Instagram is a great place for authors. With the popularity of Bookstagram, and Instagram being a very visual platform, it gives authors opportunities to market their books and showcase who they are to readers.
However, it is important to follow some guidelines when it comes to Instagram. Having a public account isn’t just so people can know about you and your books—you are also marketing yourself and showcasing your brand.
Here are 9 things you should know when curating your Instagram:
1. Make your Instagram handle your name.
Instagram handles can be fun to create and come up with, but as an author, you want to be easy to find. People don’t want to hunt for you. Simply using your first and last name as your Instagram handle is the best practice. It may not be as fun, but when bloggers and readers go to tag you in posts or follow you, they can quickly type in your name and find you.
2. Change your Instagram into a business account.
There are many pros to transitioning into a business Instagram. The first is that you can list what you do below your name. Another plus is that you can see the analytics of your posts. You will be able to see how many people viewed your post or story, your audience demographics, where the majority of your followers are from and be able to promote certain posts that you want out in the world.
3. Write a great bio.
Besides the photos, your bio can make it or break it for your followers. You want to capture their attention and make them follow you all in the span of a few seconds. You don’t want to be too wordy, but include enough information that they know who you are. Some great examples of author Instagram biographies are below:
What is something all these bios have in common?
- They state they are an author
- They have their current or upcoming book listed
- They include something that showcases their personality
- They have their website linked
- It’s not overly wordy
Take inspiration from those accounts and research other author’s bios a little more. Then, create your own! It may seem like a lot of work—but is worth it in the end.
4. Have a balance of photos.
Have you ever heard of the 70:20:10 rule in content marketing? This is a flexible rule that can be implemented on various social media sites. But what does it mean for Instagram? Here is a rundown:
70: It means that 70% of your content should be branding. These are the photos that showcase who you are and what you are all about. It’s the photos of your dog, the cups of coffee, hobbies, and behind-the-scenes type of stuff.
20: 20% is where you share the love. This can mean anything from accounts that have tagged you in photos of your book, to your photos of books that you are enjoying at the moment. There are all kinds of possibilities—just make sure they are still on brand for who you are and what you want your audience to see.
10: 10% is the shameless self-promotion! This is where you share your book, advertise it, and throw it out into the world.
While the balance of photos varies from time-to-time and may change depending on upcoming releases and tours, always keep the 70:20:10 rule in mind when posting. That way, you don’t overwhelm your followers with promo, but still maintain who you are and your overall brand.
5. Photo quality is important.
With Instagram being so visual, it is vital to make sure your photos are clear and concise. Posting a yellow grainy photo isn’t going to look as good as a clear and even-toned photo. Nor will it get the same kind of interaction with your followers. Check out this post about staging book photos!
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a brand-new camera or editing software. A simple iPhone and natural lighting will do the trick and make your photos stand out. Try to avoid posting dark and shaky photos and if you absolutely need to, post it on your Stories.
6. Utilize the Stories.
Speaking of Stories, they are important to use, too! It is a quick snapshot of what you are doing that day and can give followers a look into your life. Are you writing? Maybe take a quick shot of your screen to give fans a little preview. Are you on a deadline? Snap a boomerang of your empty third cup of coffee. Do you have a tour stop? Post about it and remind everyone!
The possibilities are unlimited. Try to keep the stories to around one to ten a day (if even). You don’t want to overwhelm everyone!
7. Interact with followers.
Instagram’s algorithm relies on you using the app. Comment, reply to comments, like photos, and post. Interaction exposes your account to more people.
A great way to do this is by liking and commenting on photos you have been tagged in, replying to DMs, reposting photos, etc. You aren’t just showing your followers who you are. You are telling Instagram that, yes, you use the app, and therefore should be suggested to more people in a similar niche.
Plus, you get to interact with some pretty cool people.
8. Make use of the highlight section.
The highlights are under your account and are just as it sounds, a highlight reel. They are saved from your stories into little highlights that you make. Some people even go as far as to make cute cohesive covers for them.
What types of highlights should you have? Some popular topics for authors are:
- Favorite Books
- Tour Dates
- Writing Process
- Reviews
- Travel
It is all based on personal preference, but make sure you have a couple of the ones above to give an inside look of you. Think of it as a trailer to your life.
9. Keep your audience in mind.
When posting, always think about your audience. While you might want to post that video of your child’s first steps, it may not be the best place to share it. That is more of a personal video that you would share with family and friends, not your fans.
A great example is Sarah J. Maas. She had a baby a while back and though she occasionally shares some photos of him every so often (usually with one of her books somewhere in frame), she doesn’t usually post about that part of her life. When she does post a photo of her private life, it usually has something to do with herself as an author.
While it is good to be real with your audience, some things aren’t meant to be public. It all depends on your brand and who you are. For example, if you’re a memoirist, sharing more of your life may be more appropriate. Be sure to always keep your audience in mind when posting anything.
An author’s goal with Instagram is to show readers who they are and market themselves to potential readers! It is important to be strategic when curating your Instagram. However, everyone is different and all rules can be bent. Just have fun with it and don’t let it stress you out.
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