How to Create a Bookstagram in 2024

Published by Esther Fung, May 28, 2024


If you're a book lover and have an Instagram account, you may have come across the word "bookstagram" before. This portmanteau of the word book and Instagram refers to a community of readers who post about their favorite books, anticipated reading releases, and reading habits on the popular social media app. Bookstagrammers, as the community members are called, swap book recommendations, review their recent reads, and even form friendships that transcend geography.


As part of the Pango marketing team, I manage our Instagram account, which comes into regular contact with the bookstagram community. In addition, I have had my own bookstagram account since 2016. Now, I'm breaking down the strategies so you can create a successful bookstagram of your own.

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What is bookstagram?

Bookstagram is a community on Instagram where users share posts related to books and reading. Bookstagrammers create visually appealing content that often includes book reviews, recommendations, book hauls, and reading challenges.


This community fosters a love of reading, allowing members to connect with fellow book enthusiasts, discuss their favorite reads, and discover new ones. (See the example from Pango seller @em-jacobs-reads.) Bookstagram is known for its vibrant and creative visuals, often featuring books arranged in artistic ways, cozy reading nooks, and thematic props. It has become a significant platform for book promotion and has helped authors and publishers reach a wider audience.

How do I create a bookstagram?

It's easier than you might think to start your own bookstagram. Here are five steps you can take today:


  1. Create a new Instagram account with a unique username. We recommend that the username be related to reading or books, so others know what your account's focus is. We also recommend a username that doesn't involve special characters or numbers, so that it's easier for others to remember.
  2. Write a bio. Before you start connecting with other readers, first write a bio so the people landing on your page can learn more about you. Bookstagrammers often include their reading goals, their favorite genres, and their current reads in their bios.
  3. Follow other bookstagram accounts. Don't follow an account only in hopes that they will follow you in return. Instead, fill your feed with accounts that actually excite you. Maybe you both have the same taste in books, or you love how funny their reels are. Seek to make genuine connections with people you're interested in, instead of focusing on amassing a lot of followers by spam-following accounts that don't resonate with you.
  4. Create content that is authentic to you. Everyone has a different approach to reading. Some, like @awonderingreader, love to annotate their books. Others, like @theehottgirlbooks, create themed book recommendations based on areas of expertise. Whatever your approach to reading, show it off on bookstagram.
  5. Engage with other bookstagrammers. If you see a post you find interesting, don't just like it and move on. Leave a comment about how you've added the book they reviewed to your reading list. Did someone post a book you love on their stories? Start a conversation by sliding into their DMs. Most bookstagrammers will be thrilled to meet someone new.
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How often should I post as a bookstagrammer?

Gone are the days when you should post twice or three times a day. Now, even posting daily is too much. Instead, Instagram recommends posting just three to five times a week. To maximize growth, you should post on the same days at the same time every week. This consistency helps you develop a discipline of posting, so you don’t fall into the habit of posting whenever you feel like it. It also lets your followers know they can rely on you for new content. So take a look at your schedule and identify which days and times you can commit to posting.


Not sure what to post? Give a behind-the-scenes glimpse of your Pango store, like what Pango seller @bbecca_marie does!

What time should I post on bookstagram?

There’s a lot of conflicting advice on the best times for posting. Some experts say to post early in the day when there’s less competition. But if you have an international following, this theory doesn’t hold water. Others recommend looking at your insights and post when your followers are most active. Personally, I have found that the time Instagram lists for when my followers are most active is simply when I’m already posting, because a new post generates engagement and therefore creates this misleading data point. 


Instead, we recommend finding a time when you will be consistently free on your posting days. It’s more important to engage meaningfully with your community when you post (as opposed to posting and ditching the app) than it is to find a magical time that doesn’t work for your schedule.

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Do bookstagrammers get free books?

Bookstagrammers with a certain amount of following are often sent free books in the form of PR boxes and ARCs, which stands for advanced reading copies. Publishers and authors send these books out in order to create hype for a book around its release. If you want to receive books for free, we recommend emailing the publishers of the books you're interested in. You can often find the email address for media inquiries or influencers on their websites.


Keep in mind that publishers often want to see a healthy following before sending out an ARC. If your request goes unanswered, you can also purchase the books you want from other readers on Pango. And if you do, share it on social media and tag @pangobooks, like Pango seller @suchabibliophile's epic book haul!

Is it too late to join bookstagram?

If you're worried that bookstagram is too saturated, think again. Even though there are a lot of readers on bookstagram, you still have a unique perspective to share. If you want to create a bookstagram account, take the leap! Don't worry about crafting the perfect bio or creating the most visually appealing pictures, and just start. Just be prepared to have your reading list doubled with all the great recommendations you'll discover!

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