Today instead of a dear author I am going to talk about Instagram.
Back the beginning of July I had to get a new phone which meant I lost my authentication for Instagram. When I originally started using 2-factor Authentication I didn’t keep the extra codes. For that matter don’t even remember them much less set up the email option. (Note if you set up 2-factor make sure you read all the info). I did try to prove it was my account but it just wasn’t working so Ausjenny12 was created.
This happened the beginning of July. Firstly, I made sure I have kept the codes and set up a second option. Next was to create a post so people would know it was me and not a clone. I included photos of my cats and explained what happened. Now to start rebuilding. By sharing also to Facebook I gained back followers. I also learnt you can only request so many people in a day. While I previously posted things to Instagram, I made sure I added the Tuesday Book Chat and all my posts using the #australasianchristianwriters.
What I learnt about Booksta Tours
One thing I have learnt is that many of the blog tours or bookstagram tours require over 1,000 followers, although they don’t actually mention this. I had just over 100. With posting more I spent more time there. I even talked to Chatgpt and we brainstormed ways to explain the change but also what my tag would be. My idea is to primarily use it to promote books and share book info but also share Libby’s antics. I learnt I am a Booksta (Bookstagramer).
Next I needed more followers. I was commenting on follow trains. This is where you follow hosts and hopefully they follow back and helps you to build up your followers. I was also asked to join a Booksta tour by a couple of authors. One I did as they write what I read and I knew the names the other the time didn’t work out. This was when I was starting to see the value of being a Bookstagrammer.
Follow trains
Mid October I hit 200 followers and thought I was doing so good. This is when I applied to a few Instagram tours and learnt I just didn’t have enough followers. I was still looking at follow teams but then I saw a few with authors I know. This lead me to the No Spice and Closed Door Community. While it has general market readers and authors there are also a lot of Christian readers. This is where I wanted to stay focused and started commenting and have now joined a few trains. I am now at 441 followers. That’s 241 in 7 weeks and have made some friendships.
The train I now join always has a daily question, which leads to conversations with other hosts and other readers. Many are into Fantasy, and I was reading The Memory Stone by Bryan Davis and was able to recommend him. Someone was looking for Biblical Fiction and I recommended Christine Dillon. Another person was looking for YA with friend groups not romance, so I suggested Jenny Glazebrook. I have learnt from this community YA is 14 – 18-year-olds and they are not looking for grown up relationships. For Regency although its a little prior I recommended Dienece Darling. I know some have gone to look at book I have put info up on my page when I told them it was in KU.
Next goal
I hope to hit 500 by the end of the year but if I don’t that’s ok and if I don’t get on tours that’s fine too. What I have also learnt is someone with over 1,000 people isn’t necessarily reaching the target audience. I follow more than follow me but I only see so many posts before I stop scrolling. I would say many people are the same.
The other things I am learning are hints like not using too many hashtags. Often if you want to join a group post as a host you have to have 1,000 followers. When I do get excepted its normally only a cover reveal or they haven’t had many sign up. Priority goes to those with the most followers. Also there are lots of bots accounts so when joining via a follow train you know the accounts are real. I have also had quite a few strange people want to follow who I have blocked.
My take away
My take away is Instagram is useful for authors and readers. It works best when you interact with readers and communities. Also if you want to be on tours you need at least 1,000 followers. If you don’t care who follows you can comment on every follow train you see even those that don’t align with your audience or values. If however you want the readers who will read your books or my case read reviews and recommendations you need to find those readers and authors. For me that is the no spice/closed door communities. To actually be useful to authors I need to be targeting the right audience. Which is why I am now joining the trains with readers and authors who like what I do.
When I comment I normally state who I am where I am from and what I read. Jenny from Australia, a slave to a cat and reader of Christian Fiction. It’s clear and concise, lets people know who I am and I also answer the question. I still mainly use my laptop so still have a lot of scope to learn. If you have good tutorials for me to learn more please leave in the comments.
How have you found Instagram? Do you use it? Any tips for a newbie on it?
Also if you do share your ACW posts add the hashtag australasianchristianwriters so we can have our posts on it not random stuff.
I’m also restarting from scratch on IG this year. I lost my original account in March, the one I had started bookstagram with nearly a decade ago, and in a lot of ways, I feel like I’m relearning a lot along the way. I’ve not been active that whole time, but was a bit more active last year, so it was devastating to lose all those friends and everything I had to show for the time I was active on IG, but I’m slowly rebuilding, and in a way this was a great excuse to rebrand and focus more on who I have become, and not worry so much on trying to hold who I am together with who I was when I started. A lot has changed since I started, and I don’t even read the same genre and stories as I once did, so in God’s divine wisdom, He knew I needed this clean start, and I’m so glad I was able to reconnect with many of the friends I had met previously as the year went on.
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had to restart your account, too. Hopefully, it’s been a blessing in disguise for you as well, and that you find the right groups and communities to connect with! There are so many amazing people and groups on IG I love getting to find like-minded people who also love the books I love there.
Its worked out ok for me too cos I had photos of cats and cover reveals, new releases but wasn’t active. I use the laptop. But when I changed the phone I deleted things before I realised I was dumb! so went I went to log in and add to the new phone I had already deleted the authenticator app. and if your profile is a cat good luck getting it to co-operate with the way to prove its you. I even changed my profile to me but still no joy. I tried at least 10 times. But in many ways its for the best too cos I can start fresh and am more active. I have connected with some authors, the last one I shared a cover for I am on her newsletter but I don’t tend to read them through I skim. There is another author who does questions I am connecting well with and she is allowing me to use her questions. Even sent the images. (I only wanted the questions). I have been able to work canva better even with the free option so the posts are better. My books I read for Christmas post had more views than some of the others. I have also learnt daily posting isn’t required infact if you post to often it can hide your posts from people.
Good luck on your new account. if you want to connect I am ausjenny12
Thanks for sharing your experience, Jenny! And for the mention🥰
I’ve found taking a break makes me loose my ability to reach people. I’m terrible at question posts, but others seem to find these very good. I should pick them up… One day! 😂
Thanks for commenting Dienece, What you do is you. I like your posts. I don’t get a lot of engagement although have picked up a few people who will comment after a train and I have picked up a couple authors who I am happy to then post info on their book.
Hi Jenny, Thanks for sharing your experiences with Instagram. I have a posting schedule (3 posts per week) and Friday evening plus Saturday is when I’m most active there.
I like Instagram stories and usually post stories (and auto-share to Facebook) when I share my preorder roundup on Friday evenings.
I’m doing my best to minimise my time on social media in order to prioritise time spent at YouTube and podcasts. I could waste hours at Instagram and I’ve ignore Threads because I don’t need another time wasting activity, lol. 😊
I am still working on stories. I haven’t been on Threads. I don’t spend a lot of time at insta besides the days I do a follow train.
Hi Narelle, I’m just wondering what you do with your YouTube channel. Is it more directed towards authors, or readers? I’m just curious about how authors are using YouTube.
Hi Melinda, I have my Fan Girling with Narelle podcast/YouTube show where I talk about books I’ve loved reading. I occasionally interview authors with new releases (in addition to sharing a solo episode on their book). It’s reader focused and something I do that’s fun and enjoyable.
As an author, I use YouTube and podcasts for book research, keeping up with publishing industry news, and indulging my interests in various things that aren’t writing or publishing related. I follow quite a few YouTubers (a mix of authors and readers) who share book recommendations and author interviews.