BookTok, the community of book lovers on TikTok, has become one of the most influential places for reading recommendations. With clever book reviews and funny skits, BookTokers have made the app a hub for bibliophiles. If you love books and want to start your own BookTok channel, here are some tips for building a huge audience.
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Choose a Niche
The most successful BookTok accounts focus on a specific genre like romance, YA fantasy, horror, etc. When viewers know what types of books to expect from your channel, it’s easier to draw in followers who share your interests. It will take time, but if you do everything right, you can become the go-to channel for people seeking #booktok recommendations in your niche.
Create Engaging Content
Don’t just hold up books and talk about them. BookTok thrives on creative videos that capture viewers’ attention in the first few seconds. Try challenges like “Reading Slump Book Recommendations” or “Books That Live in My Head Rent Free.” Use eye-catching text overlays, music, and visual effects to spice up your reviews. Create fun and engaging videos using MEME templates on software like CapCut or have a unique voice where you swear a lot and drink wine while discussing the best spicy romances.
Anything that sets your channel apart is a good way to build a user base of people who always watch your content.
Share Forgotten Favorites
BookTok is great for shining a spotlight on under-the-radar reads or older books that deserve more hype. Recommending overlooked titles is a smart way to stand out from other accounts rather than focusing on the books everyone mentions, like Fourth Wing and Iron Flame. Give the lesser-known authors some love and you may find your audience.
Use Hashtags
Leverage hashtags and popular trends by using viral audio and hashtags like #Booktok and #BookRecommendation in your captions. This helps more users discover your videos on TikTok’s “For You” page. Dig deeper and use the lesser-known hashtags as well as the more popular ones, so #mafiaromancerecs as well as #booktok. Use links and hashtags strategically. Add links to all the books you mention so viewers can easily find them.
Post Consistently
Aim to share new videos at least a few times a week to keep growing your channel and retain viewers. Staying active with regular content is key if you want the TikTok algorithm to like your channel.
Engage with Your Audience
Reply to comments, ask for video ideas, and connect with your followers. Building relationships leads to a loyal audience. In time, you can have fun doing live feeds where you talk to your followers and enjoy a back-and-forth conversation.
Collaborate with Other BookTokers
Do an account takeover or co-create content or run promos on each other’s channels. This is a great way to find your place in the wider BookTok community. If you cross-promote your content, you can reach a wider and equally engaged audience. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Analyze Your Analytics
Pay attention to when your viewers are most active, your best-performing videos, and popular audios/hashtags to inform what content resonates.
Leverage a Marketing Platform
Try a site like FansRevenue to learn more about promoting your social channels. You can use it to boost traffic to your channel and make additional income via that traffic. For anyone serious about building a career as an influencer, this type of help is important.
Have fun! Don’t stress about the numbers. Focus on creating authentic content for fellow book lovers. Your passion will shine through.
