Bookstagram discussion
Bookstagram 101 : Tips and How To
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My Tip: You don't 'need' a very good professional camera to take good pictures. Your cell phone camera is great, if the lighting is good.
And i swear by natural lighting!
no Bulbs!
◘ my advice ◘ ... enjoy other book feeds, let them inspire you
but keep your own style ;-) experiment. try new things.
there is no: better or worse,
no rule for having a long or a short caption -
your way of sharing should speak "your" language :-)
-- that's what makes your feed interesting & unique.
My advice:Avoid the whole f4f, l4l, s4s trend.
I've always been against f4f and l4l, I firmly believe that if someone likes what you post, it should be up to them to manifest it be it by likes or by following you. But liking or following someone only by expecting the same in return may increase your account of followers and likes but not in a genuine way.
Besides, it can be a big turn off for other people. I, for example, raaarely take any notice of someone who comments on one of my pictures something like l4l, f4f.
As for the s4s, I used to enjoy them because it allowed me to get to know a lot of new, smaller feeds. But by now, a lot of people are abusing it by posting tons and tons of 'shoutouts' that usually don't really feel genuine, and it loses whatever effect it may have had.
Bottom line is, don't get crazy about numbers, be it followers or likes. I know we all like those numbers go up, but don't let them make you crazy. The important thing is liking what you post, and having fun.
tiss ~ yes, for a time these shout out's have been pretty popular. Like you, I used to do a few in the beginning, but stopped because I noticed that I'd rather choose the feeds I want to follow by myself. Plus, when someone decides to follow mine :-) it should not be out of a duty that comes from the S4S.
I'm not a fan of anything for and for. I like to give my own shoutout because they deserve it and I don't really expect anything in return. Another tip: comment and like on other fellow pics. You might be surprised by the friendships made.
I'm a newbie, only been doing bookstagram for a few weeks, but from running other pages and from what I've seen since I've started my bookstagram, here's my advice:Share for share is mostly annoying. I've seen some accounts post almost daily a S4S post (and they'll only share a small handful of the accounts that shared them anyways) and I end up unfollowing when they do it nonstop like that. However, if you choose to share a page because you truly like it, than that's fine. I'll share pages, with no expectations of them sharing me back, if I truly think their page is amazing. If they share me too, that's great. If they don't, well, it wasn't what I was going after anyways lol.
Natural lighting is your friend (though you CAN totally make artificial lighting work, I swear it!)!!! Between that and a good editing app (I LOVE snapseed), you can get a great, crisp looking picture, regardless of what type of camera you use. I only use my smartphone (as that's all I have available to me at the moment) and I can easily make mine look as good, or in some cases better, than people that's spent a huge chunk of money on some fancy camera.
DO NOT STRESS OVER FOLLOWERS!!! I can guarantee you that it will seem to take AGES to get a decent following if you just stare at the numbers nonstop. Your numbers will grow, but the more you stress about it can end up leading to it effecting your IG account in a negative way (like the people CONSTANTLY talking about their #'s (who get annoying, and in which I'll eventually unfollow, which is the exact opposite of what they wanted), or people end up focusing so much on that that they don't focus on making good pics.) It's all for fun! If you aren't having 100% fun running your bookstagram account or creating content for it, than you might want to rethink a few things. This should be thoroughly enjoyable, in most/all aspects. Stress shouldn't be apart of that equation! :-)
Themes aren't all they're cracked up to be! If you really want a theme, by all means, go for it! It's your own creative expression! There are no limits! But I in no way dislike bookstagram accounts that don't have a theme. I first stressed (a smidge) about not having a theme, because EVERYONE seems to tell you that you MUST have one, but there are just too many things I would want to be able to photograph, that picking a theme felt too constricting to me. I like pictures of books! So does 110% of bookstagrammers! Most people are NOT going to care (or decide to not follow you) simply because your IG isn't themed. Do what you want and what makes you happy!
Post somewhat regularly. Find a schedule that works for you, and not just on when you want to post either. If taking pics of your precious books are too hard to manage during the week due to work, school, or whatever else, take as many different pics of different set ups on the weekends, or vice versa, or whatever works for you personally. That way you'll have a small stash to last you for several posts, instead of freaking out because it's midnight and you don't have a pic ready for the next day (and end up taking a mediocre pic instead). I keep a notebook of ideas and such JUST for my different IG accounts, that way I can plan things in advance for those rainy days (which, btw, is great picture days! lol)
Don't stress that you don't have a ton of books, or varying books, or props, or whatever. You can still make bookstagram work. Go to the library and check out books that fit your theme of the pic you're wanting to take it you can't do it with your own books. Go to bookstores and do the same. And as for props, you don't HAVE to have funkos (or whatever) as a prop. Literally everybody will have miscellaneous stuff that can be used as a prop for your pic (google it, you'll find lists of things, I promise).
And if you're still stressed about any or all of the above......Google it!!!! Lots of blog posts have been written about this very thing. Read, read, read (which is what us bookworms love to do anyways) and you'll get tons of tips and tricks, as well as get inspired.
Overall, have fun with it. If it's not your idea of perfect at first, you'll get there. Nobody (if they're being honest and didn't delete posts or start a new IG account) started out with a perfectly gorgeous bookstagram account. You live and learn and get better. Enjoy it!
Great post Sheena. I agree!! Having fun is the most important factor.
Sheena wrote: "I'm a newbie, only been doing bookstagram for a few weeks, but from running other pages and from what I've seen since I've started my bookstagram, here's my advice...."I probably already follow you Sheena, but what's your IG account handle?
(Also 'here here!' on breaking the cycle of S4S)
Thanks! I have found the "shoutout sessions" to be very irritating. I have unfollowed some of my favorite accounts because of this. I understand everyone wants more followers and likes, but that's not the point of Bookstagram. And some of these accounts have 10k+ followers so it's confusing as to why they still do it. I like looking at pictures of books, seeing what other people are reading, photography and talking about books. If I only ever have 400 followers, then so be it!
Ryan wrote: "Sheena wrote: "I'm a newbie, only been doing bookstagram for a few weeks, but from running other pages and from what I've seen since I've started my bookstagram, here's my advice...."I probably a..."
My bookstagram account is: biblio.boppity.books
Shannon (Mrsreadsbooks) wrote: "Thanks! I have found the "shoutout sessions" to be very irritating. I have unfollowed some of my favorite accounts because of this. I understand everyone wants more followers and likes, but that's ..."I know, right? I saw an account the other day that had 30k+, and was doing nonstop shoutout sessions. Like, seriously? lol
I do shoutouts, but I do one a week, if that, and only leave it up for a day at most. And it's someone I found who has very few followers, who deserves more because they are amazing! It's always a surprise too, I don't do s4s. My tip is to comment, comment, comment!!! The only way you'll make friends is if you talk to other people!!! I have meet some amazing people just through comments and DM's! And I'm always open to talk to if you want!
Love this thread--I actually recently put together a Bookstagram 101 post on my blog. I've only had time to do the first post in the series thus far, but I plan to do more later this fall.https://royalsocialmedia.com/marketin...
Lauren is spot on about comments--it's all about building genuine relationships with other bookstagrammers. I wish I had more time--but I try to dedicate 5-10 min a day for leaving comments on posts I like from people I follow and another 5-10 per hashtag (to discover new accounts).
I'm still pretty new at it but so far the biggest thing I've seen that helps is learn the tags that work for you (you might not do well in the same tags that some of the big accounts use or you might not do well in certain popular tags because you are posting different content than the average poster using that tag.)
The others are just bonuses; learning to take a good photos, gaining followers through the community, etc.The real goal is to share your thoughts about books, meet some friends, and learn from them what they've thought about the books they love in which you might also enjoy. And maybe, find that perfect book that'll change you or best, your life. :)
Leave comments if you love a particular post!!! Those make each others' day.♥
Bookstagram: frances.reads
I'll start by trying to define what Bookstagram is:
Its a community in Instagram who LOVES to read, post pictures about books and bookish things, share reviews and much more connecting with other book lovers throughout the world.