My past two bloghop posts have been about different ways to connect with your readers. (If you missed them, you can check them out here and here. )
So this month, I wanted to share some tips on how to connect with readers on Instagram. (And again, I find Instagram is really effective for me as I write YA and there are a lot of YA readers who use Instagram. It might not be as effective for those who write in other genres.)
As with all social media platforms, you want to be commenting on and liking posts from your readers. In addition to that, you can use hashtags to connect with your readers. With Instagram, hashtags are key. Hashtags are how you find people with similar interests. There are several ways you can use hashtags to connect with your readers.
- Use several hashtags when you post. (Ten is considered the optimum number.) Some good hashtags for connecting with readers include: #bookstagram, #yabookstagram, #bookworm, #booknerd, #yalit (or whatever genre you write in), #bookdragon #toberead #currentlyreading
- Hashtag challenges – There are always plenty of monthly challenges you can participate in. Each day of the month you are given a prompt which you use to stage your picture for that day. One example of the monthly challenge is #octlitwrit. There are also some challenges where you only post weekly. My current favorite weekly challenge is #fantasyonfriday
- Daily hashtag themes – Similar to the challenges, you use a theme on a particular day like #mondaymotivation, #throwbackthursday or #fridayreads. There is no prompt, you just use the day’s theme to post something.
- Tagging games – In the tagging games, you take something like #spellmynameinbooks to complete and then tag several friends to do so as well.
Also, just a note on hashtags – Don’t use hashtags that don’t apply to the picture you’ve posted just to try to get more likes.
What about you? Do you have a favorite hashtag on Instagram? What’s your favorite thing about Instagram? Let me know in the comments. And you can connect with me on Instagram here.
This post is part of the #authortoolboxbloghop. It’s hosted by Raimey Gallant. For more details and to join in the fun, go here.
Finding Faith, Holding Onto Hope, and Living With Love 
Such great tips, Charity! I really do intend to make better use of my instagram account someday, so I’ll definitely have to come back to this. 🙂
Fun post! I use Instagram and am always trying to find ways that I can leverage it better to connect with the writing community and readers. You included some hashtags that I wasn’t aware of before. Thank you for sharing!
I love Instagram – it feels more like playing than doing social media. Hashtags are great – one I use is #FirstLineFriday. I’ve found some great books using that!
I’ll have to check that one out. I agree – it does feel more like playing! 🙂
Thanks for the tips 🙂 I’m learning how to use my Instagram account — I’m definitely going to be “stalking” yours 😉
Ronel visiting on Author Toolbox blog hop day: Running Your Author Empire
Glad you enjoyed the post! 🙂
Great post! I use hashtags on both Instagram & Twitter to find other great people, but usually forget to include them on my own posts (doh!), but thanks to your tips I think I’ve got it fixed in my brain to use them more consistently now.
Glad you found it helpful! 🙂
I actually have an Instagram account but don’t know what sort of pictures to include. What do you post?
I post pictures of what I’m reading, my to be read list, writing moments, bits of my life I want to share (like places I visit or special events I attend, especially book-related ones), and pictures of my dog. It all depends on who your audience is and what they are going to enjoy seeing. You can take a look at my account here: https://www.instagram.com/charityrau/
You can view it online even if you don’t have the app.
I like yours. It’s very helpful. Thanks for the advice.
Great tips. I tried instagram for a while, but it was just one more social media tool to keep on top of. I ended stopping, only due to lack of time. Maybe I should think about it again.
It’s my favorite social media platform (I love taking pictures), so it doesn’t seem so much like work. And it’s effective for my genre. 🙂
People can sometimes overlook the power of social media, so I’m glad to see you promote it in your world of writing and readers!
Thanks for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂
I really need to start using Instagram again, (and Twitter, I’ve been slacking on social media lately!) and these are great tips, thanks for sharing 🙂
I need to do this but I always back off. Tips like this will help get me started. If I can master twitter I can somehow master instagram or at least try. Thanks!!!
Glad you enjoyed the post!
I feel completely useless with Twitter and am not yet on Instagram (oh boy!) so these are great starters for me. Thanks!
Glad you found it helpful! 🙂