Are you thinking about starting a Bookstagram, but something is holding you back? Maybe you feel overwhelmed by aesthetics, engagement, or the Instagram algorithm?
Well, let me tell you—if you love books, this is the perfect space for you!
I’ve been part of Bookstagram for over seven years now, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. Today, I’m sharing easy, actionable tips to help you start your Bookstagram journey and grow a thriving bookish community.
What is Bookstagram?
Bookstagram = Books + Instagram. Simple, right?
It’s a vibrant and welcoming space on Instagram where book lovers, reviewers, authors, and publishers share bookish content. From cozy reading nooks and dreamy bookshelves to candid book reviews and fun challenges—this community has it all!
(Oh, and when I first joined, Harry Potter was everywhere—until, well… JKR messed up. We book nerds take things seriously, and we have the power to dethrone even the mighty.)
Bookstagram’s popularity has skyrocketed over the years, and for good reason! Now, let’s get into the steps to start and grow a successful Bookstagram account.
Pick the Perfect Username
Your username should be:
✅ Bookish & Catchy (Think @cozyreads, @bibliophilebabe, @chapterandchai)
✅ Short & Memorable (Avoid long, complicated names)
✅ Aligned With Your Other Socials (If possible, use the same handle across platforms)
💡 Example: I started as @muffytales, posting about my golden retriever. As my content evolved, I changed it to @kohleyedreads, which fits my bookish persona better!
Don’t stress too much, though—you can always tweak it later!
Optimize Your Bio & Profile Picture
Your bio is your first impression! Make it count.
What to include:
✔ Your Name (People love knowing who’s behind the account!)
✔ Your Favorite Genres (Fantasy? Thrillers? Romance?)
✔ A Fun Quote or Bookish Fact
✔ Your Reading Goal or Current Read
✔ A Link to Your Blog or Goodreads
💡 Pro Tip: If you rep for bookish brands, display your discount codes in your bio!
Choose a Theme (Or Not!)
Some of the most successful Bookstagrammers have aesthetic, cohesive feeds. But if that’s not your vibe, don’t worry—just post what makes you happy!
Popular Bookstagram Aesthetics:
♥ Minimalist: White backgrounds, clean lines
♥ Cozy Vibes: Blankets, candles, fairy lights
♥ Dark Academia: Vintage books, warm tones
♥ Bright & Colorful: Bold book covers, pastel themes
No fancy props are needed! A Kindle and a coffee mug work just fine. Even your pet can make a cute bookstagram model (I use my golden retriever, Muffy!).
Some aesthetic accounts to check out:
- @kohleyedreads (Yup, that’s me!)T
- @crumbsoffiction
- @per_fictionist
- @bewitched_reader
Here are some examples.
You Don’t Need a Fancy Camera
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’m also a food blogger (Something’s Cooking). While I use a DSLR for food photography, I take all my Bookstagram photos with my phone!
Smartphones today have amazing cameras—just focus on good lighting, angles, and composition. Play around with different layouts and find what works best for you!
Today I can say that my pictures have become my portfolio and I’m getting brand collaborations for photographing their products.
Write Engaging Captions & Use Hashtags
Your caption is just as important as your photo. It helps spark engagement and build your community.
Caption Ideas:
♥ Ask Questions: What’s your current read? Do you DNF books?
♥ Recommend Books: Write mini-reviews or listicles
♥ Discuss Trends: Talk about book-to-screen adaptations, hyped books, etc.
♥ Be Personal: Share your bookish journey, struggles, or wins
♥ Brand Deals: If you rep for brands, mention your discount codes
Hashtags and Meta Descriptions for Visibility:
Use a mix of big + niche hashtags so your posts reach the right audience. Some great ones include:
♥ #Bookstagram #BookstagramIndia #ReadersOfInstagram
♥ #BookLover #CurrentlyReading #Bibliophile
♥ #BookPhotography #BookAesthetic #BookwormLife
Pro Tip: Save your hashtags in notes & rotate them for each post!
Engage With Your Bookstagram Community
Growing on Bookstagram isn’t just about posting—it’s about engagement!
💬 Comment on Posts: Genuine interactions = More connections
💬 Reply to DMs: Build friendships & network with book lovers
💬 Join Buddy Reads & Challenges: These are so fun!
💬 Use Stories & Reels: Instagram prioritizes video content—use it to share bookish reels & updates!
Remember: Quality over quantity. A smaller, engaged community > 10K ghost followers!
Stay Consistent & Be Yourself
Final tips for Bookstagram success:
✔ Be consistent. Post at least 2-3 times a week
✔ Batch content. Take multiple photos at once to stay ahead
✔ Experiment. Try different themes, formats, & content styles
✔ Be patient. Growth takes time, but it’s worth it!
✔ Most importantly—HAVE FUN! 🎉
I hope this guide gave you the confidence to start your Bookstagram journey! It’s a fantastic space to connect with book lovers, discover amazing reads, and even collaborate with publishers & brands.
📣 Tell me in the comments: What’s your Bookstagram username? Let’s connect!
You can follow me on my Bookstagram at kohleyedreads
Want More Book Blogging Tips? Read: Blog Post Ideas for Book Bloggers
That’s all for now!
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Shalini, Ufff….I love your bookshelf (I have always admired it and shown it around to people as well, but this is the first time I’m putting it down in writing), your pics, your posts….to put it short, everything! Please give me some tips on themes. Going by what you’ve mentioned in the post, it looks easy, but I know it’s far from that. Please, some tips for a beginner. Thanks for sharing…..
The bookshelf and the bookstagram are both drooling. A lot of effort goes behind setting up a dedicated account and you are doing it really well. You have shared great tips here and would be really helpful for beginners.
What an excellent bunch of tips for bookstagrammers! I specially found the various themes intriguing. Lovely and colourful pics throughout!
Namratha recently posted…Boketto – Short poetry forms – Micropoetry #atozchallenge #BlogchatterA2z
I think what scares me the most about jumping into Bookstagram are picture layouts. I have seen some amazing pictures and they just scare me more! Your Bookstagram looks gorgeous!
I have been on bookstagram for 2 years and this blog is absolutely amazing! Although I have 2 years experience I really still lack the theme and yes I am absolutely noting down the photography tips! Loving your blogs and eagerly waiting for the next one!
Shalini, I so love your book photography. They’re vibrant and so well organized. Do you use the theme color as red and blue? Thanks for sharing such useful tips for bookstagram.
Such an insightful post Shalini. I have switched to kindle in order to be sustainable and just out of ideas for theme and how to make pictures look good. And that keeps me from sharing my thoughts on the books I have been reading.
Ramya Rao recently posted…Stay in Magnificent Mango Mulch – A Farm Stay Review
What lovely tips and pictures! You make it look so easy. However, there is so much that goes into this! Kudos!
After reading your post I realised that I live in the ‘stone age’. I knew nothing about Bookstagram 🙁 But not any more courtesy you Shalini. Thanks for pulling me out from the stone age directly to 21st century 🙂
I’ve already told you this, but I just feel I cannot express enough how much I love your home library, the bookshelves, and now also your booksta. You’ve made it easy to set up through this blog post but I know how much effort and love for the craft it takes to keep doing it consistently. And for that, I’m inspired by you and also motivated 😀