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Trying to post regularly on Instagram can be quite overwhelming, especially when you want to avoid posting about the same book or books every day. Lucky for us, there are loads of topics to talk, and post about when it comes to books. To make life a little easier, I made a list of some 20+ ideas for your next Bookstagram post. All can be used in different ways, for different social media.
Before anyone starts yelling at me: No, it does not have to be your first post ever to do a ‘Meet the Bookstagrammer’. In fact, it’s a lot more fun to do every year or after a certain amount of new followers, so that the information is always up-to-date. The easiest way is to take a nice picture of yourself, maybe with some books or bookish accessories. Then tell something about yourself, your favourite books, your favourite author, about where you live, or even something about your pet. Anything goes, as long as it is about you.
This may seem like an obvious one, but what if you haven’t finished any new books lately? You could always revisit a book you’ve read before, maybe your views have changed over time or maybe you still have a book lying around you have not posted a review about. You can ask your followers whether they have also read the book and their thoughts are. Tagging the author and/or publisher is also a good idea, but don’t forget: only tag them when you have something nice to say.
Another popular and easy post for your Bookstagram content is the ‘Last/Now/Next’. The name is quite self-explanatory: you post a picture or a clip with the book you last read, the book you’re currently reading, and the book you are planning to read next. Super simple, but effective.
You knew this one was coming weren’t you? Also very self-explanatory, very simple, and very effective. That is, if you haven’t posted the same current read 5 times in a row, obviously. For engagement, you can ask your followers what they are currently reading or if they have read the book that you are reading. Apart from the engagement, it might give you some inspiration or insights.
There is nothing as versatile and as personal as a stack or row of books on a bookshelf. You can take pictures from different angles, zoom in, zoom out, rearrange the whole shelf and sort the books on colour or in alphabetical order. Add some (bookish) decoration, lights, candles or keep it minimalistic. The options are endless. Don’t forget to make use of hashtags like: #sundayshelfie or #saturdayshelfie when you post it on the weekends.
If there is anything the bookstagram community is great at, it is at challenges. They vary from matching your mug, food or even socks to your books, to monthly challenges with a different theme every day. Search for #bookstagramchallenge or take a look at the feed of others to see what challenges are out there. Or if you’re feeling extra creative, create your own challenge!
When you are looking for a post idea that is relevant on the day of posting, take a look at what books are published on that day or which author’s birthday it is. You can do an appreciation post or a little shout out to that book or author, along with a photo of that book or the books the author has written.
Every reader has one: a giant pile of books that have yet to be read. Or as most people call it, the To-Be-Read pile, TBR for short. Make use of that pile, take a picture of the books you are going to read, want to read or hoping to read in the coming month. Ask for advice on which to read first or ask which book people think is the best of the bunch.
After you tried to work your way through that massive pile of books you said you were going to read, it is time to do a wrap-up. Stack up the books you’ve read the past month and do a little recap on them. Which did you like best, which books didn’t live up to the hype or were they all good? Did any of your followers read them too? What did they think?
In order to get that to-be-read pile of books as high as it is, you have to buy or order books. But you can make use of that, by posting about your most recent bookhaul or about books you received by mail. You can even turn it into an unboxing clip, where you unpack the books on screen.
Bookstagram has a great number of hashtags to use for your posts to make use of. Take ‘Two for Tuesdays’, where you post a photo of two books that have something in common. The same author, the same title, the same cover, the same series, etcetera. Same goes as for the challenges: take a look at the feed of others to see if there are any popular hashtags to join or create your own.
What book or books made you sad, happy, or even a little angry maybe? List them and see what others think! No need for a lengthy review in this case, just share that one overwhelming emotion you got from a book or multiple books and give a little explanation. Or don’t and let your followers guess why the books made you feel a certain way.
I know, it seems absolutely impossible to choose one favourite book, author, or character for that matter. But it’s a fun and easy post, and you can ask your followers if they agree or what their favourites are.
Seasons, holidays, important dates, all content material. For instance: a pink book for Valentine’s Day, a Christmas story for Christmas, a spooky read for Halloweeen. The list goes on and the possibilities are pretty much endless.
You don’t always need a certain topic to talk about in your posts. Sometimes, you can just enjoy the aesthetic of a pretty bookstack. You can make a bookstack with a certain theme of course, but that’s all up to you. Make a pretty picture of the pile of books and maybe ask if anyone sees anything they like, any favourites, or even any books they dislike?
What are you reading this week, what are you up to, what are you going to eat? In short: What This Week. This is a very popular post idea, not just within the bookstagram community, because it is simple, it is personal, and honestly pretty fun to brag about your plans for the week.
Posts about bookshops from all over the world are perhaps one of my favourite types of posts on social media. Getting to see all those lovely shops (and secretly add them to my travel itineraries for when I visit that particular place) is such a joy. And by showing photos or clips from your favourite local bookshop, you also promote them. Win-Win!
Whether you collect special editions, vintage editions, certain cover designs or have a beautiful set of books from a series: show them off! Because in the end, we are all suckers for pretty and collectible books.
Pick a colour, any colour! Stack some books with the same colour or colour scheme or create a flatlay with books and props from the same colour. Just choose your favourite colour or go with a theme, like green for St. Patrick’s Day or orange for Halloween. Ask your followers what their favourite colour is, or even start your own challenge and tag some friends to spread the word!
Last one on the list is, the always winning, ‘Books and …’. You can basically add anything on the dots and make it work. Try popular ones like books and coffee or get creative with something like books and flowers, or even books and lego. Here too, the options are numerous.
I hope I have given you some new inspiration for your posts on Instagram or any other platform for that matter.
And remember, it should be fun, not an obligation.
Much love & stay salty!
Xx Marie