Friends Sharing Book Love discussion

Temporary discussion to share some IG strategies.

There are a couple of things you can do right away to increase your engagement. You’ll feel more like you’re in a book community.

1. You can join a couple of engagement groups that will increase the likes on your posts and open you up to what’s called comment chat groups.

2. Participate in some of the 24 hour posts designed for you to meet other Booksta members and follow each other. Tessa helped me move from 404 followers to 2,000 in a couple of months. I’m now up to ~6,400 by continuing to do those and joining some temporary “follow to follow” chat groups. They are open for about three days and folks join, introduce themselves and we follow each other. One weekend I gained 90 followers.

3. The comment chat groups are the most engaging in my opinion. That’s where I’ve developed closer, more personal relationships and a community. They can vary in how they organize the posts but generally speaking, you post links to your book posts whenever you post a review or other content to your page. You have to visit everyone who’s posted a link and comment on their posts. Most chat groups have a limited number of members posting (generally no more than 10) but I’m in one where there can be about 17 posts (it’s my main one where I’m good friends with most of the members).

I’ll stop here and wait for your questions.

Ditto to everything Jonetta said! Thanks for including me here, Jonetta!
These are all things I did to grow my account to over 12,300 followers. The F4F groups are one of the fastest ways to gain followers. Ditto "collab" groups. But you're expected to follow everyone who follows you back. My issue with that is I do not follow "Private accounts" (no way to know what they're posting before following them) and I don't follow authors who ONLY post about their own book. However, I've met some great fellow book lovers turned into "friends" in these groups. I also participate in some book chat type groups. Basically, if you post your "post of the day" in those groups, you're expected to comment on each of the others' posts for that day. I don't have a problem with that. It's reciprocal. Right now, my issue is a lack of time. Building a Bookstagram account and maintaining it is time consuming. And you lose followers fast if you stop posting.

Instagram is constantly changing. What works this week may not the next. One group I've learned a lot from is an Instagram Tips & How To group where members post anything they've learned that helps with gaining & maintaining followers or with getting comments on your posts. There are some "instagram influencers" who post videos updating changes to instagram, ways to work around some things and how to increase participation, etc. Links are often posted in this group.

One big change Instagram has apparently made that we've been asking for is lifting the 7500 Follow cap. If you participate in many of the "follow" posts, you'll soon hit that cap. Before, you couldn't add follow anyone else after that. But this week, some of us noticed that we've gone above that cap without getting the warning message. Hopefully, this is permanent.

One other thing - beware InstaJail. You can get locked out of posting for a few days/weeks if you do things like follow or unfollow too many at one time. That's ridiculous because that's the point of Insta!! Like Goodreads, there are things about Bookstagram that are frustrating, but publishers are looking for this type of exposure for their new books being released.

Jonetta - how do you manage posting regularly? Do you create several posts at once for the week ahead? Or work on it daily? Do you have any ideas/methods for creating posts in a timely manner? With Alvin's health issues, we're covered up with weekly appts., health management, insurance company battles, etc. It's not only consuming all my time, it's draining my energy & creativity. I've even considered giving up everything else because I hate following behind. But I love the "book world". I've got to get a handle on everything or give it all up.

Jonetta - how do you manage posting regularly? Do you create several posts at once for the week ahead? Or work on it daily? Do you have any ideas/methods for creating posts in a timely manner? With Alvin's health issues, we're covered up with weekly appts., health management, insurance company battles, etc. It's not only consuming all my time, it's draining my energy & creativity. I've even considered giving up everything else because I hate following behind. But I love the "book world". I've got to get a handle on everything or give it all up...."

I changed my account over a year ago to digital creator, which allows me to schedule posts in advance. Highly recommend you do that as it gives you so much more freedom. I also use Canva to create my pics in advance.

Sometimes I get ahead but last week I got behind and was barely making my daily posts. Otherwise, I write the reviews, create the pic and then schedule the IG post.

I urge you not to give up your book stuff because it’s what kept me sane when John got sick. I create everything on my iPad and took it with me to the hospital. I was in John’s room listening to my books and keeping up here and on IG. It’s also when I shifted to listening to more books than reading.

One other thing - beware InstaJail. You can get locked out of posting for a few days/weeks if you do things like follow or unfollow too many at one time. That's ridiculous because that's the point of Insta!! Like Goodreads, there are things about Bookstagram that are frustrating, but publishers are looking for this type of exposure for their new books being released...."

It’s a racket as once I became a verified account, I’ve never been jailed again (since August 2024). But, it was worth it because it allowed me to grow my account.

Great feedback, Sandra!

I create posts on canva also. Love it! And I also schedule posts. I decided against going with verification. A decision I may revisit at some point if I continue. - I guess my issue starts before the posting on social media...with getting the reviews written in the first place. Along with time restraints, I'm just brain dead I think. It's a chore to write the reviews, a mental drain. I know it stems from all the stress surrounding us right now and I need to work past it. I do love reading, writing reviews, sharing on social media, etc. I'm just a bit burnt out right now.

I realize this thread was created for the two of you. I hope y'all don't mind me jumping in with my thoughts.

Thank you so much for the tips. I’ll do my best. My husband has had 2 strokes and experiences seizures as a result so free time is hard for me. Tomorrow I should have more free time to look into your tips more. I appreciate your feedback.

Debra, I'm so sorry to hear this. I'll be praying for you both. I know how stressful this is especially on you. Hang in there! Hugs!

Sandra wrote: "Debra, I'm so sorry to hear this. I'll be praying for you both. I know how stressful this is especially on you. Hang in there! Hugs!"

Thank you, Sandra! It has not been the best year.

Believe me. I understand. What was supposed to be a routine knee replacement turned into finding out hubby has acute aorta stenosis & facing heart surgery plus kidney failure. We’re waiting for more tests to find out if he has to have the heart surgery before knee replacement or vice versus. We’ve been under this dark cloud since last November with different specialists ordering test after test. And now the insurance company is refusing to pay for another test the cardiologist wants. It’s physically and mentally draining. And it’s depressing for both of us.

Sorry. We’re supposed to discuss Bookstagram tips here, but it helps to talk to others who understand.
With that, I’m actually going to try to prepare a post for tomorrow. Something I haven’t done recently. lol

Thank you both for the feedback. I will look into it and do what I can.

Sandra, No worries, you are right, it is good to share. I am keeping my fingers crossed for your husband. I know how mentally and physically draining it is. It is very hard and difficult.

Sandra wrote: "I create posts on canva also. Love it! And I also schedule posts. I decided against going with verification. A decision I may revisit at some point if I continue. - I guess my issue starts before t..."

You might do well to change how you write reviews in the short term…make them short and sweet. Publishers, authors and readers will still be happy. When I changed my format, I got down to 15 minutes in writing them. I’m thinking of making them even shorter.

Sandra wrote: "I realize this thread was created for the two of you. I hope y'all don't mind me jumping in with my thoughts."

I’m so grateful you joined in. It was intended to be open.

Debra wrote: "Thank you so much for the tips. I’ll do my best. My husband has had 2 strokes and experiences seizures as a result so free time is hard for me. Tomorrow I should have more free time to look into yo..."

I really hate you’re going through this Debra. Sending positive, healing thoughts your way.

As Sandra already knows, 2023 was a challenging year for me with my own hubby’s health. I lived in the hospital with him it seemed. Thank God we turned a corner, just in time for my own health to weaken. Getting better now.

We walk in your shoes with you.

Jonetta wrote: "Sandra wrote: "I create posts on canva also. Love it! And I also schedule posts. I decided against going with verification. A decision I may revisit at some point if I continue. - I guess my issue ..."

I've thought about writing shorter reviews and will definitely try to implement this going forward.

Thank you both for your input and sharing your stories. I am going to let my blog go and in a few weeks, dive into Instagram to get more engagement. His Neurologist said his seizures will slowly go away. When he is more stable, I am going to try and engage more with others on Instagram.

Thank you again!

Debra wrote: "Thank you both for your input and sharing your stories. I am going to let my blog go and in a few weeks, dive into Instagram to get more engagement. His Neurologist said his seizures will slowly go..."

Reach out to both of us on IG when you’re ready. In the meantime, I’ll keep you and your family in my prayers. You, too, Sandra.

Jonetta wrote: "There are a couple of things you can do right away to increase your engagement. You’ll feel more like you’re in a book community.

1. You can join a couple of engagement groups that will increase ..."

Thanks so much for the tips, Jonetta! I have been very irregular on Instagram because Goodreads itself takes so much of my time that I don't have any to spare for engagement on Insta. But given how things are going with Goodreads and with publishers, I think I need to ramp up my presence there.
I did try engagement groups for a short time, but didn't have much luck with those. Though I tried engaging with those who posted in the group, I wasn't getting the same in return. Plus, I am not so savvy with pics so my Canva images are quite basic. I will keep your tips in mind and give Insta another shot. The most important tip is to write shorter reviews. My reviews take me ages! I really need to start rethinking my format. :(

Sending you all best wishes for your health and your family's health!

Thanks so much for the tips, Jonetta! I have been very irregular on Instagram because Goodreads itself takes so much of my time that I don't have any to spare for engagement on Insta. But given how things are going with Goodreads and with publishers, I think I need to ramp up my presence there.
I did try engagement groups for a short time, but didn't have much luck with those. Though I tried engaging with those who posted in the group, I wasn't getting the same in return. Plus, I am not so savvy with pics so my Canva images are quite basic. I will keep your tips in mind and give Insta another shot. The most important tip is to write shorter reviews. My reviews take me ages! I really need to start rethinking my format. :(..."

You’re welcome, Rosh. I moved to IG when it became clear that’s where publishers were focusing, along with BookTok. The engagement groups are good for boosting likes and seeing other posts. It’s the chat groups where you find your community. Maybe at some point a group of us from GR can create a chat group and sustain our community there! We only need about ten people to start.

Oh! Another way to gain more followers is to give away books. Use your engagement groups to get attention.

About your reviews…think about your audience and that will help you figure it out.

Rosh wrote: "Sending you all best wishes for your health and your family's health!"

Thank you💜

Great tips all. This is a busy month. I hope to dig in more for engagement next month. I appreciate it. I had my blog for over 15 years and in the beginning had a huge following but when it got hacked and I started over from scratch, I had very little engagement on it and basically publishers went to it when I did blog tours. I am working on shortening my reviews as they do take some time.

once I get going more next month, I'm sure I will have lots of questions.

Hang in there! Awful about being hacked. I’ve had mine for only eight years and it feels hard to think about discontinuing. But, I’ll keep the domain.