Reels on Instagram have completely blown up since being introduced in early 2020. Since then, many creators have jumped on the bandwagon and they now dominate the explore page.
And they are just as popular on Bookstagram!
There are so many fun and creative reels flying around. But they can be pretty tricky to get your head around (especially in a not so widespread niche). Here are some ideas for fun bookstagram reels to increase your reach.
How effective are reels for Bookstagram?
I get it- reels are tricky to get the hang of at first and you might be wondering: are they even worth the effort?
The answer is 100% yes.
As a relatively new feature, Instagram places more importance on reels and therefore will show yours to more potential accounts on their explore page.
For example, my most popular reels have between 150,000k and 250,000k views (a lot more than an average post would get).
Still not convinced?
Since introducing reels onto my Instagram account only 4 months ago, my following has doubled (from 5,000 to 10,000) and is continuing to grow.
READ MORE: 7 Tips to Create a Cohesive Instagram Feed
Recommendations/ lists
Your audience follows you because they love your posts, but also because they want to know what you’re reading. It is Bookstagram after all! They trust you (especially if you have built up some authority on your account), and want to know what books you would recommend.
Depending on the types of books you read, you could share fantasy book lists, contemporary, YA fiction, horror, non-fiction or any other genre!
And you can go beyond typical lists to focus on more specific recommendations; some examples are ‘books for beginners in the genre’, ‘diverse reads’, ‘books to get out of a reading slump’, and really anything else you can come up with!
If you enjoyed … you’ll enjoy …
This comes within recommendations, but I put it as its own category because it’s so fun!
Think about your favourite books, and see if you can brainstorm books that are similar (in terms of tone, characters, themes, etc.). So many Bookstagrammers and Booktubers have experimented with this concept and I always love checking out their recommendations (especially if it’s a book I really like).
Bookworms are always looking for more books like their favourites so you can’ go wrong!
Mood boards
I haven’t tried this yet but I’ve seen it all over bookstagram!
Creators are making visual moodboards (you can easily find images on Pinterest) of their favourite books or new releases to build up excitement.
Mini reviews
Reels are such a fun format for book reviews!
Instead of including them in a post or story, you could list a few of your favourite things about the book, or even film a voiceover review.
Funny reels
There are so many fun ideas to play around with!
One of my great friends on Bookstagram, @the_pundlit experiments with loads of fun concepts like ‘Bookish Pet Peeves’, ‘When you finish your favourite book’ and ‘When a book you love ends on a cliffhanger’.
I’ve also tried out loads of fun ideas. My reels on ‘Unpopular bookish opinions’ and ‘Things bookworms hate’ are actually two of my most popular!
Behind the scenes
It’s so interesting to see how other creators set up their gorgeous photos! And just the same, your followers are interested in how you create your set-ups.
You can even change it up a bit by making it a ‘how to…’. For example, one of my first reels was ‘How I get multiple photos out of one set-up’.
Act out your favourite book scene
Why not don a wig and try out a spot of acting?
Even if it feels a little awkward, chances are it’ll be extremely funny, or at least will catch your follower’s eyes!
Favourite book covers
There are so many beautiful book covers out there! In fact, my book collection is so gorgeous that I’ve created multiple reels showcasing them.
This is also a great way to find new reads- because lets be honest, a lot of us do judge books by their covers (and that’s totally ok!).
Bookshelf organisation
Is there anything more satisfying than a timelapse bookshelf organisation?
I get so much inspiration for my own bookshelves by watching all the creative designs that fellow bookworms do!
Favourite book quotes
This is a really simple one! And also a great discussion point to get followers commenting their favourite quotes.
If you’re lacking inspiration, here are some of my favourite bookish quotes:
- “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same”– Wuthering Heights (EMILY BRONTE)
- “People see what they want to see… and in most cases, what they are told they see”– The Night Circus (ERIN MORGENSTERN)
- “I am not afraid of storms for I am learning to sail my ship”– Louisa May Alcott
- “You brought me spring”- All the Bright Places (JENNIFER NIVEN)
- “She decided long ago hat life was a long journey. She would be strong and she would be weak and both would be okay”– Furthermore (TAHEREH MAFI)
Reading tips
Pretty much every bookworm wants to know how to read more! Or how to read better… wider… more diversely… delve into new genres.
There are so many tips and tricks you can share with your audience from your own experience.
Some examples I’ve used on my account are ‘How to get out of a reading slump’ and ‘How to read more’.
READ MORE: Is 2021 the Year to Read Less?
Bookstagram tips
A large amount of your followers will also be Bookstagrammers, and chances are, they want to know how to grow.
I personally love creating reels that can help out the very people who have helped me to grow on Instagram (despite the constant changes in the algorithm).
Day in the life…
Aren’t we all just a little bit nosy?
I know that I love having a little window into someone’s day (even if it’s just a 30-second snapshot).
You may feel like your life is boring (especially during lockdown), but chances are, your followers will be interested in your day-to-day, simply because it’s you!
Are you a Bookstagrammer? Have you experimented with reels yet? I’d love to hear if you try out any of these ideas in the comments below, or you can connect with me directly on any of my social medias @wanderingthroughlit.
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