Hi friends! ☀️ I hope you’re all doing okay. Today, I have a special post ready for you…
I’m ready to talk about bookstagram. It’s a wild topic here in the book community, really and I have had thoughts on it, tons of them, ever since I started blogging and became aware of bookstagram actually being a thing.
Now that I, as of a couple weeks ago, have finally jumped onto that bandwagon and joined instagram as a book blogger, I’m ready to talk about it all. I’m ready to share my experience, my expectations and the reality, for now, as well as my, well…. thoughts and fears I had, and still have.
Hope you’re ready for it.
? Why I created a bookstagram account
I have been an inactive bookstagrammer follower for YEARS, now. Whether they’re bloggers I know having instagram accounts or people I don’t know whose pictures I fell in love with…. well, I’ve been a silent observant of the bookstagram community for a little while, now.
Admiring from afar stunning pictures, book stacks and aesthetics, watching stories on the app of unboxings and people talking about books on the app. I’ve been doing that for years and I’ve been wondering for years if I should do it, too.
A strange period in the year gave me a little more time to try it out, so I told myself: why the hell not? Let’s see how it goes. So, here I am.
I’m not going to lie here, I mean… I always make a point of being honest with my blogging experiences and I want to be honest with my bookstagram experience, too, so, here goes.
I have been feeling, for years now, that I needed to be on bookstagram, as a book influencer. Let’s face it: if book blogs are wonderful and I adore them with all of my heart and am certainly not going to quit my book blog for bookstagram…. well, aerm. I feel like I need to be on bookstagram, too. The past couple of years have taken a sharp turn for bookish influencers and good old book blogs aren’t as wildly popular.
When people talk about book influencers, they are talking about booktubers. They are talking about bookstagrammers. Then and only then, in third position, they are talking about book bloggers.
So, you know what? I’ll admit it, shameful and all: I felt like I was missing out by not being on bookstagram. I felt like I wasn’t entirely relevant, either.
Am I really missing out? Well, time and more experience with bookstagram will tell, I guess.
☂️ Related blog post: Is book blogging still relevant ?
? My experience with bookstagram (so far)
Before heading into this: as I am writing this post, I’m still a very young bookstagrammer and I still have a lot to learn, a lot to figure out about both the bookstagram experience and my own account, just as well.
My very first day and first post on bookstagram had me overwhelmed, grateful, happy and a little overwhelmed again (like, I shut off my instagram notifications right away because aerm).
☂️ The positives of bookstagram
The community I met on here, whether it was familiar faces I already knew from blogging or new people I hadn’t had a chance to talk to, were wonderful, welcoming, encouraging and incredibly warm.
Day by day, I got into a small ryhthm of scrolling down bookstagram, getting even more inspired than usual by beautiful accounts, gave a first try at commenting and interacting in the community and was welcomed with answers to comments, likes and overall, well, I felt really positive about it.
Day by day, I got into a rhythm of taking pictures and thinking about the kind of content I could put on this new platform, getting inspired and bothering my sister to pose, picking books off my shelves and putting them back, taking pictures I’m proud of and others I’m not so sure of.
Day by day, I’ve been having fun sharing stories, talking about books in new ways and just thinking about this new platform, too.
So, so far, I’ve been having fun exploring this new creative side of myself and this new way to highlight books, talk with the bookish community and some authors, too. I’m grateful for it to have been a positive experience, so far.
Yet, I’m going to admit it, too: I’m a little bit worried. Okay. You know me. A lot.
☂️ My worries about bookstagram
Before, I could only imagine the work it takes, now I actually see it. I don’t even know how some people get to post every single day and just have enough time, material and inspiration to do it all.
It takes so much time to figure out the kind of pictures you want to put out and there’s so much thought going into each of these. Like, I heard the pictures have to fit an aesthetic in order for you to have a coherent feed, in order to be consistent and gain followers and everything.
✨ Am I worried about my feed? YES.
I’m only taking pictures with my phone, not an actual camera, it’s not the latest iPhone either. I’m not fidgeting with my pictures lightning for hours on end, I didn’t download 32 apps on my phone and should I?
✨ Am I worried about interaction? YES.
Instagram is a social media and… to be honest, that’s what worries me the most every single day. Unlike chatting on good old book blogs and through comments, where I feel like I can take my time, instagram feels more fast-paced and I feel like I need to keep up with it quicker, both in order to be relevant and for the instagram algorithm to like me, or something.
I’m always the happiest when someone comments on one of my posts, anywhere that is, but… I feel way more stressed to answer quickly when it’s on social media.
✨ Am I worried about numbers? YES. A LOT.
Statistics are always tricky and something I hate about social media is that they jump right to your face. The pictures with 2k likes, the accounts with 20k followers. I know I’m just starting out, but I can feel it creeping, the worry about the numbers.
The number of followers, obviously. The number of likes, comments, interaction, yes, definitely.
I also tend to worry about the amount of posts I need to put out there. Social media isn’t like book blogging and, with the instagram algorithm and everything, I feel like you need to be way more active in order to grow, in order to be noticed, too.
I can’t post every single day, so am I posting enough? Am I posting the right kind of pictures? Is there even a right kind of picture?
I know this stress about numbers won’t really go away anytime soon, so…. I’m trying not to track my statistics too much, not to worry about my best performing posts and to focus on! having! fun!!
☂️ Related blog post: The truth about book blogging statistics
✨ Am I worried about…. myself? YES.
Okay, so I promised to be honest so here goes. I’m worried about myself on bookstagram, too. I mean, it is pretty common for bookstagrammers to share bits of themselves, whether it’s in their captions or in stories, unboxing, talking, reviewing books live and so on.
I’m…. well, I’m kind of a private person (you all know I’m just the back of a head on my profile pictures…). Am I going to lose followers, interest if, sometimes, I just don’t feel like sharing a little more about myself?
I know it’s not a given to do that and I know lots of people don’t do these kind of things at all. Should I? I can’t help but wonder.
You’ll notice that I worry. A LOT. That’s just me, though and I am hoping that, with time and a little more experience, I will find my own rhythm with it all, what I am at ease with or not and, hopefully, some of my anxiety will go away, so I can completely embrace this new side of my bookish identity: being a bookstagrammer.
So, hi. I’m Marie, I’m new and hoping to have fun.
Maybe i’ll share some tips later on once I get the gist of it all, if that’s something you’d be interested in!
Also, in case you’re curious, my bookstagram account is right here: drizzleandhurricanebooks!
Do you have a bookstagram? Why did you create an account, or why don’t you have one?
Do you have any bookstagram worries like I do, or any tips for me? Let me know in comments!
Twitter ☂️ Bookstagram ☂️Goodreads ☂️ Bloglovin ‘☂️ Support the blog
AWW MARIE, I feel ALL of these emotions! I am more iffy with bookstagram because, as with all social media platforms, I am super self-conscious about the number of followers, number of likes, etc.
Book blogging is so comfortable to me, because I get so much joy from the thoughtful comments people leave.
Your bookstagram is looking SO SO GOOD though – please never feel insecure about it, and don’t feel like you need to get back to people at a rapid-fire pace!
Sending you lots of love <3
Uuuh same, I feel so much more self conscious about statistics on social media for some reason and it’s stressful a little bit ahah 🙂 Blogging has this… I don’t know, comforting quality to it, I agree! <3
Oh you're so sweet thank you??
I felt that the same way about feeling like I need to join Bookstagram. It took me a lot of trial and error, but I finally started to post regularly and I love it! I think I will always love blogging more (I am a better writer than I am photographer), but it is really fun. I definitely share a lot of your same thoughts and worries. Followed you btw!
Ohh that’s so good! I’m really happy you’re loving it now, that’s what matters the most 🙂 I feel like it’s like that with everything, we need to try out and see whether it’s a good fit for us or not 🙂
This is a lovely post, My bookstagram is momsbookcollection i have been on bookstagram for about 4ish years. I actually do not remember why i created my bookstagram it might be because i wanted to interact with people that love the books i do and well i love photography as well. A tip i would give you is to have fun, do not worry what you take your photo’s on and enjoy making new friends. I have been through the worry of how many followers, likes, comments and how my photo’s should look and posting every day. I still have those thoughts but not as strong i recently decided to post every day except for Tuesday’s and Thursday’s cause well we all need some mental health days off the internet right?
I hope you enjoy yourself and just have fun. P.S. i love your bookstagram account!
OH thank you so much for the tip! I agree with you and we all need days off ahah to keep our sanity, it’s just so easy to get caught up in numbers and wanting to do more and more.
Thank you so much for your sweet comment!! <3 <3 <3
I have bookstagram soon after I started blog. Before I had person account and I was tired of uploading my pics. You know I’m out of those selfie phase and I wasn’t interested in who followed me anyway so I started from scratch. Deleted personal account and started Instagram as I saw bloggers take wonderful pics and it’s also another way to shout and talk about book but in pictures. So yeah, it was there for 2-3 years but I didn’t see it growing until I joined a group and found my own theme this year.
I learned theme is important thing on Instagram.
I don’t post everyday. Only when I post review on blog or start a book. That means 4 post a week.
I don’t give as much time to Instagram as I give it to blog so unless numbers are real important it’s okay to post pictures, like and comments for an hour a day and shut it until next time you post.
I also take pics on phone. I have cannon but It’s too much time consuming you know (transfer pics to laptop and then take it in phone , edit and upload. Who has that much time! Unless they only have bookstagram to focus on) So best option is good editor. I use snapseed. the arc feature in it is pretty good to enhance the appearance.
And i take pictures whenever I feel in mood. Mostly I click a pic once I finish reading the book.
Oh and there are tags and challenges. They are also fast way to get attentions and likes.
It’s not twitter and I don’t see my numbers increasing that fast. I might be doing something wrong but I don’t think about it much because blog is more important for me.
Oh thank you so much for sharing your journey! I feel like keeping a consistent theme is something really important, somehow, so I’m trying to do just that ahah, it’s trial and error I guess, but I’m hoping to do this right and to have fun 🙂
Thank you so much for the tips! I’ll have to check out snapseed! 🙂
I love this post. Bookstagram can be so overwhelming at first. I don’t have a lot of time to put together these elaborate photos with lots of props, so I tend to make mine pretty simple and clean – that has definitely helped.
I LOVE the bookstagram community, I’ve “met” so many great people there!
Oh thank you Bree! So happy you liked it 🙂
I’m doing just the same – I really wanted to try it out, but I don’t have props or endless hours either, so I like to keep it simple too 🙂
I’m so happy you’re loving it there!
I would argue that in some cases, book blogs even come at 4th place after book twitter haha but not always.
Thanks for being honest about your bookstagram experience! I definitely feel the pressure to be present on several platforms, but I have tried to be more of a bookstagrammer on my account a while ago and my phone, apartment, light, whatever showed that it just didn’t work. I left that behind fairly quickly. I guess I was especially intimidated by all those coherent and thought-through aesthetic feeds. Mine never managed to look like much of anything that fit together, no matter how hard I tried. But honestly, I don’t really miss it now or feel like I am missing out.
About sharing more about yourself, I feel like you always make everything you do feel very personal. It’s not so much about divulging every part of your personal life or to show your face, but to be open about how you feel and think about things and honestly, that’s exactly what you are doing with posts like these! I wouldn’t worry about showing your face too much! (I know, I know… easier said than done) But I have followed numerous accounts for a really long time (like years) on several different platforms and I don’t know what 85% of those people look like.
YES. 4th place has to be right, especially lately. Book blogs are just pushed back and back I’m always sad about it.
That’s exactly what intimidated, and still intimidates me: seeing how coherent and stunning bookstagrammers manage to make their feeds. I’m, like, how do you arrange everything in such a perfect manner ?
Thank you ❤️ I needed to hear that, really. I just sometimes feel a bit self conscious because some people are so at ease sharing loads about themselves, I prefer doing so in writing ahah. Thank you ❤️❤️
I am sad about it too! I feel like I can best express myself in long rambly posts haha
SAME, I need to ramble oooooooon haha.
I’m at 125 followers on mine (I started last year but gave up for like 8 months so I guess I grew fast?) But I don’t really share anything personal (hahaha my captions are literally -and I’m quoting here- “Q” or “Oreos are amazing ok” or “I only have 4 bottles of emergency dr pepper left” so I guess I’m doing fine? I’ve gotten like 15 more followers this past week and my aesthetic is to have no aesthetic. I do post everyday, but I don’t really spend much time taking pictures- I just take a few pictures if I have nice lighting or something. But if I don’t have pictures I just post a meme or something. It’s not really a big deal for me. So I hope this helps?????? If I were you I’d literally just do whatever I want to do. NO one really cares if you don’t have long detailed descriptions. No one cares if you don’t have a consistent feed. And no one cares if you’re just doing you. (at least in the bookstagram community I’m in. Some people are just jerks though- you can’t escape from them) But yeah. That’s it that’s the rant. I hope I helped somehow? And *10th doctor voice* good luck.
This REALLY helps, thank you SO much for sharing your thoughts and experience with it all! ❤️ I tend to overthink a little too much and want to do things right, but you’re so right, as long as I’m having fun and doing what I like to do, that’s the most important.
THANK YOU, I needed that. you’re wonderful ❤️
Okay good I’m glad it made sense xD I hope you have a fantastic week and that your April is gREAT!!!
Thank you so much!! You too, take care! <3
Hi! I’ve had my bookstagram for almost two years now and honestly I’ve met so many amazing people because of it. Don’t worry about how good your feed looks or how many followers you have at the end of the day you joined because you wanted to meet like minded people and share the book love. You can just do you and enjoy yourself. Bookstagram honeslty makes me so happy. I have made friendships for life. Also don’t feel pressured to reveal things that you don’t want to reveal. Bookstagram is just such a warm community and I hope you will have a good time! Also your feed looks really good ?
Love, Lisa
Ahh that’s so amazing! I’m so happy you’ve had such a positive experience of it so far <3 thank you so, so much for your sweet words and positive thoughts, I hope I'll end up having the same experience as you do! 🙂
I’ve been toying with joining bookstagram and I applaud you for going for it!! I don’t know much about it but I think it’s great that you joined. All the pictures I see are so beautiful and inspiring that I wish I could do that! I understand your stress but from what you said so far the community sounds so nice and accepting! I might join myself eventually! Sending good vibes your way Marie and given how well you do with your book blog I’m sure you will do just as great on Instagram <3<3<3
Oh thank you so much!! Yes, the community has been really sweet so far and I hope this continues! If you’re feeling uncertain, I’d say go for it and see how you enjoy it! 😀
Thank you so, so much!<3
Loving this post (as always) and your gif game. I’m SO HAPPY that you have finally joined this community! We all know that I’m not a bookstagrammer.. nor even exactly a book blogger really, but I love this community and it’s my home haha. I share all of your worries about Instagram (and I like how conscious and honest you are about them) because I worry just as much. Instagram is a wonderful place filled with amazing people and content but it can sometimes be so… worrying. Whether it’s my insecurities, or just the time you have to spend there to be relevant, I just.. can’t in the moment haha. For now I’d rather write my soul down in my blog posts and not worry about Instagram too much, at least for the moment.
But you can definitely count for my support, likes and comments ??
Ahh thank you so much ❤️
I so understand that. I feel like I need to step away every now and then from social media because it feels so overwhelming compared to blogs ahah.
Thank you so much ahh ❤️
I adore bookstagram but have kind of always just admired the posts from afar as well – sometimes I feel like I should post and engage more but I’ve realised that for me personally, it’s still just as okay to appreciate the content rather than having to be an active contributer to it.
I think it’s great that you found what works for you best, that’s what matters the most! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
Good luck with your bookstagram! The talent people have to create such cool photos with books is really impressive to me, especially since I’m not always the best at visual art. I do love book blogging the most and will always love it the most because of exactly what you said about interaction. Bookstagram and Booktubers are fun, but I feel like people will always take more time and build deeper relationships through blogging. It’s a shame it’s not more popular, because I love how personal and detailed it is.
Thank you so much! I so agree, I am so impressed by some people’s talent and abilities to create such stunning pictures. Like, HOW DO THEY DO THAT ?
I am with you on that one. I feel like I’ve created the most meaningful relationships through blogging and I love it so much more for it 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment! <3
Great post! I do have a bookstagram account and I love taking photos of books and seeing other people’s bookish photos?
Thank you so much!! I’m happy you’re enjoying it 🙂
This is such a great post. I have the same worries as you do. I don’t post there daily, so I don’t have the interaction others have. I don’t have an aesthetic like a lot of the bigger bookstagrams. Numbers freak me out since that’s my worst platform. But I’m trying not to worry so much since it’s so time consuming to use the blog, instagram, twitter, and facebook. I have no idea how people do it.
I’m with you on that: I have no idea how people manage to handle it all perfectly. I’m trying, but I know it’s so overwhelming sometimes ahah. I think it’s important to focus on what we love to do and to take breaks from it, too 🙂 we’re only human after all 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment! <3
You’re welcome. 🙂
This is such an interesting post! I recently created a bookstagram account and morphed my blog into a book blog – but I prefer the creative and interactive side of blogging for the same reasons you mentioned! It would be so interesting to hear more about how you think book blogging has changed over the years, since insta has become more and more popular. Thanks for sharing☺️
Oh thank you, I’m so happy you liked this post 🙂 I also still have a soft spot for blogging over everything ahah <3
Ohhh well that's an interesting idea, I might write about it soon! 😀
Thank you so much! <3
This is really good reflection. Welcome to Bookstagram ??? Good luck Dear ???
Ahh thank you so much!! <3
I can relate to so much of what you said. A few years ago I suddenly just felt like starting one too and so I did and I posted, interacted and did my best for like two years and I had all of your worries (and still have some). When my numbers suddenly stalled, like no matter what I did I couldn’t get past 450 followers I lost interest in it. It didn’t give me joy anymore, just stress.
Suddenly I felt like doing it again last year and so I deleted all my pics and started fresh and I don’t care about followers or any of the numbers anymore. Occasionally I notice some are more or less but I just don’t let it bother me anymore. I’m just here to have fun!
I still see a bunch of people with crazy amounts of motivation, props and talent and I’m just happy to be following them, they are inspiring. Also, one of the most carefree influencers I follow is the_spines. She has a ton of followers and a book blog too and great content! I really like her pictures because they’re usually fairly simple and feel a bit more natural. (I’m not a fan of those pictures with 101 props but to each their own or somth like that).
Ahh this is so interesting, thank you for sharing your journey <3 I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying yourself a little more now, that's really what matters the most and what I need to focus on, too 😀
Ohh thank you! I just checked the_spines' feed and I AM LOVING IT. I really love this kind of simple, natural feed SO much. <3
Thakn you so, so much for your sweet comment!
Wow, such a great post! I started a bookstagram a couple of years ago because I felt like as a blogger/book influencer I needed to have one. The IG algorithm is horrible. Unless you post every single day, you never see any growth with your followers, but for me posting every day is just not plausible between work and school ?Good luck with your bookstagram! I look forward to your photos! ✨
I just keep on hearing horror stories about the IG algorithm so… I try not to think about it too much and try to focus on having fun haha. I couldn’t possibly post every single day either, there’s not enough time ahah.
Thank you so, so much for your comment Breanna! <3
This is so relatable! I’m so often the silent observer on social media and being more engaged and not dipping back into my comfort zone of just observing is SO hard. I am still struggling to stay active on Twitter, and I pretty much only watch stories on Instagram, so I really need to get into using these platforms in a more useful and engaging way. The FOMO is very real with bookstagram! Great post : )
Ahh I so understand what you mean. I’m more often than not a silent observer in every kind of social media, I find myself a little more active on book blogs, I find it a bit less… intimidating ahah 🙂
Thakn you so much, Jessica! <3
I follow a lot of bookstagrammers because I’m an author and I want to see what people are loving, what’s popular. I agree with a lot of your worries up there. It is hard to create content, to be unique, but not too far out of the mainstream. And yes, a lot of bookstagram is about the person and their personality. You’ll have to find some balance there! I went and followed you. My own feed is mostly day-to-day stuff with dogs, knitting, and books thrown in. 🙂
Oh I’m glad you’re enjoying the bookstagram experience so far! Thank you so much!! 🙂
ASDFGHJKL!! marie!! all your worries are so valid and i completely understand the stress. IG moves a lot faster than blogging, but I also kinda really appreciate that it moves slower than Twitter. I also only take photos with my iPhone so I super recommend VSCO and Adobe Lightroom apps for editing on my phone! I also use Preview to lay out my feed. Definitely have fun and experiment around!! I think that’s something I really love about the app. As you look at new accounts, you also start to gain inspiration as well <3 I'm so excited for you!!
Oh thank you so much for your recommendations! I need to check out VSCO right now! <3 Every bookstagram is giving me so much inspiration, but also making me want to do more ahah. I hope I'll do okay. Thank you!! <3 <3
I love this post. It perfectly encapsulates everything about bookstagram. <3
Oh thank you so much, I’m so glad you could relate to this!
Can I just say that I think you’re doing an amazing job? Because you are! ❤️
I love your bookstagram, it’s very cute!
I didn’t even bother making a bookish account because most of the time I just post photos of books anyways so my ‘personal’ and ‘bookish’ account are one and it’s worked for me. It also makes it easy for people who know me in real life to follow me… they all seem to love my bookish content which makes me happy ☺️
I know I’ll never have thousands of followers and I’m ok with this because that is intimidating to me!
But again, I think you’re doing great and I love your bookstagram 🙂
Aww thank you ahh Meghan you’re too sweet, this means the world <3 <3
Oh I get that, that's so great! I prefer keeping my personal account separate from my bookish account, also because I'm worried about theme and everything hahaha.
Thank you so much!! <3
❤️
It makes sense to have them separate… but I like to be different haha!
Hopefully you don’t worry too much because as I mentioned, it looks great! 🙂
Ahah well it’s good at least to have it all in one place! 🙂
Thank you so much!! <3
Your Bookstagram looks fabulous and I’m now following. I’m still only quite new to it as well but the trick is to have fun and just be you. Don’t stress the numbers….I know easier said than done right? But it’s meant to be an enjoyable hobby. 🙂
My instagram is https://www.instagram.com/kyles_bookishme/ if you’d like to visit and chat.
Ahh thank you so much, that’s so sweet! 🙂 I agree, it needs to be something we enjoy before anything else! 😀 Thank you!
Great post and this makes us want to post more on our Bookstagram. It’s hard when you juggle multiple social media accounts. However, the fun pictures make it worth it. Good luck and we hope you continue to grow your platform.
Oh thank you so much! I agree, it’s SO hard to juggle between everything, there is just TOO much to do ahah 🙂
Thank you! <3
Your instagram pictures look great ! ?
I created a bookstagram account in late 2019 and only have a couple of pictures on there for the moment – I’m honestly too intimidated by other people’s feeds to actually feel comfortable posting my pictures, because I don’t have good light or a nice space to take photos in where I live. The few photos I’ve been able to take were done outside, and this winter has been absolute hell to take pictures in, but I’m hoping I can get more into bookstagram this summer ! (I do worry about sharing personal information, though, and I’d love to be able to post more stories but I don’t feel confident enough for that yet :/ )
Oh thank you so much!! 🙂
I so understand that, I too often feel intimidated by other people’s gorgeous feeds ahah. I try not to focus on that and on having fun and, hopefully it will be okay! I hope you will be too once the summer comes around 🙂
and i get that. I’m not confident to post stories that are too personal or something, even though so many people do it :/
I’ve been on Bookstagram since October, and while I love it too, I also feel like it is so fast-paced in comparison! I love being able to interact with everyone on there but I feel like everyone is so quick to respond and start conversations, and sometimes I feel like I have a hard time catching up. I feel like it’s so different compared to book blogging – even though blog posts take way more time for me to write, I feel like it’s a lot less stressful and I can blog at my own pace.
I so agree with you on that. I feel like the rhythm is so… intense, I can barely keep up and it’s so easy to feel like you missed out, while blogging is at a slower pace. I feel more comfortable at blogging for now and I’m trying not to let the bookstagram rush get to me, ahah 🙂
thank you for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
This is an amazing post! I was so excited when I opened up bookstagram the other day and saw that you had joined. Your feed is already so amazing and coherent and it all looks so lovely! I’m very excited to know that you’re going to be on my feed now.?
I definitely relate to all your worries! While I do have a bookstagram account, I am very inactive, I only go on about once a day but most of the time I forget it exists and I feel like it’s a constant rush of stories and posts that I can’t possibly view or give attention to. As long as I don’t focus too much on keeping up the same amount of interaction I would like to, I’m usually all right- especially if I remind myself that my main focus will likely always be book blogging. I don’t know if that mindset will help you, but I hope so?
Best of luck with everything instagram related! I’ll be cheering for you the whole time
Ahhh Olivia thank you so, so much, this makes me SO HAPPY <3
Yes! that's the mindset I'm trying to go for, as well. To remember that I want to have fun and keep blogging as my main platform anyway, so it's okay if I'm slow or not interacting as much 🙂 I can barely keep up anyway haha 🙂
Thank you so much! <3
I’m glad you’re enjoying bookstagram. 🙂 I was ultimately very meh about it – commenting, looking at others’ pictures, uploading and captioning mine, literally EVERYTHING about bookstagram frustrated me, lol – so I abandoned it. It also sucked because I loved taking outdoor pictures (especially during spring and winter), and while there are some accounts that do really well with those type of posts, the type of aesthetics and accounts that are generally appreciated (lots of books per picture, lots of props) were not something I was interested in doing myself. So it just seemed pointless, haha. I have like, 50+ pictures ready and edited but I fell so out of love with bookstagram that I never posted them. *hides* Either way, I’m glad you like it, and I hope that you’ll keep enjoying it! 😀
Oh I can get the frustration ahah, I feel like it can be something that gets a little draining at times, too…. I’m hoping not to get bothered by it all, but only time will tell!
I’m sorry you gave up on it though, but ultimately if you felt like it was the best thing to do, that’s what matters 🙂 also, you can always use your pictures for your blog maybe? 🙂
Thank you so much, Veronika! <3
I started my bookstagram quite awhile ago, and you already have more followers than I do! I just kind of do my own thing on bookstagram – I don’t have a consistent theme or write really long captions. I’ll admit, I don’t really read captions, I just look at the pretty pictures! Like with blogging, I would just say be yourself!
Oh yes I can understand not reading all the captions, I sometimes really skim, it depends on my mood, too 🙂
Thank you so, so much, Angela! <3 <3
I love Bookstagram and I’m excited for you to be starting! Just like the blogging community, the bookstagram community is amazing. I love that I can simply share a book that I really enjoyed reading or just want to share the pretty cover … I don’t worry about what I’m going to say with the picture as much compared to when I’m coming up with a post idea for my blog.
Ahh I’m happy to hear you’re enjoying it and it’s good you don’t worry as much with bookstagram… I worry a lot with everything hahaha 🙂
I have been thinking about bookstagram recently as well (usually I just lurk and watch everyone’s stories ?), as so many people seem to be having fun with it, but at the same time it seems like a lot of work too 😮 I really enjoyed reading about your experiences with starting out and wish you all the best. I hope you have fun with it! ?
Yes I so get that. It is a lot of work, I’m not going to lie ahah, but so far I’m enjoying it, I hope it continues 🙂
Thank you so, so much Caro! <3
I created a bookstagram account a couple of years ago, but I was trying to use it as a school librarian. I wasn’t very active and I didn’t really know there was even such a thing as bookstagram! When I separated one life from another I felt way over my head because, like you said, the aesthetic was a lot. Some people take beautiful pictures and I know I don’t have an eye for it. Things I’ve learned:
– try to post at least once a day
— the thing with this is there are apps that will do all the posting for you, you just have to set it up. I personally use Later.com and I haven’t had too many issues with it
– don’t spend a huge amount of money on props; use what you already have — if that’s the route you decide to go
— the problem I have for myself is my aesthetic is always off. Some people just know how to color coordinate their feed, I’d love to do that, but I just can’t brain it. Some days I think about just wiping my account to a clean slate and try again
– find your balance and don’t worry about the numbers
– the right hashtags will make you known
Finally, my last piece of advice is: Have fun!
K
Wow thank you so much for your wonderful comment and all of your advice! The posting once a day will never ever be possible ahah. Thank you so much for sharing all of this, I’ll certainly do my best to follow your recommendations and to have fun 🙂
I was so happy to see you’d joined bookstagram! Reading through your post brought me back to when I first started, even though I currently relate to a lot of what you’ve mentioned. I started when I got so excited I received a Julie Kagawa book in the mail and I shared it on IG. From there, I think through searching the ‘books’ hashtag, I discovered all the amazing photos and what bookstagram was. So I started trying to do photos like that.
IG IS more fast paced, but at the same time it’s still relaxed, because your comment can be something between an emoji and a few words. It can be just a ‘thanks!’. I think it’s more the fact that you are answering the comment that matters. I usually like the comments I may not be able to respond, so that people know I acknowledge their words.
The numbers game I feel is pretty much the same as with blogging, but we constantly see bookstagrammers getting real about their struggles, and it’s just a huge network of reassurance.
All in all, I don’t know why we put ourselves through this XD But I like seeing my feed and seeing something pretty and that inspires me, which is what I look in other feeds as well.
I’m sure you’ll get the hang of everything and soon you’ll be experimenting with themes, and apps, and before you know it you’ll have a whole system to editing and 33 apps (I only have 19 XD), and it’ll be lots of fun ♥
Okay but Pam you have 19 APPS like how?? I am amazed??!
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment and all of your reassurance about it all, too. You’re right in that the worries are the same with blogging, they’re just on a different platform. I need to focus on having fun and hoping for the best 😀
Thank you!! <3
Ooh I love this so much and can relate to every single point! My worries led me to not posting for almost a year now, because the numbers weren’t growing, and my picture weren’t pretty enough to me and I was just giving up.
How do people have so many props to take pictures with?! And people have so many books, where I have mostly e-books. It was nerve-wrecking, so I’m back to being a silent observer.
I silently observe you too on Instagram and I’m loving your pictures so far! 🙂
Great post Marie! I hope you keep your bookstagram and blog, because I love them both <3
Oh thank you, I’m glad you could relate to this <3 and yes, I don't understand how everyone has so many props haha it's… wow. It's amazing haha.
I get that about ebooks, too, I feel like there aren't that many ebooks on the platform and it makes me a bit sad to see this. I know I want to plan some ebooks pictures, too 🙂
Thank you so much, you're too sweet, this means so much <3
I absolutely love this post as I feel like there is a lot to talk about with bookstagram and I had a lot of fears as well. I definitely relate to your experience as I felt like I didn’t post enough and I wasn’t good enough for this platform but I grew into being comfortable. I remember I asked a question on a photo how people talk there photos as I felt like everyone had an amazing camera but most people in my comments used their phone which made me feel better.
Instagram is very fact paced and I’m quite inconsistent but I somehow have managed to be very calm about it as only use I when I want and not care about growth, I don’t know how I’m so chill about it and I would love to transfer that feeling to other aspects in my life but I think that is why I love it. So I hope you can settle into a routine and enjoy a stress-free time with it. I also love getting to try new creative things through this platform!!
I’m certainly not a perfect bookstagrammer as I should be more consistent but I’m just doing me! I’ve been loving your photos by the way and this was a great post, I loved reading it. It also makes me feel better knowing someone is going through the same fears as me!! <3
Ahh I’m so happy to hear you grew comfortable with it all, that’s really all I am looking for, too, being comfortable and happy with it all ahah 🙂
OH that’s SO good, you need to teach me how you manage to do that! I want to be chill about it all as well ahah, I’m hoping to do so, fingers crossed 🙂
Thank you so, so much, Sophie <3 <3
Hoohoo 🙂 I’ve been on bookstagram for years now and honestly? I’m still worried, even though I can’t be bothered to do anything against it. Losing followers seems kind of normal now and to be honest, I’m mostly there so I can take photos and talk to people I like. I try not to worry about numbers, but of course I still do. It’s pretty hard not to. And as much as I love it, it can also be so stressful and pressuring. As you said, it’s so fast and you feel like you need to answer things immediately and post every day? Uh, no, thanks. Can’t do that anymore. I don’t have that much to say and it honestly makes me anxious and nervous to do that (or try). So the one tipp I could give you is this: take it at your own time and pace and it will work out fine. <3
Thank you Kat, this is such a wonderful tip <3 I really want to do that and try my best not to let my anxiety get the best of me! 🙂
Thank you so much!! <3
Yayayay – welcome to the bookstagram community!!! <3 I started a bookstagram in 2014 (I think) but I only got into it seriously a couple of years ago. It's such a lovely community. I took a long break from it though (I didn't post for 6 months 0_0) but it's good to be back. I totally agree with you on how it feels more fast-paced and having to post often to gain and keep followers!
Thank you so much!! I’m glad you’re having fun on it now that you’re back! 🙂
I feel this a lot. I’m still insecure about my stuff, mostlyu because I confront a lot. I see some amazing pictures and I ask myself: “why my room is not like this, why I miss this baked props” and i need to stop and remind myself it an aesthetic. It’s staged.
After that, comes the pressure: am I active enough, am I engaging enough, why no one notices me? And so on.
I remember passing many artisti like crisis to the point that it was making me incredibly unhappy. Now I’m taking back control and things are better. In the end, book blogging will still remain my main base start
I’m glad I’m not the only one! <3 and yes, exactly: I also try to remember that it's all staged and, well…. to be honest, I don't have or don't want to spend ten hours making the perfect picture, either, I know that would drain me more than anything else.
I"m so happy things have been better! We all do our best with what we can and I strongly believe we all have something good to bring to it 🙂
Thank you so much Camilla! <3
I love this post so much! I used to be super active on bookstagram but got really burnt out after a year or so because I felt like I didn’t have the time and resources to keep posting new pictures. I definitely feel the pressure of numbers, I remember being so happy just to break 50 and it’s so unnecessarily stressful to see newer accounts break 1000 so quickly. I ultimately decided to take a break because I realized that out of all the bookish platforms (and I’ve tried all of them) I still love book blogging them most and that’s where I always return to when I feel overwhelmed. Not going to lie, after all this self-isolation I have been thinking about rejoining but I’m still so hesitant ?
Oh I can so understand that. I feel like, anywhere in blogging or twitter or instagram, we can feel that numbers’ pressure, it can be so stressful.
I get what you mean! I hope you won’t feel obligated to get back to it, but if you’re feeling inspired again, you could try it out 🙂 little by little, and with breaks if you need them! <3
Thank you so, so much! 🙂
i love this post, marie!! i relate a lot to what you talked about — especially joining bookstagram because of the feeling of missing out. but it’s always been something on the side burner for me, i don’t interact there much except with friends and i don’t care about growing as much as i do on other platforms! for me that’s the only way that i’ll be motivated to actually post, and ever since i’ve taken things easier i’ve been having a better time there ?
also the tiny comment you made about editing apps — don’t worry about those! i think they can be helpful, but i tried a bunch and never really liked them. i use the regular editing in the iphone gallery and i feel like you can do a lot with it just that ? but please don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself on instagram!!! wanting to grow there is completely okay, but it’s not worth the possible toll on your mental health ?
ahh thank you so much! <3 I'm so happy that taking things easier has made it better for you, I really want to keep that kind of attitude on there, too. I know it will be tough, because I tend to want to do it all so much, but…. ultimately, it will be better for me this way, I think ?
ohhh thank you, that's so good to know! I've been reading and seeing tons of blog posts and people mentioning so many different editing apps, it's a little… scary. I don't want to be bothered with it all either, so I'm just trying one app for now and it feels easy and comfortable. I hope this stays that way!
Thank you so, so much, you're the best ?
So glad you joined us on bookstagram 😉 99% of the time, I don’t feel any pressure and my attitude towards Instagram is “just have fun, post what you want, and don’t worry about anything else.”
But, I’m human, and sometimes it gets a little annoying to think that my following doesn’t equate to the likes I get on each photo. And that’s not even because I feel the need to have lots of likes. I just feel like it makes me look a little less legit, and if one day, I decide to put myself out there with a publisher or whatnot, they might see that discrepancy and think that I don’t have a genuine community on Instagram.
Also, I do occasionally feel like I wish my feed looked a bit more cohesive, but I’ve found what I like, and there’s nothing wrong with experiencing with different editing apps and such. I want to be original & have something a bit different to offer, and I also want to be a little more flowing. But my attitude, this year, has come to revolve around to only posting what I’m proud of, and if I feel regret about something, taking it down and not feeling bad about doing that.
All in all, I really don’t worry. I think it’s stemmed from the two years I took off of social media years ago, and I didn’t even have instagram that first time around. Now, it’s really easy for me to leave social media alone for a long time, and I don’t focus on “interactions” so much. I think I just got a little bit lucky there :’)
Try your best to have fun with it!! You have something wonderful to offer on that platform, just as you always have here <3 (sorry for the ramble haha)
I love your attitude towards instagram and I really really need to think that way. To post things that I’m proud of and be happy with it, because really, you’re so right, that’s ALL that matters <3
Thank you so, so much for your wonderful comment and advice! <3
I have a love/hate relationship with Instagram. I really do love looking at everyone’s glorious book pictures and I like sharing my own, but I’ve figured out that I don’t have a great artistic eye and I’m just not willing to spend hours and hours on picture taking and editing. So, I have decided to be happy with my relatively few likes and move on. Otherwise I’d drive myself crazy! (And then, of course, there was the whole incident with getting impersonated today—that was so weird!!!)
I so get that spirit and want to feel the same way. I don’t have the patience to spend hours and hours tweaking and using 20 different apps to make my photography perfect, I just want to have fun with it 🙂
Thank you, Nicole! <3 and yes ahh that was so weird, I hope this never ever happens again! 🙁
This was too real ?? I totally feel what you’re saying! Bookstagram is great – it has great features, the people are super nice, I love seeing and taking pictures of books, … but oh my, does it suck my life away? hell yes!! I still haven’t had any time/inspiration/or even willpower to take and post new pictures and it takes me sooo much time (that i don’t have to begin with) to scroll down and interact. And then I’m so disappointed and unmotivated to keep going! I know I shouldn’t worry so much, that I don’t even have to keep a pretty feed, we’ve been told that, but I want to worry and I want to have a pretty feed because I care (also, I’m a sucker for pretty things and I highkey wanna prove to myself that I can do it). It’s just that I feel that I’ve done it all and I don’t know how to reinvent myself – and that feeling sucks the most. Also, when I wanna try new things, I get super shy because I’m scared of being awkward and that people won’t like it!! :// I just wanna have fun on bookstagram again! (great post btw!!)
Oh I get that – bookstagram is so much more time consuming than I ever thought it’d be. I so wish we could do it all but ahhh, time.
I’m so sorry you’ve been feeling so down and unmotivated about it 🙁 it took me so many months to get into it and time to know the kind of post i wanted to do. for now, I’m in a minimalistic/white kind of aesthetic, because so many accounts inspired me with these kind of aesthetics. maybe, if you’re feeling like it, you could save a couple pictures that inspires you, colors and fonts and layouts you enjoy and see if you might be able to do your own thing like that, too? 🙂
And you should try new things! don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself and try new kind of pictures, that’s how you’ll figure out what you like the most! <3 i'm rooting for you!! <3
Thank you for your kind words, Marie!! I’ll give that a try <3 I probably need to set aside a day or so to focus completely on this (it's hard finding time for everything these days…)
I so get that, we need way more time every day to do it all! 🙁 rooting for you always! <3
Really interesting topic Marie. I’ve tried being on bookstagram so many times and I’ve ended up deleting my page everytime, I struggle comparing myself to everyone so much and it’s really hard to not get many likes when you’ve really worked on your pictures. I’m debating starting another up but this time just using my phone and not trying to use my camera and make backgrounds.
i’m scared though!
Oh thank you! I’m happy you enjoyed this post <3
I get that struggle so much and, I feel like, just like blogging, we can so easily compare ourselves to others. but I'm certain you can do amazing things and will do amazing things! The most important thing to ask yourself is, whether or not you want to try it out. You don't have to have a fancy camera or backgrounds or such, I'm being very minimalistic for now and having fun despite that 🙂
I hope you can give it a try, that's the best way to see if you'll enjoy it again. I'm here to support you! <3
Ah, Bookstagram. I mean, I have one. And I post roughly twice a year. Actually, that may be a little inaccurate. Sometimes I will get a wee bit motivated in the summer because outside locations are pretty and easy. But still. It’s not often. And I am FINE with that. I was panicked when I first started too, and I found myself hating everything I did and being stressed and that is when I decided it was just NOT for me. Which is ironic, because I love taking pictures in general, but I didn’t love trying to come up with themes and props and such. And I figured why do it if I didn’t like it, you know? So now I do it if I feel like it, or if I sign up for a tour or something. But I can’t be stressed about it because sometimes it’s like, if you stress about one more thing you’ll explode? And I was at that precipice ? BUT if you enjoy it, it is definitely worth doing! And I think as long as you like, can handle those worrying moments, you’re fine! Because of course you’ll worry, it;s something you’re putting your time and energy into and you want it to be great! And I think you are doing an AMAZING job so far! ♥♥
YES oh my god that’s it. I just don’t want to stress out about it, because I might just explode ?, but I really really wanted to try this out. So I’m hoping to be just like you, to have fun and enjoy it and hopefully not freak out too much about it all? ?
Thank you so much, Shannon!! <3
Ok I love this. Welcome to bookstagram! It’s funny, I actually started on bookstagram. From that I had the courage to start my blog. So I went the opposite way and basically had the same fears about blogging as you do about Instagram. Now I’ve been on IG for way too long and things have changed so much for me. I went from posting twice a day, to once a day, to just a few times a week. Now that I’ve had my son, I basically dropped off the planet. I only post every few weeks and I’ve completely stopped taking photos with my fancy camera and just use my phone. I just didn’t have time for the fancy stuff any more. And what did I find? Even if I only post twice a month with crappy photos, people are STILL interacting with me. I still talk to the same people. I still get new followers and meet new people.
Basically what I’m trying to say is just don’t worry about it too much! Do what makes you happy and make sure it’s fun. That’s all that matters.
Thank you, Molly! That’s so, so good and reassuring to hear and I’m just so happy you’re having lots of fun with it, even if your use of it has changed over the years <3
Thank you for the lovely advice ahh, I needed to hear this. <3
Hey Marie. Don’t worry about the numbers yet as you have only started. I am sure you will excel in that platform too with time. I am on bookstagram for over 3 years now still only have 1.8K followers. This worries me everyday you know, like what wrong I am doing and how others are getting so many followers in just a short span. But the thing is, I do enjoy that platform and that’s what keeps me motivated. 🙂 So I am sure you would enjoy this platform too if you leave the worry about followers for a bit.
Thank you so, so much for your sweet words, Sim <3 I'm just so happy to see you are enjoying yourself, that's what matters the most, you're right! <3
Great post, Marie! Happy to see you on bookstagram. I created mine years ago, but I’m always so off and on with it. I think mostly because I lack the inspiration and I never know what kind of pictures to take. I’m still trying to figure out a theme even after years of having one. Haha. So, sometimes I just don’t even hop on it at all because I just have NO IDEA what to post about or caption my photos. So far with all the pictures I’ve seen you posting since you started, I think you’re doing a pretty great job. 🙂
Ahh thank you Ashley! <3 I can understand that, it can be so hard to know what kind of pictures to take, I know after a while I might have that lack of inspiration, too! It comes and goes I guess, as long as we're having fun when we're doing it, that's what matters 🙂
Thank you, Ashley <3
I’m fairly new to bookstagram too. I can relate so much to all your thoughts and worries! Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Another great post, Marie, and congrats for taking the plunge into the bookstagram world! Like you, I’ve been an inactive & casual observer. I post the occasional bookish photo (or photo in general lol) and try to interact with people on my feed when I remember, but honestly it is so much work. I don’t like how the algorithm actively works against you and how much effort it takes to gain traction, and I kind of resent the fact that I even feel the need to have a bookstagram! I’m not the best at photos and it makes me anxious, but I feel like I *need* to do it? I wish you lots of success
Thank you so, so much, Kal! <3 I agree with you that it's so, SO much work, really. I don't know if I'll be able to handle it once life starts back to normal -hopefully it will, ahah. I'm a little sad also by the fact that I feel like you "have" to be on bookstagram, I'm just so happy I'm not the only one feeling this way! So far, it's been a little anxiety-inducing, but I've also been having fun being creative this way, so I hope this continues 🙂 thank you so much for your support <3 <3
Ahh this is SO GOOD you’re on bookstagram! I honestly love it (probably not a surprise haha) but I definitely feel for you with the worries too. Instagram IS very face-paced and it’s not as simple to just….take time off. I mean, obviously anyone can do what they want, but it definitely favours those who spend so much time there. Sometimes I get so annoyed with it?! I just want to be a potato sometimes, thx. But don’t worry about needing to be open about your life!! I find I talk 90% just about books and what I’m reading and basic bookish questions and it hasn’t hindered my growth to not give everyone updates on my personal life! We should be able to be online and have fun on different platforms AND be private if we want ??
That’s what worries me, too, unlike blogging, it favors people spending hours and hours on the app and… well, I’m scared of that a bit ahah. But I’m trying not to worry about it too much and think about what I like, take it day by day 🙂
Ahh thank you! As a very private person, I’m just so happy to hear this haha <3 <3
I’m super on/off with my account but that’s been more on recently (other than like this entire month haha), there are definitely a lot of things that you can worry about with bookstagram compared to a blog, and the fast-paced, social media nature of it is one of the big reasons why I prefer blog to bookstagram (but omg it’s so true that it kinda feels like as a book blogger you need to have bookstagram or booktube you know), and also the kinda materialistic nature of it? I don’t always have time to take photos and also in general mine are just nowhere near as pretty as other people’s (I seem to lack a few key things like white bedsheets?? and just light themed stuff in general?) but I’ve sort of learned to accept that over the years and just use it as a fun, not too serious book promotion platform.
I think that’s so great that you have that vision of it and just try to keep it fun and not get too seriously into it. I want to do that SO badly. Just keep it light and fun as a whole and not put too much pressure on myself 🙂
I agree with you about how fast paced it is, I still much prefer the slow, relaxed pace of blogging and commenting this way 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment!! <3
I created my Bookstagram when I created my blog and I’ve definitely found that it took off way more than my blog. I wouldn’t say I was inactive but I recently just started putting a few hours a day commenting on others posts, sharing photos I like and joining engagement groups and found it is a lot of work but it’s so much more rewarding.
Also for editing, I use a free version of Lightroom on my phone and use portrait mode on my phone and that’s really all you need! Hope you enjoy your new-ish account and welcome to Bookstagram!
I’m happy you find your bookstagram work rewarding, that’s wonderful! 🙂
Thank you so, so much, Aubrey! 🙂
I’ve been loving your bookstagram Marie! Your pictures are so pretty ? You absolutely will not lose followers if you don’t share personal info about yourself! I feel like I shouldn’t state it like it’s a given, but I think that it’s sort of the same as blogging wise where there’s some info you can share to show your ~personality~ but it doesn’t have to get too deep. Honestly, there are some people who I think might share a bit *too* much on bookstagram ?
I wish you the best of luck on your Bookstagram journey ??
Ah thank you so, so much for your support, Chana, it means so much!! <3 <3 <3
I was really new to bookstagram, and I found that if I was following more people, then the more followers I would get. However, in July, I realized that following 700+ people was not good for my mental health, so I cleaned up my follower list. This August, I renamed myself and my blog because I felt like I needed to assert that I was no longer just someone who “lives in YA books” because I reaad more than YA! I renamed myself Solace In Reading, which was availible, and I find that bookstagram can be a lot of fun if you focus on connecting with people. Also, your followers will be supportive if you take a break! I’ve taken a month long break/barely posted for months because of school, and the friends you make WILL stick around and understand that you need to take care of yourself.
Exactly! I agree, the ones that matter will stay there and support you no matter what and it’s lovely to know that 🙂
Thank you for stopping by! 😀