Unpopular opinion: Instagram is actually really good for finding readers
and if you *want* to use it effectively and strategically with confidence, I can be your guide
When I tell people what I do for a living, the next thing that often happens is they tell me how much they hate Instagram, how damaging it is to political discourse, to family dynamics, or to our mental wellbeing.
And the thing that often surprises them is, I agree.
I’m no Insta-evangelist driven to defend The Gram - it seems to be doing just fine without me - and I don’t see it as being in the interests of my business to try to convince anyone to like or use Instagram to find more readers.
Rather, my role is to act as your guide if you already want to use Instagram to build a platform for a future book, or to find more readers for your soon-to-be/ already published book, because what most writers want is for your ideas and stories to be read, and Instagram is one way of achieving this.
Read this if you want to know why I think Instagram is a good option for writers and authors:
‘I hate that I have to do marketing though - why can’t I just focus on writing?’
Well, do you want people to read your book?
That’s the question you have to ask yourself before you ask whether marketing is necessary, because it’s an inconvenient truth that most books won’t reach many readers without any marketing.
And, as much as we might like to imagine there was once a time when marketing was the preserve of the publishers, marketing of some description has in fact always been part of a writer’s job, even if it went by another name.
On that point, here’s a thought:
But still, IF you’re absolutely convinced that writers used to be able to concentrate on writing and leave the marketing to someone else, perhaps
can change your mind:
Anyway, if you’ve reached this point I’m going to assume you’ve accepted that some kind of ‘marketing activity’ is necessary. The decision you now have to make is what kind of marketing activity you want to engage in.
Instagram is not the only option, and you may have had your fingers burned by it, but if you’re thinking it offers the best options for you (or are simply Instagram-curious), keep reading.
Using Instagram effectively is like driving somewhere you’ve never been before
Humans have always needed to get from A to B and over millenia we’ve developed different forms of transport to meet this need, which in turn have required knowledge, skills, maps and guides to make sure you arrive at your intended destination.
Most of us accept this without question and I’m willing to bet you wouldn’t dream of setting off on a journey without making any preparations because you know that, without a plan of some sort, you’re going to take wrong turns, go round in circles, get increasingly frustrated, then exhausted, and perhaps eventually give up and go home.
The same applies when you set off on Instagram with the intention of finding readers for your book.
If you’re used to using Instagram casually (or not at all) it can feel as confusing as a network of unfamiliar roads. You can easily get lost, not know in which direction to turn, and drive forever never getting anywhere. Often this is the exact experience many authors have had while trying to find readers for your book on the platform.
Not fun.
But what if someone gave you a map so you can clearly see your options and make a plan to find your way to your desired destination with less stress and wasted time?
With the map in front of you, you can make decisions about how to approach the journey, taking into account your preferences. You might choose the route that is the fastest and most well-travelled. You might use the map to leave the motorways to other people and travel along the slower, more scenic, back roads. Every now and again you might even pull up in a lay-by and listen to the bird song, or enjoy the view.
The exact route you choose is up to you, but once you have a map you can make informed decisions and be confident that your efforts are going to get you closer to your destination: finding readers for your book.
And, in case you haven’t caught on yet, the point I’m labouring is that I can be your map.
In my work as an Instagram Educator/ Guide/ Strategist (for me the terms are almost interchangeable, use whichever you prefer) I guide you through the confusion so you can get to your destination.
I educate you about the different routes to your readers, explaining the pros and cons of your options so you know what you’re getting yourself into.
I can share strategic thinking with you that takes into account your personal circumstances and preferences when deciding on your route, and I’ll be there waiting when you need to fill up your tank with new ideas about where to turn next.
I’ll stand on the roadside cheering you on up the hills, and whoop with glee when you find yourself whizzing down the other side.
FWIW I’m not a chauffeur. If you listen to my directions while lying down in the back seat with your feet up, you’re not going to get very far 😉 How fast you go, and how many breaks you take, are down to your judgement about your capacity, but you have to do the driving.
So, if you like the sound of having an Instagram guide at your side as you find your readers and promote your book then:
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Whatever you choose, I look forward to seeing you there!
Apart from TikTok, I'm not sure there's another option that works as well (obvs, it depends on the genre).