Today's Interview Topic: Bookstagram and the Publishing Industry
About Yeldah:
"After starting a literary & lifestyle account on Instagram as a hobby about 2 years ago and reaching over 50K followers, I thought it was the right time to get out of my comfort zone and finally start a blog. Plus, I always did consider myself to be a better writer than a photographer, so get ready for some long posts that go over the instagram word count.
From the beginning , my aspiration was to connect with people from around the world and to spread the belief that nothing is impossible. I hope this blog will encourages and inspire its readers (and myself) to dream big, read more, and travel often.
So even though this page might be about me, I decided to start this blog for you – my wonderful readers."
This bio is courtesy of Yeldah's literary lifestyle blog, finable here.
Hello Firebirds!
Many of us looking to venture into the literary community, whether as an author, reviewer, or avid reader, have noticed how social media has enhanced the industry's presence. One huge development on the marketing front is the expansion of Bookstagram - an online community of book lovers hosted on Instagram's visual platform. I had the absolute joy of interviewing literary lifestyle blogger Yeldah Yousfi, the personality behind the lovely account @beautiful.bibliophile (from which I am currently getting MAJOR fall vibes)! She was kind enough to answer a few questions on what life is like as a popular bookstagrammer, her thoughts on the relationship between the publishing industry and the growing bookstagram community, and her most loved read this year. If you're searching for an inside look into this lovely community and how it has influenced the publishing industry, look no farther than this interview!
Hello, Yeldah! Thank you so much for interviewing with me!
First off, how did you get into Bookstagram? I love a good origin story!
I actually started off as a study Instagram while in university back in 2014-2015 for fun, back then there was no such thing as Bookstagram. I was taking an English class amidst all of my science/math courses which was a nice change. We were reading a couple of books so I decided to post about them and the rest is history.
Have you always loved to read? (If not, what inspired you?)
Yes, I’ve always loved to read since I was very little. My mom used to take my brothers and me to the library and I would sit for hours reading while my brothers would play video games on the computers.
What does a day in the life of a professional Bookstagrammer look like for you?
Haha, not a professional yet. I still work 2 part-time jobs, one as a nutritionist and the other as a social media manager for a supplement company.
Respect for the hustle! I imagine the social media management experience comes in handy for your literary pursuits. Can you give us a brief glimpse into your book review process?
I don’t really have a set review process for books, but I do prefer books/series with great world-building and character arcs.
Yeldah’s Rating System
★★★★★ (Really loved this book! 100% recommend it!)
★★★★ (Loved it, but still had a few problems. Would still recommend).
★★★ (Good, had some problems but still an enjoyable read).
★★ (Meh..didn't really like at all).
★ (DNF and probably will not continue book or said series)
Bookstagram is a major marketing platform for new authors and seasoned publishers, alike. Are you often contacted regarding promoting or reviewing a new release?
Instagram is a great platform for marketing in any company/brand. I do get contacted, but any sponsored posts go through the agency I work with, Platform Media.
How often do members of your audience say they read something because you recommended it?
I get many people messaging me, saying they’ve read/bought a book if I recommended it. Messages like that really make me happy since this is what this community is about!
Agreed! Spreading the word about excellent books not only benefits the authors, but encourages readers to expand their literary repertoire. Bookstagram also influences cover design. How have you seen covers change over the years?
Yes, cover designs are a huge deal within the bookstagram community! I’ve seen a couple of cover changes but personally, I’m not that influenced by the book covers. I just don’t like it when they get changed during the middle of the series.
Definitely! Mid-series design changes can be jarring. One thing that I’ve noticed is that something about a gorgeous edition (or collector’s series) just demands to be front and center on a shelf. Which have you seen attract more attention from the community: eye-catching covers or glowing reviews?
I have seen some beautiful covers get horrible reviews, but ultimately I think beautiful covers get more attention on Instagram, reviews are for Goodreads.
Leena Normington of Penguin Random House said in an interview* with the Independent that “when the Bookstagram community pays attention to a book, so do I.” What are your thoughts on the relationship between the Bookstagram community, authors, and the publishing industry?
I believe bookstagram has had such a great influence on the publishing industry! I remember when I first started back in 2014, e-books were in trend and people hardly bought hard copies of books anymore, but after the bookstagram went viral so did sales for physical books.
As we start being online more, so does the majority of marketing for these publishing companies. Using the book community on Instagram is an efficient way to become a successful author.
As one of the readers who prefer hard copies over digital, I'm overjoyed they're getting more sales! If you could give one piece of advice for others looking to join this awesome online community, what would it be?
Bookstagram is an amazing community to be a part of! The one piece of advice I would give to those who want to join would be: posting constantly and engaging with the community/other accounts.
Absolutely! Consistency and engagement are key to building an online presence. Before we close the interview, a bit of a less business-y question: What has been your favorite read of this year, and why?
Going through my mind, one of the first books that clicked with this answer was "Born a Crime" by Trevor Noah. I normally don't read many memoirs, but this book ended up being my favourite (not only the first year when I read it back in 2016) but for this year. I listened to the audiobook again at the beginning of the year and it reminded me why I loved it so much!
It's a book about important issues in a country that has, throughout history, largely been portrayed through the eyes of white journalists and writers, but it's also such a warm, lovable, funny book in many ways.
Honestly, one of the best memoirs I have ever read not only this decade but probably in my life.
"Born a Crime" is one book I've been looking forward to reading for some time now. Trevor Noah has a fantastic way of sharing information through relatable experiences, and I'm happy to hear his autobiography is receiving the acclaim it deserves! You certainly have very influential taste in literature! Where can someone contact you regarding future marketing or review partnerships, and do you have any submission guidelines people should know about (preferred publishing platform [traditional, indie, or both], do you accept ARCS, any genres or content you do not read, etc.)?
I have an email on my Instagram bio which gets you in contact with my campaign manager for any future marketing/review partnerships. I usually only accept finished review copies and have no preference for the genre, though my favourites are Fantasy, Thriller and Historical Fiction.
As a fellow fantasy reader myself, I look forward to checking out your featured reads! Thank you again for taking the time to interview with me, and for letting us know where we can find you online!
*You can find the Normington Interview mentioned above here.
Connect with Yeldah:
For those of you looking to follow an absolutely gorgeous bookstagram and discover fascinating new reads, you can follow Yeldah on social media! Check her out at the links below:
Snapchat: @b_bibliophile
Firebirds,
How have you seen the growth and influence of bookstagram affect the publishing community? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
*Disclosure: This interview is not sponsored, and neither party receives compensation for this post. As of the original date of posting, I am not earning income from any links or collaborations.