a thing of beauty that can be photographed from many angles. You can buy an affordable book cart from Etsy (note this isn’t the one we have, which is no longer on sale).

Bookstagram Selfies

Whether you use your timer or ask a friend to take a photo, there’s no doubt that bookstagrammers love to see who’s behind the camera. There are different ways of doing this- from standard portraits to creative poses. If you’re anxious about taking self-portraits for Bookstagram, I recommend checking out Kutovakika’s Self Portrait Photography tips on YouTube .

IGTV Book Review Video

I recorded this book review on IGTV recently to try something different. It’s less stylised than a reel and was a lot more personal than my usual posts. Basically I just filmed myself speaking on my phone for a couple of minutes then uploaded it. The beauty of this format is that you can remove it for the main grid if you want to!

I plan to make more of these over time – hopefully wearing more literary-inspired clothing .

Find Bookstagrammer clothing on Etsy

If you want to proudly display your Bookstagrammer credentials or buy for a friend then Etsy is a great place to look for t-shirts, caps, bags and sweatshirts. You’ll also be supporting small businesses in the meantime. Make sure you check reviews before you buy though.

Creative Bookstagram Selfie

This one isn’t for the faint-hearted as it took ages to make but I like it because people are going to be looking at the book stacks rather than me!

Pets on Bookstagram

The best bookish combination! Share pics of your animal friends with your books. Anything goes here and pets offer a cute insight into your life. Always have treats on hand when you take the photo (and remember to capture the shots that go wrong for stories as well!)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel (@thebookfamilyrogerson) on Apr 10, 2020 at 8:42am PDT

Bookstagram Hashtags as Post Prompts

Everyone is searching for the perfect bookstagram hashtag formula these days. There’s no magic potion, but popular hashtags can be really helpful for framing post content . They also have the added advantage as doubling up as tags which can help to widen your community.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stacy & Amanda (@thesistersread) on May 20, 2020 at 9:31am PDT

• #meethebookstagrammer – your chance to reveal a little about yourself to your followers.
• #flatlayfriday – a chance to try out new styles and layouts.
• #sundayshelfie – shelfies are always popular on Bookstagram. This can be a quick win for the end of the week.
• #rainbowstacks – stack by colour and change the hashtag accordingly! This is a great one for tagging.
• #tenonmytbr – there are multiple versions of this hashtag. The TBR is a perennial bookstagram feature so everyone understands when you post your tottering book piles. The book post above by @thesistersread has been prompted by the tag #tenonmytbr

These hashtags are also very helpful for prompting Instagram captions. You can find out more in our post about handy Bookstagram Caption Ideas .

Tagging on Bookstagram

Tagging is another great way to discover bookstagram post ideas, especially if you’re new to the platform. When you use a hashtag, you can invite others to join the challenge too by tagging them. Once you start doing this, you should find that others begin to tag you back. If you’re looking to make friends on Bookstagram, I definitely recommend having a go at tagging.

It’s also worth joining in with hashtag challenges created by bookstagrammers as they often share posts in their stories. Our current hashtag is #mybookishreflection so please have a go and tag us!

Bookstagram Adventures

Although there are highly successful Bookstagram accounts that only share photos from the same room or apartment, it’s good to get out and about. This isn’t as easy as it once was due to the pandemic, but there are other options to take bookstagram outside even in these uncertain times.

Again, if you’re visiting somewhere, definitely tag the bookshop, cafe or historic place as they might share your photo in stories or on the main feed.

Taking pictures of books outside offers lots of opportunities for Bookstagram post ideas. You can combine book covers with landscapes, historic places, skies, gardens and murals to achieve striking compositions.

Literary Destinations

Shots of literary destinations are beloved by bookstagrammers and sought after by major travel instagram accounts. If you capture the right angle and light, you may reap lots of shares. We’re still working on this, but this has been one of our most recent successes.

Book covers and places

Want to show off a beautiful cover? Hold it up in front of a related place or somewhere that embodies the spirit of the book. TIP: Make sure you can see the title and author!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel (@thebookfamilyrogerson) on Nov 10, 2018 at 8:54am PST

The Open Book Shot

A popular favourite on Bookstagram, the open book shot is extremely versatile and can be used to combine travel and literary posts to brilliant effect. For maximum impact, centre an open book shot in a pathway, road or tree-lined avenue.

Coffee and books (or tea and books)

Cafe culture never goes out of fashion. Take a shot at your favourite table. Bonus points if the cafe has bookshelves! Check out @theguywiththebook for inspiration.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Faroukh | Bookstagram (@theguywiththebook) on Sep 16, 2020 at 6:25am PDT

Bookshop Interiors

If you manage to step inside a bookshop, we advise you take as many shots as you can particularly if the bookstore is characterful. Afterwards use editing software to brighten and reduce the yellow tint of artificial light.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel (@thebookfamilyrogerson) on Apr 18, 2020 at 9:07am PDT

Bookshop Exteriors

People love to see photos of bookshop exteriors! This can either be a windowshot or a full building capture. Try to keep lines straight if you can. Generally, you’ll get a better response if the bookshop exterior has a vintage aesthetic.

Creative Bookstagram Posts

This is an area that we’ve dipped our toes in a few times. It’s the most time-consuming form of bookstagram post to create, but encourages you to build new skills. There are countless ways to produce creative Bookstagram post ideas:

Get creative with glass windows

Windows can be great for creative bookstagram posts and this is one of the easiest ways to produce eye-catching shots. Draw a design in condensation, chalk on paint, or stick fallen leaves onto a wet surface to produce startling effects.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel (@thebookfamilyrogerson)

Make a bookish window

Another fun idea is to make a bookish window with bookstacks and take a selfie of yourself sitting on the other side. These are easiest to build out of hardback books, but can also use paperbacks.

Photoshopped fantasy scenes

These can look incredible. We tinkered with this a while ago and one bookstagrammer who is still doing this successfully is glindaizabel .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel (@thebookfamilyrogerson) on Nov 25, 2018 at 8:29am PST

Giant Book Pictures

These can be made up either of books arranged on the floor and shot from a height to form a huge picture or stacked to create a giant book picture. James Trevino and Elizabeth Sagan are the undisputed royalty here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elizabeth Sagan (@elizabeth_sagan) on May 25, 2020 at 7:13am PDT

Perspective Shots

This is where you change the scale of objects so that they appear either smaller or larger than usual. They can be really fun to make and easier than the other types of creative Bookstagram posts.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel (@thebookfamilyrogerson) on Oct 27, 2018 at 7:58am PDT

The traditional book face is where you use a book cover to blend with your own body so that the artwork is aligned. Look up #bookface on Instagram to see some truly amazing creations!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mel (@thebookfamilyrogerson) on Apr 26, 2018 at 2:50am PDT

Sharing book photos from other Bookstagram accounts

Some Bookstagram accounts generate 100% of their content by reposting photos taken by other people. The ones with lots of followers can be highly influencial. If they share your content, then there’s a chance that others will follow you. Unfortunately there’s lots of spam accounts out there too.

Generally, it’s better to produce your own content because this is where you’ll grow your skills. However, if you really want to repost then it’s etiquette to ask first, and ALWAYS credit the bookstagrammer .

Instagram Reels for Bookstagram

Instagram reels is new feature for Bookstagram which we’ve only just started to experiment with. You record a 15 or 30 second clip which can then be edited with audio, effects and text. This can then be shared on the main grid or restricted to a Reels gallery.

How to plan Bookstagram posts

Once you’ve made a shortlist of Bookstagram post ideas, it’s a good idea to plan them out. There are various ways to do this but we use the Preview app for this. The basic package is free and allows you to draft out your feed before posting. This enables you to avoid any image clashes and basically to get the best out of your collection. There’s also the facility to save captions so that you can paste these into Instagram.

We don’t use the scheduling feature as there was an issue with third-party apps on Instagram a while back, but it’s worth trialling this if you’re short on time.

If you’re able to pay for packages then Preview offer extra features such as hashtag suggestions, multiple account users and analytics.

Using Presets for Bookstagram

If you want to make give your feed a unique identity, you can apply presets to your images. A preset is basically a blend of edit settings which you can apply to all your photos. You find free presets within Instagram (see filters) and other editing packages. We use Lightroom (£9.98 per month) for our edits. Although this is pricey, it can take your photography to the next level. The package also enables users to upload bespoke presets created by photographers.

To get an idea of the choice available, you can see a range of preset packages on Etsy . Once purchased, you can easily save to Lightroom. You can find out more about applying presets on our Bookstagram feed post .

How often should you post on Bookstagram?

The million dollar question! It really depends what you’re trying to achieve. If you’re looking to build a bibliophile community then aim for 2-3 posts per week. If you’d like to grow quickly then aim for once a day.

The caveat here is fun and quality. It’s better to share less frequently with crisp images, well-researched hashtags and interesting captions than to pump out a bunch of poorly-composed posts. Remember that engagement is all important in so many ways on Bookstagram. Making friends with other booklovers over the world is a true pleasure. To get people talking why not check out our Bookstagram caption ideas for enhancing your posts ?

We hope that this has given you a few Bookstagram post ideas for your account – whether new or old. And remember that it’s OK to change your style whenever you like!

16 Comments

Great post Mel! Even though I’ve been around a while, it is always interesting and useful to get tips from someone else!

I started off with a completely different post but then thought it might be handy to have all the different themes together! I’m glad you liked it!

I’ve still to make it over to Bookstagram!! I know I need to make time for it. Great post.

Thanks so much – really happy you liked it! Bookstagram is lots of fun. Let me know if you decide to join:)

Fabulous ideas and these is really interesting. Thanks for sharing xx

A pleasure Susan! It was lots of fun to put all the different ideas together so I’m chuffed you found it useful xx

Great post! I will need to try out these ideas on Bookstagram 🙂

So pleased you found these useful. Let us know how it goes!

Hey nice post but I think your blog needs some redesigning, when I landed here, I thought it is a Finance blog. I think you can use better colors and be more clear when it comes to the theme of your blog. Thanks Nandita

Thanks for the feedback Nandita. We are super busy on the blog at the moment but may possibly choose a new theme in the future 🙂

I’ve been using my hiatus to think about what I can do going forward to better use my bookish accounts, and I really appreciate this post! It’s making me reconsider how I approach my booksta, and what I can do different in the future.💛

Bookstagram can be a real conundrum, but there are some things which do help (not that I always do them either!) All the best with your account! x

These ideas are really useful. Thank you so much 🙂

A total pleasure! I’m glad these were helpful for you.

I’ve just started my bookstagram this past week and only have 2 posts up so far but everyone has been so nice and welcoming. It’s kind of amazing. Thank you so much for all of the ideas and things in this post, I’m saving it to refer to in the future and I had to give y’all a follow as well. Now I’m off to click all your other links. lol

Welcome to Bookstagram! It’s a lovely community – creative, kind and clever. I’m really pleased that our ideas have given you a few inspirations and hope you enjoy experimenting with bookish photos x

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14 Book Instagrams to Follow if You Love Reading as Much as We Do

FYI, they're called "bookstagrams."

Our editors handpick the products that we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.

It's likely your social media feed is full of friends' selfies, celebrity product endorsements, and too many food pics to count. If you're looking to shake things up, it turns out there's a whole community out there filled with bibliophiles. Known by literary lovers as "bookstagram," by tapping the right hashtags, you can end up in a never-ending, magical land where bookworms post the perfect shots of their favorite stories and latest novel recommendations. From Reese Witherspoon's latest selections to mind-blowing artistic creations and, um, cute guys reading on the subway, we gathered some of our favorite book Instagram accounts so you can start hitting that follow button.

If you... appreciate an expert opinion:

The New York Times is one of the most trusted authorities on the best and most popular of the literary world. With this account, you get exclusive daily reviews and recommendations from the esteemed publication's skilled book editors—along with revealing quotes from some of your favorite authors. (Think Alice Walker and Malala Yousfazi.)

@StrandBookstore

If you... adore a great indie bookstore:

Known as the largest independent bookshop in New York City, this woman-owned company always manages to feature recommendations that are both culturally aware and relevant. Take their Marie Kondo-inspired reads pictured here—or this collection of novels written by indigenous female authors.

@SubwayBookReview

If you... like book reviews from real people:

From New York City and D.C., to Chile and London, this account features readers from all around the world as they share the books they're reading on their commute.

@WellReadBlackGirl

If you ... love supporting authors of color:

A community dedicated to recognizing the work of women of color, Well Read Black Girl regularly posts book recommendations across various genres and inspiring quotes—all penned by Black female writers.

@BraveLiteraryWorld

If you... appreciate a good Instagram photo as much as you do a good book:

This account has stellar book recommendations, and the relaxing, aesthetically pleasing pictures of organized bookshelves, coffee cups, and charming shops will be a breath of fresh air for your feed.

@ThisGirlHasn0name

If you... have a weakness for fantasy and sci-fi: Not only does "the girl with no name" post flawlessly moody pics of her book collection, but from Game of Thrones to Harry Potter, her whimsical novel suggestions are a dream.

@BookishMadeleine

If you... are looking to find a friend in the bookstagram community:

With a combination of warm, inviting photos and captions with questions like, "What are some of your favorite bookstores?" and "What’s your favorite weather to read in?" Madeleine's comment section is a great place to interact with your fellow bibliophiles.

@ReesesBookClub

If you... would do anything Reese Witherspoon tells you to:

Since 2017, the actress has been sharing her love of literature with fans with monthly top story picks for "Reese's Book Club." Her latest choice? Susan Orlean's The Library Book. She's also highlighted The Last Mrs. Parrish , This Is How It Always Is , and Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows .

@ChronicleBooks

If you... want to brighten up your feed:

The independent San Francisco book publisher, Chronicle Books, consistently posts lively and colorful photos that always manage to brighten your day—and they're not always of books: sometimes they'll come with a side of toast and puppies.

@HotDudesReading

If you... like your books with a little eye candy :

It's clear to see where the priorities lie for Hot Dudes Reading's more than one million followers. Forget pretty pictures and reviews and just take a moment to enjoy the simple allure of an attractive guy glued to a book. And the cheeky captions don't hurt, either.

If you... need inspiration for your own book snaps: This profile's suggestions come with "a side of stuff" to go along with the featured novel's cover and theme, taking each story beyond its pages. (Plus, the geometrically organized layouts are a Type-A reader's dream.)

@elizabeth_sagan

If you... like to get creative with your book collection: Sagan's feed is filled with out-of-this-world imagery, all created with the help of a few hardbacks. From a unicorn to a Christmas tree and a rainbow, her photos transport you to another world—just like any good story could.

@penguinrandomhouse

If you... want to keep up with the publishing world: A part of one of the biggest publishing houses in the world, Penguin Random House has near-daily updates of the latest books added to their impressive lineup. Think Becoming , everything Danielle Steel, and Jodi Picoult's A Spark of Light.

@mybookfeatureaccount

If you ... c an't decide which bookstagram account you like best:

Co-run by Sagan, this account is a hub for all bookstagrammers, with photos from various profiles in the community, reposted for all to see. So if you're not exactly sure who to follow, this is the perfect place to find your favorite bookish pics.

McKenzie Jean-Philippe is the editorial assistant at OprahMag.com covering pop culture, TV, movies, celebrity, and lifestyle. She loves a great Oprah viral moment and all things Netflix—but come summertime, Big Brother has her heart. On a day off you'll find her curled up with a new juicy romance novel.

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The Ultimate Guide to Bookstagram for Beginners

By: Author Laura Hartley

Posted on Published: 15th September 2023  - Last updated: 13th October 2024

Categories Book Blogging , Books

Thinking about starting a bookstagram? Here’s all you need to know about how to start a bookstagram from someone who’s been doing it for over a decade!

Have you been wondering what bookstagram is or want to know how to start a bookstagram account?

This comprehensive guide to bookstagram will take you through everything from what bookstagram is to how to create a bookstagram account, how to get bookstagram followers and more!

Over the years I’ve grown my Instagram from 0 to 70,000+ followers and these are some of my bookstagram tips to begin your journey to do the same. By the end of this guide, you will know how to bookstagram like a pro .

If you’re not already following me on Instagram, you can check out my account at @ whatshotblog where I post about books and travel.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Laura | What’s Hot? 🇨🇳🇬🇧 (@whatshotblog)

Now, let’s get started:

What is bookstagram?

Bookstagram, or book Instagram, is a niche corner of the internet for book lovers. Using the hashtag #bookstagram, you’ll find millions and millions of book-related photos posted by people from all over the world.

It’s an online community of bookworms who love to share pictures or videos of what they’re reading, their favourite books, their bookshelves, the libraries and bookshops they’re exploring and more.

All manner of bookish people are on bookstagram including authors, bookworms, booksellers, bookshops, libraries, book prizes and more. So you see there’s no simple answer for what is a bookstagram account!

If you’re an author then I’d suggest heading to my post on bookstagram for indie authors too.

How to Start a Bookstagram

Now let’s get into the nitty gritty of how to start a book instagram account! These simple steps below make creating a bookstagram super quick and easy.

Choose a bookstagram handle

First things first, you need to set up an Instagram account. If you want to properly immerse yourself in bookstagram then I suggest creating a new account dedicated to books, rather than converting an existing, personal account.

In doing so, you’ll have to choose yourself a bookstagram handle. But what to choose?! The possibilities are truly endless.

Think about why you’re starting a bookstagram account for some name inspiration. If you’ve got an existing book blog then obviously using the same name across your social media channels is advisable. If not, then it’s time to get your thinking cap on.

Many popular bookstagram accounts include words such as books, novel, tome, literature, bookworm, bookshelf, library, read, bookish, literary. Alternatively, you might be inspired by a favourite quote, character or place.

Or if you’re going to run a niche account and only focus on a certain kind of literature then you might want to be more specific and include keywords like young adult, thrillers, romance, bookshops, fiction, historical etc.

Have a little brainstorm about what kind of content you’re going to post and the vibe you’re aiming for. A combination of words related to those two themes, or even your name, might help you come with something good!

Make sure to do a quick search on Instagram to check it’s not already taken too.

Write a great bio for bookstagram

Now that you’ve chosen your bookstagram handle, it’s time to fill out your profile and write yourself a little bio to give a little insight into your account.

My bookstagram bio contains four lines in which I explain: what type of blogger I am, my blog’s tag line with my content’s aim, one line about me and a reminder to check out my blog for more content.

This is your chance to help people visiting your profile get to know you a bit better. The problem is, you’ve only got 150 characters to do it. It’s tricky writing something concise here and people take different approaches.

You might include what genres you like to read, the name of their current read or the number of books they’ve read so far that year.

Or you might choose to focus more on your personal traits and share a few things that you love. And throw a few emojis in so people know you’re human.

Mix it up and find what works for you. You can always have a look at the bios of some of your favourite accounts for further bookstagram bio ideas.

I also tend to give mine a little “refresh” every few months or so, don’t feel you have to stick with a particular bio.

Although you have the option to add an email button to your Instagram page, I find that people rarely see this and end up DMing me information and asking for my email.

As a result, lots of people put their blog email addresses in their bios so it’s really clear where people can get in touch.

A lot of PR and marketing assistants will look for bookstagrammers to work with via the desktop version of their Instagram, where the email button doesn’t appear, so I personally advise putting the email directly in the bio.

If you’ve got a blog, make sure to link to it from your Instagram page too. You can now add multiple links to your Instagram bio, which is great as you can link to your blog, your other social media channels, a mailing list, your Goodreads account or other interesting articles.

Some people still prefer to use platforms such as linktr.ee . This is a single link which opens up into a page with a list of more links.

READ MORE: How I got Started on Bookstagram: 0 to 70,000+ followers

Convert your account to a creator account

If you want to grow your bookstagram, I’d highly recommend making the (free) switch from a personal account to a creator account.

This will give you an insight into your Instagram stats including information about where your followers are located and what time they’re usually online.

You’ll be able to see the gender divide of your audience, the age brackets they fall in and your follower growth amongst other things.

This is invaluable information that will help you figure out what time to post, which posts are doing well and more.

If you’re hoping to later monetise your account, this is an important step as brands may well ask for screenshots of this information down the line too.

To do this, simply go to your account settings and select “Account”. At the bottom of the page, there are some links in blue, which should give you the option to switch to either a creator or a business account.

Unless if you’re planning on selling products or opening an online store, I’d go with the creator account.

NB. You may find instead a single option for a “professional” account, which will give you the same insights.

Posting to Bookstagram

Now let’s turn to how to bookstagram.

Bookstagram post ideas

Now your account is all set up, it’s time to get posting! The style and type of content on bookstagram is hugely varied so it’s good to get an idea of what content you might like to create before you first press that publish button.

Some bookstagrammers are all about the caption and post long-form reviews. If you’re here because you want to know how to create a book blog on Instagram or how to be a book blogger on Instagram then you’ll likely post in this style.

Instagram has become a sort of micro-blogging platform and captions can be up to 2,200 characters so there’s plenty of space for mini reviews.

Other bookstagrammers are all about the aesthetics and post beautiful book-related photos and videos. Some only post flatlays, others only post about bookshops. Some never post shots with them in them, others post pictures and videos of themselves reading.

As you can see, “bookstagram” is a very generic term for a huge range of book-related content. I’d say my feed is a mixture of all of the above options so don’t feel the need to pigeonhole yourself. Get posting and you’ll soon find your groove.

It took me years to find mine so don’t worry too much about this and just enjoy posting about books and making new bookstagram friends.

You should also experiment with all the different post types that Instagram has to offer. At the moment, there are 5 different types of content you can create on Instagram: posts, carousels, reels, stories, and lives.

Trying them all out will force you to exercise a little creativity and you’ll figure out what your style is!

Check out this post about my bookstagram evolution to see my very first bookstagram post and how it developed from there. For more inspiration check out these beautiful and creative bookstagram accounts:

RELATED: 20 Beautiful Bookstagram Accounts to Follow Now

Bookstagram props

If you’ve already had a chance to browse through bookstagram and the content on there, you may notice that people love to post book flatlays and book stacks with other props in them.

By bookstagram props, I mean items that aren’t books that go in your photos.

You’ll see that some of the biggest bookstagrammers are constantly buying new props for their accounts and are veritable prop hoarders. But it’s absolutely not necessary to buy props specifically for your bookstagram account.

There are plenty of items around the house that will work very well too.

READ MORE: 24 Bookstagram Props to Use in Your Book Flatlays

An easy one, which you’ll already have in your home, is a mug. Books and coffee go hand in hand, right?

Other things you might have around the house that could be bookstagram props include clothes, slippers, bookmarks, cushions, dry flowers, glasses, bags, newspapers, the list goes on!

If you’ve been tempted by other bookstagrammers, some other popular bookstagram props you could invest in include funko pops (tiny figurines of popular book and film characters), candles, posters, book sleeves, bookish tote bags and more.

READ MORE: Accessories That Every Bookworm Needs

Editing bookstagram photos

If you want your bookstagram feed to have a “theme” or consistent look, then you should think about what kind of edit you want to apply to your images.

Some people apply very minimalist editing whilst others will go for strong filters.

When I started on bookstagram I focussed on bright, white images and then moved to darker desaturated tones. Now, my feed is the opposite and is quite bright with warm, orangy tones.

Picking a consistent theme can help build a brand and image style that your followers instantly come to recognise when it pops up on your feed.

Instagram has its own editing tools inside the app, but in terms of good-quality filters, theirs are rather limited. If you want a great, free app to start off with, I’d recommend VSCO .

They’ve got loads of great filters you can apply and adjust as you please. If you want to upgrade to some of the nicer filters, this will cost you a subscription fee of around £29.99 per year (which works out as less than £2.50 a month!).

I personally use Lightroom to edit my photos and this is part of Adobe’s editing suite. It’s more expensive at £9.99 per month but you can do so much more with your images on this computer programme (the mobile app version is free!).

This is one for the slightly more experienced photographers or those looking to really perfect their images with editing.

You can create or buy your own filters for Lightroom, known as presets, which mean you can apply the same tones to every photo.

I now use my own presets, which are available to purchase from my shop here . If you love the look of the photos and videos on my blog and Instagram then please do purchase my preset pack to give your photos a warm glow with just one click!

These bookstagram presets are used on all my online images and come in three varieties – light, dark and warm. Don’t worry if you’ve never used Lightroom before as there’s a preset installation guide included!

What’s great is that Lightroom recently introduced an update so you can use these presets on videos too!

Edit your photos like me with my presets, available here!

There are free presets that you can download from the internet but, in my experience, none of them are quite as good as those sold by photographers and content creators.

If you’re not ready to make your own presets or invest in some then I think you’d be better off with an editing app on your phone. That’s my experience anyway!

Browse cheap presets on Etsy from small businesses here!

Planning your bookstagram feed

Now you’ve got some images, you’ve edited them and you’re raring to go! But what order do you post them in?

To some people, this will seem like a silly question. But to the perfectionists out there who want to curate a beautiful, consistent feed, this is another important step.

Using planning apps can help you to get a sense of what your Instagram feed will look like ahead of time.

This is useful for seeing whether your most recent set of photos all work well together, as well as for pre-scheduling some photos and captions.

I would recommend starting with the app Planoly , which is free, so it’s a great option for those who don’t want to spend any money on bookstagram.

I currently use Preview App , which is great for scheduling content on both your phone and desktop or if you’re managing multiple accounts.

Using these apps, you can upload all your edited bookstagram photos and then rearrange them as you please. You simply use your finger to drag the images and they’ll move into a new order.

It’s amazing to see what a difference this can make. You can also write your captions for each photo ahead of time and save a bank of hashtags to use .

You can now schedule Instagram posts from within the app, but this is generally a little glitchy so I’d recommend manually posting content in the moment or from your drafts folder.

If you are using an app like Planoly or Preview App, you can set up notifications so they remind you when to post and you can just copy and paste a pre-written caption from the app to Instagram. Easy.

Tip : Be careful to make sure you never log out of or delete your Instagram account if you have lots of draft posts ready to go as these will all disappear!

How do I get followers on bookstagram?

Whilst I don’t think bookstagram should be all about the followers, let’s be honest, everyone wants their account to grow and for their work to be appreciated! Here are tips for getting more engagement and followers on bookstagram.

Post content that is educational, entertaining or inspirational

There are three key types of content on Instagram that you can create to encourage people to follow you.

These are educational content, entertaining content or inspirational content.

In a bookstagram context, this could mean content that is informative (e.g. book reviews, book lists, information on new releases), funny or relatable (e.g. poking fun at bookstagrammer traits like book hoarding) or motivational or inspirational content (e.g. beautiful libraries to visit in the future, beautiful home libraries etc.).

Post a variety of content in different formats

As mentioned above, there are 6 different types of content you can create on Instagram, and posting a variety of them all seems to please the algorithm.

Whilst I wouldn’t advocate becoming a slave to the algorithm, it is inevitably an important aspect of Instagram!

At the moment, Instagram is heavily pushing out video content and so you’ll definitely want to experiment with the reels function, which is a TikTok style of video.

Reels even have their own section of the app which is accessed from the bar at the bottom of the app, proving their importance!

The best way to use reels is to search for trending audio (it will have a little tick next to it) and put your own spin on that sound. Your videos need to be able to hook people in the first few seconds so short, snappy videos tend to do very well.

My top tip to anyone who asks me about how to grow followers on Instagram is to engage with the community you’re in.

You need to like and comment on other people’s photos regularly and start to form connections with similar accounts. If you don’t engage with the community, why should they engage with you?

Doing this is how I’ve made so many good friends via bookstagram, something I never dreamed would happen when I set up my account.

If you take the time to read people’s captions and make meaningful comments, you’ll find that you can start to form connections with people.

Don’t just go down your bookstagram feed and comment “nice pic”. This is not a good form of engagement.

I suppose now would be a good time to talk about engagement pods. An engagement pod or comment pod is a chat group (usually within Instagram but it could be on another platform), where people post their latest photos and ask for other people in the group to comment and like it.

They’re set up to “beat the algorithm” as Instagram has a habit of hiding people’s posts from our feeds if we don’t interact with them much.

I know that so many bookstagrammers participate in these, but I really don’t recommend them. I’ll admit that I was in one of these when I first got started with bookstagram and found it incredibly stressful.

If the group is large, it’s a big commitment to make I think it takes the fun out of posting and making friends organically.

It doesn’t drive genuine engagement and it means you are obligated to comment on content that perhaps doesn’t resonate with you.

These groups also breach the guidelines of most influencer marketing platforms now as they are seen as a form of fake engagement.

If you’re friends with the people in these groups and comment on their feeds regularly, their posts should show up in your feed naturally. It’s much better to grow organically than to try and use tactics like this, in my opinion.

Hashtags are essential to being discovered by more accounts on Instagram. So important in fact that I’ve written an entire article dedicated to book hashtags and how to use them!

If you want some inspiration and examples for which book hashtags to use, then check out this in-depth article:

READ MORE: All You Need to Know About Book Hashtags

Essentially, Instagram will allow you to add up to 30 hashtags to every post and to maximise reach you should be including relevant hashatags on each of your posts.

There are quite a lot of opinions on the “best” number of hashtags to use.

Whilst some still say that you should be going for the maximum of 30, I myself have been on a call with an Instagram representative who said that 7 or so hashtags is ideal.

Personally, I still go for around 30 hashtags, but make sure they are all super relevant to the content you are posting – don’t bother using hashtags that aren’t relevant or needed.

Play around with this and see what works best for you.

There are so many bookstagram hashtags out there and unfortunately using those like #bookstagram #books will not be sufficient.

These hashtags have millions and millions of users and new posts are appearing every second. This means your post will be drowned in a sea of other new photos being uploaded at the same time.

Instead, you should carefully curate some book hashtags that are relevant to your photo and account. If you pick smaller and very relevant hashtags you should be discovered by other like-minded people.

There’s much more detail in my dedicated article on book hashtags so make sure to read that next.

Consistency

Consistency is really important on social media to train the algorithms to know what to expect from you, what time to expect it etc.

When you are just starting out, it can be useful to post content that stems from a similar theme so the algorithm knows what kind of content you post and can push it out to people that it knows like similar content.

You don’t need to confine yourself to too strict a niche, but it can be easier to grow if you post a similar style or type of video on a regular basis. Once your account is a bit larger, it can be easier to branch out into more varied content.

Instagram values those who post engaging content on a regular and consistent basis. Think of Instagram like a hungry bear that needs to be fed at regular intervals, preferably very regular intervals.

Of course, most people are not able to sit on Instagram all day engaging with other accounts and posting their own content. But it is still important to be consistent.

If you can only post three times a week, then try to post on the same three days, at the same time each week. This trains the algorithm to know what to expect from you and will be better than posting one post a day for three days and then disappearing for two weeks.

Whether it’s one post a week or one post a day, consistency is key.

Can I get free books?

Really this question warrants a post of its own, but the short answer is yes .

If you have an engaged following on bookstagram, it’s likely that publishers will be willing to send you review copies of their titles.

The great thing is that you don’t need a huge number of followers to receive review copies and I’ve seen plenty of accounts with under 1000 followers receive gifted books from publishers.

I think that as long as you can show that you can add value with beautiful pictures, informative captions, an engaged audience or, ideally, a mixture of all these and more, then publishers will be open to hearing from you. They may even slide into your DMs themselves.

You might not be able to get a copy of the latest Harry Potter book if you’re still a small account but, publishers are keen to get their new releases out on bookstagram.

READ MORE: Why Influencers Shouldn’t Use the Term “Gifted”

Side note, I don’t really like using the term “free” as I don’t think anything truly comes for free.

In exchange, the publisher will expect you to post about the book on your feed and give the book publicity so it’s a reciprocal, working relationship. Which brings me to…

Can you earn money from bookstagram?

Now we’re in sticky territory. People have a lot of opinions about whether or not bookstagrammers should be paid. Arguments often get quite heated.

My personal opinion is that they absolutely should. I won’t get into the nitty-gritty here as I wrote an entire article here about why I think bookstagrammers should be paid .

I also asked some of the top book influencers what they think about the influencer marketing industry in the book realm and they also agreed that bookstagrammers should be paid. Read their thoughts in full here: book bloggers share what they think of the influencer marketing industry .

Publishers have been slow to adapt but some progress has been made since I published the two articles I just linked.

It is definitely possible to make money from bookstagram, but it often means being willing to promote non-book-related products.

I don’t know any full-time bookstagrammer who only makes money from bookstagram or book blogging and all have diverse income streams.

Funnily enough, publishers seem to be more willing to pay posts on the other platform and there are a lot of quite successful BookTokers.

But, generally, it is a lot harder to earn money if you are in the book niche as compared to, say, fashion or parenting.

How can I earn money from bookstagram?

The two main ways to earn money from Instagram are sponsored posts and affiliate links.

Sponsored posts usually work in one of two ways: either brands come to you or you sign up to an influencer marketing platform. Pitching to brands is also a possibility if you can find out who to get in touch with.

Two popular influencer marketing platforms that I know offer bookish opportunities include Takumi and Tribe . I’ve used both extensively in the past and they’re good platforms to experiment with when starting out with sponsored posts.

As my account has grown, I’ve found it less suited to these apps, whose rates are very (very!) low, but I’d recommend having a look to see if they are hosting opportunities that are right for you.

Of course, just because your account is about books does not mean that should only seek book-related sponsored opportunities.

Depending on your style of photos and how niche your account is, you may find it easy to promote other products like snacks or stationery for example.

There will definitely be more opportunities for these kinds of products than there will be for books or strictly book-related products.

RELATED: How to Disclose Sponsored Posts on Instagram

Instagram allows accounts of all sizes to post links in their stories so anyone can start earning with affiliate links.

You could also add affiliate links to the link in your bio as mentioned above.

I have a whole post dedicated to affiliate links for book bloggers where you can learn more about which platforms to use and what retailers are available.

READ MORE: The Ultimate Guide to Affiliate Marketing for Book Bloggers

That’s it for now! If you’ve been asking yourself “should I start a bookstagram?” then you absolutely should. Out of all the communities on Instagram, bookstagram is one of the friendliest.

Compare bookstagram to the world of fashion or travel influencers or even book twitter, bookstagram has one of the nicest internet communities out there.

Social media can often be a toxic place, but bookstagram has always been a positive space for me.

I hope this guide about how to make a bookstagram has been helpful and will give you the confidence to set up your own bookstagram.

Don’t let worries about how to start bookstagram stop you from actually getting going.

If you’d like any more detail on the above or more tips for starting a book Instagram, please let me know in the comments below or by dropping me a DM on Instagram !

If you’re interested in becoming a book blogger too, then make sure to check out my guide for how to start a book blog too.

If you found this post helpful, please  support me with a small contribution on Ko-Fi . This information was provided free of charge but is invaluable to bloggers and influencers and I’d really appreciate your support!

Pin now, read again later!

If you liked this post, check out these: How I Read Over 75+ Books Per Year How to Start a Book Blog 36 Book Blog Post Ideas My Bookstagram Evolution Book Hashtag Guide Behind the scenes on Instagram

Editor of What’s Hot?

Saturday 30th of September 2023

Could you post a mix of educational, entertaining, and inspirational content? Or would that be too much?

Sunday 18th of July 2021

Is it important that the picture you post on bookstagram should belong to you only??

Wednesday 21st of July 2021

Copyright of an image will always belong to the person who took the original photo. There are lots of repost accounts on Instagram but it is best practice to send a message to the photo owner to double-check they are ok for you to repost their image. When you repost it, you should always tag and credit the image owner clearly.

Wednesday 14th of July 2021

I love this. This has given me some great ideas on becoming apart of this community xx

Sunday 17th of January 2021

I also having some problem with converting it into creators account

If you have the option of converting to a professional account then I would do that. Then you can access insights etc.

Yeisha Beasley

Wednesday 21st of October 2020

My Instagram account says switch to a Professional Account but it doesn't have a Creator Account. Is the Professional Account the same as a Creator Account

In that case, you should convert to the professional account to access insights :) I believe Professional encompasses both Business and Creator though am unsure if you will have the option to later choose Creator specifically.

I believe professional accounts can be either creator accounts or business accounts. Once you click through to turn it into a professional account, I think you’d have the option to specifically make it a creator account. Instagram has more info on their own website that’s worth reading: https://www.facebook.com/help/instagram/2358103564437429.

Elaine Howlin

Lost in the pages of books.

Level Up Your Bookstagram: Book Review Templates for Stellar Posts

People still use Bookstagram, right? Not everyone has run off to TikTok?….. It’s not just me here, right?!….

I decided to add even more Bookstagram templates to the fairly sizeable library of templates I’ve already created here. I love this current trend of creating a little infographic instead of a full-blown review on Instagram. It’s great to get the main points and tropes of a book straight away like that cause, let’s be honest, how often do we really read the captions? I’m actually more likely to read the caption for one of these infographic pics than a beautifully artistic photo of a book.

So, I created some more vintage scrapbooky templates for whoever wants to use them. I’ll be sharing them regularly so make sure to follow me to get them all and have a look around my blog for even more templates and bookish stuff.

Visit the Template Gallery for FREE templates and pintables and visit my Etsy shop, ElaineHowlinStudio , and Ko-fi for digital ephemera kits for journals, planners and craft projects. Visit my Patreon for Bookstagram templates.

You Might Also Like: Bookstagram Bingos, Quizzes, and Games

Book Review Instagram Post Templates

This is just a taste of the templates available. There are loads more available on my Patreon with more added each month.  Visit my Patreon here  to get the rest of the templates. There are a few freebies available there as well so be sure to have a look around.

Patreon subscribers receive a full set of 10 square post templates each month along with a full set of 10 story templates so join up today to make sure you don’t miss out.

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