So, I did something
And I'm having fun with it!
Hi everyone,
How are you going this week?
In my part of the world, the weather can’t seem to make its mind up. It snowed at one point the other week, which is almost unheard of for this area. I mean, it snowed for only 20mins (if that), but those chunks of snow were big! It melted straight away though and by mid-afternoon the sun was out and it looked like a spring day outside. It was almost as if the snow had never happened.
In saying that though, some of my favourite weather is happening. The days where the sky is bright blue, the sun is out, but it’s freezing cold. That’s the weather I love, and we do seem to be getting a lot of that at the moment. And long may it continue!
Anyway, to the matter at hand.
I did something. Something kind of spur of the moment and I’m having some really fun with it. As I writer, I read (a lot) so it was only a natural progression to try this at some point. But the other month I made a booktok and bookstagram account and I have to say they’re going rather well.
They’re voiceless and faceless accounts, and very low stress. I post 3 times a work (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays).
Now, if you’re scratching your head, confused (welcome to my overall state of being), then here are some quick fire answers to the questions no one has asked me:
WHY AM I DOING THIS? / WHY NOW?
For fun. That’s what it is. In all honesty, I’ve thought about doing this for several months now, and one day I just went, why not? So, I made a profile, got myself a profile pic and then started. However, I knew that I didn’t want to post every day. It’s hard enough sometimes with the writing social media accounts, but posting three times per week felt doable and also low on the pressure front.
HOW IS IT GOING FOR BOTH INSTAGRAM AND TIKTOK?
Well, actually. Weirdly well.
I don’t want to jinx anything, but I’ve found a little groove that I’ve gotten myself into with a mixture of scrolling, answering comments and engaging. Because, unlike on my writing account, people are actually leaving comments on these videos! Which is a whole new thing for me!
And, I’m getting a lot of views on my Instagram posts. I can’t help but make comparisons, but compared to my writing account over on Instagram, my book account is in another stratosphere. I had a couple of spikes in posts with two of them reaching over 2000 views. It has dropped, but I’m consistently getting over 100 views on each post. Which seeing as I can hardly get more than 20 views on my writing Instagram account, I’ll take it!
I’m beginning to hit my stride with what I want to post and although I need to figure out a better time than 10.30pm at night (don’t ask me why), this is becoming rather enjoyable.
And following on from that, I’m sure you’ll want to know:
FOLLOWER COUNT:
Instagram - 24 (at the time of writing)
TikTok - 52 (at the time of writing)
Given how badly I do on the writing side of things when it comes to gaining followers, I set myself the rather low target of 50 followers before the end of 2025. Which is feeling extremely achievable (hehe), but I’m not going to put that number up. Instead, I’m simply going to bask in the glory that I might, just might, be doing something kind of right for a change!
HOW I’M DOING IT AND WHAT KINDS OF THINGS AM I POSTING
I mentioned earlier that it’s a faceless and voiceless account. The reason behind wanting that is mainly because I didn’t want my face or voice on it. In part, that’s a laziness response, but also because it weirdly makes me think of what to show so that it’s exciting or inviting to people watching.
And in terms of posting, I want to do what most people do - short read vlog-y posts, as well as recommendations, and simple reviews and updates on what I’m reading. It’s easy, I’ve already felt it, to show the popular books. The books that social media has made famous to boost views and attention to your own accounts, but I’m going to try really hard not to do that. I won’t and already haven’t succeeded one one or so occasion on that front, but I know I’d prefer to find books that aren’t plastered all over social media.
Mainly because the books those famous books already have a massive following that they don’t need other people to showcase them. What we all need, is for people to show books that are equally as good, if not better, that haven’t been made famous by TikTok or Instagram, or by some other social media platform. I think, in scrolling through the apps, that readers need more people to show them that other books by other authors do exist. Don’t get me wrong, nine times out of ten those books are famous for a reason, but all it’s led to, is a stagnant stage of reading. If we’re all reading the same thing, then there’s nothing else to explore. And then we all just regurgitate the same kinds of reviews and posts and responses. And that’s simply boring.
So, I will try my best, and keep on trying, to read the books that are rarely featured on social media and perhaps that will be something I can be known for.
I’m still finding my way with it - with what I want to be posting, but I’m having fun. And that’s the main, main, main thing.
WHAT DO I WANT TO HAPPEN?
A couple of things really.
Use this as a way to understand how to grow on social media and as I go along, understand more about social media marketing and just the simple thing of what it takes to put yourself out there.
Be a base for books that are rarely seen on social media
Be an ARC (advanced reader copy) reader. Again, meaning I showcase books on the platforms that haven’t been seen on social media yet, and therefore help new authors out once I grow my platform. Growing this platform is something I’m taking seriously with this, for this and the above reason.
Get some freebies. Yes, I've said it, but really, it’s so cool (showing my age here) that people are sent books and merchandise and other things for free because of their platform. So, yeah, I’m going to aim for that because I want to. Again though, if it ties in with the above two points, then I really will be winning!
And you know what, if I got to the stage where I could get monetised, then I’d feel as if I’ve hit the jackpot. So why not add it on here. Do I expect that to happen any time soon? Probably not, but really, with how things are personally, why not put this one down!
So, there you have it! I started some book accounts!
I guess, I’d better now stick to my word and go and read!
Hope you all have a wonderful week.
Bye for now.
Chloe.