Tag: tiktok

PRIDE MONTH & The Book Community

Kristin June 14, 2024

Happy Pride Month! Every year during June, we celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride, paying tribute to the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. Through this, we acknowledge the achievements of the LGBTQIA+ community and recognize the ongoing challenges faced by many worldwide in their pursuit to live authentically. Moreover, as a diverse and vibrant community, its movement for identity, acceptance, equality, and love for all is important and continues to inspire change.

The book community is no exception when it comes to celebrating and promoting inclusivity and acceptance. With carefully curated lists of books by, about, and for the LGBTQIA+ community, the literary world plays a significant role in uplifting queer voices and stories. Additionally, libraries, bookstores, and online creators all take a moment to highlight works that reflect the experiences and histories of LGBTQIA+ voices.

Our team has curated a list of books promoting the LGBTQIA+ experience, representation of queer characters, and championing queer authors. From coming-out stories to historical same-sex romances and inspiring tales for young readers, there’s a book for everybody! Take a look and find your next read.

Books for Pride Month

We Are Everywhere by Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown A detailed photographic history of the Queer Liberation Movement. Released for the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin. James Baldwin’s groundbreaking novel explores love and the fear of love in the bohemian bars and nightclubs of 1950s Paris. Giovanni’s Room tells an impassioned, deeply moving story that reveals the unspoken complexities of the human heart.

Maurice by E.M. Forster. Maurice is a tale of unrequited love that opens the protagonist’s heart and mind to his own sexual identity, challenging society’s unspoken rules of class, wealth, and politics.

All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews. A brilliant new voice brings us an emotional novel of a young immigrant building a life for herself. A warm, dazzling saga of queer love, friendship, work, and precarity in twenty-first-century America.

But How Are You, Really by Ella Dawson. A burned-out bisexual woman confronts old demons, her estranged chosen family, and the ex she may have wrongly left behind when she attends her five-year college reunion.

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera. Juliet Milagros Palante navigates a summer in Portland, Oregon, filled with queer dance parties, a fling with a motorcycling librarian, and intense explorations of race and identity.

Rage by Lester Fabian Brathwaite. An incredible debut with a darkly comedic exploration of Blackness, queerness, and the American Dream, highlighting creative anger as a response to inequality.

The Prospects by KT Hoffman. Minor leagues. Major chemistry. This queer sports romance is a triumphant debut that follows two minor-league baseball rivals who realise they play much better together.

Heartstopper by Alice Osman. Heartstopper is an ongoing LGBTQIA+ young adult graphic novel and webcomic series by British author Alice Oseman. Follow Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring as they meet and fall in love.

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon. Samantha Shannon’s prequel to The Priory of the Orange Tree takes readers into the lives of four women, revealing events that shaped their world for generations.

Queer creators to follow

If you haven’t yet stumbled upon bookish creators on TikTok and/or Instagram who uplift LGBTQIA+ voices, you’re missing out! Across the gender and sexuality spectrum, many influencers passionately use their platforms to champion queer stories and authors all year long! So, if you’re looking for more book recommendations, be sure to check out:

Billy, @thereadingcowgirl, keeps you up-to-date with the latest book recommendations and reviews.
Kara, @books.and.salt, is your go-to person for a diverse array of genres and reads that celebrate inclusivity and representation.
Amivi, @amivireads, for the best sapphic romance book recommendations.
Dilayra, @gayotic_bookworm, a dedicated advocate for YA and LGBTQIA+ literature, sharing her passion in both Dutch and English languages.

As we celebrate Pride Month, let’s take the opportunity to educate ourselves and raise awareness of the diverse experiences and challenges within the queer community. Together, we can create a world where everyone is embraced for who they are. Happy Pride Month, everyone! Let’s continue to spread love, acceptance, and equality every day.

Books set in bookstores: seven of our favourites.

Paula June 7, 2024

Whether it’s a real bookstore in Paris, an idyllic shop on an island or a cozy store in the middle of New York or London – I love almost every book set in a bookstore. The niche of books set in bookstores has been around for a while, but lately it seems more popular than ever. Here are seven of my favourites, across various genres. These are all books that you should definitely put on your list.

The Bookshop –

Penelope Fitzgerald

The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald is an absolute classic when it comes to books set in bookstores. This novel came out in 1978 and is set in 1959. In the book we follow Florence Green, a middle-aged widow, who decides to open a bookshop in the small coastal town of Hardborough, Suffolk.
The Bookshop is a story about starting a business, being thwarted but trying anyway. It is tragic yet hopeful. Plus, I love the vibes in the book and I think many of you will enjoy reading it too.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry –

Gabrielle Zevin

After reading Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow I dived into the back list of Gabrielle Zevin. And guess what I found: a book set in a bookstore! This book includes mixed media and provides little notes about the books available in the island’s store. This book is a literary romance. We follow A.J. Fikry, a grumpy book store owner on Alice Island. When his favorite publishers agent dies, they get replaced by a clumsy blonde named Amelia Loman. A beautiful and adventurous story about love, hope, courage and grief.

Words in Deep Blue –

Cath Crowley

I love a good YA book and one of my favorites is Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley. However, there are too many people who don’t know this book exists! A shame, if you ask me, because this book has everything.

Years ago, Rachel had a crush on Henry Jones. The day before she moved away, she tucked a love letter into his favorite book. She waited, but Henry never came. Now, Rachel is working at the bookshop, grieving her brother and trying to avoid the boy she used to love. Then Henry and Rachel get closer again. They are surrounded by books and exchange letters by hiding them in between pages. This is the absolute cutest book ever with second chances – a book that gives you a laugh and a tear, like we say in The Netherlands.

84, Charing Cross Road –

Helene Hanf

We can’t do this list without the classic: 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. This is a charming memoir, following Helene, a freelance writer living in New York City, and a used-book dealer in London. Over 20 years they write to each other, and though they never meet, they share a winsome, sentimental friendship based on their common love for books. Their relationship, captured so acutely in these letters, is one that will grab your heart and not let go.

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop –

Hwang Bo-Reum

Many books set in bookstores (and libraries!) are based in Japan or South Korea. In the last few years we’ve seen Days at the Morisaki Bookshop and What You Are Looking For Is in the Library. A South Korean favorite of mine is Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop.
This slice-of-life novel is set in a South Korean neighborhood in Seoul and focuses on acceptance and finding comfort in life, including the healing power of books. FMC Yeong-ju is burned out, divorced from her husband and decides to follow her dream. She opens a book shop where Yeong-ju and her customers take refuge. From the lonely barista to the unhappily married housewife, and the writer who sees something special in Yeong-ju – they all have disappointments in their past. The Hyunam-Dong Bookshop becomes the place where they all learn how to truly live. A lovely read.

Business or Pleasure –

Rachel Lynn Solomon

Although this book is not entirely set in a bookstore, the first scene opens at a book event. It’s a spicy romance all about writing books. Chandler is a ghostwriter and she has never felt more like a ghost when she attends a signing for a book she wrote and the author doesn’t even recognize her. The evening turns more promising when she meets a man at the bar and immediately connects with him. But when all their sexual tension culminates in a spectacularly awkward hookup, she decides this is one night better off forgotten.
Unfortunately, her next project is ghostwriting a memoir for Finn Walsh, a C-list actor best known for playing a lovable nerd on a cult classic werewolf show who now makes a living appearing at fan conventions across the country. And Finn turns out to be that hookup guy from last night. Chandler is determined to keep their partnership as professional as possible, but when she admits to Finn their night together wasn’t as mind-blowing as he thought, he’s distraught. He intrigues her enough that they strike a deal: when they’re not working on his book, Chandler will school Finn in the art of satisfaction. As they grow closer both in and out of the bedroom, they must figure out which is more important, business or pleasure or if there’s a way for them to have both.

The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted –

Robert Hillman

If you want to dive into a historical bookstore book, try The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted, set in 1968. This book is about Tom Hope, who doesn’t think he’s much of a farmer, but he’s doing his best. He can’t have been much of a husband to Trudy, either, judging by her sudden departure. It’s only when she returns, pregnant by someone else, that he discovers his surprising talent as a father. But when Trudy leaves and takes her child with her, Tom’s heart breaks.
But then he meets Hannah Babel, a smalltown bookseller. Hannah is the second Jew—and the most vivid person—Tom has ever met. He dares to believe they could make each other happy. But it is 1968: twenty-four years since Hannah and her own little boy arrived at Auschwitz. Tom Hope is taking on a battle with heartbreak he can barely even begin to imagine.

What are your favorite books set in bookstores? Let us know on Instagram @bookinfluencerscom!

Not Like Other Girls: How Spark Ads can help your campaign.

Helena Kulikowska May 31, 2024

In April 2024, we were super excited to collaborate with Bloomsbury USA, on their YA release of Not Like Other Girls, by Meredith Adamo!

Not Like Other Girls is a stunning debut that takes a hard look at how we treat young women and their trauma, through the lens of a missing girl and a girl trying to find herself again.

Our Brief for Not Like Other Girls

The publisher wanted to make some noise about this exciting new author and title, targeting younger generations of readers on Instagram and TikTok, by running a Book Tour with us.  This involves launching a campaign on our community-facing platform, made up of thousands of members from the international bookish community.  

They also wanted to try out our SparkAds modules on TikTok.

What are TikTok SparkAds?

TikTok has become the go-to channel for Gen-Z readers, especially across the YA, romance and fantasy genres. Therefore, it is no surprise that authors and publishers are increasingly looking to collaborate with bookish content creators on this platform.  But….in comparison to Instagram, a high number of followers on TikTok does not guarantee success in terms of reach and visibility, so posting promotional content on TikTok can be a bit of a gamble!  

The good news is that, with SparkAds, we can target a certain audience, by location, age-group, interest and behaviour, to make sure the videos get a good number of views and engagement.  We can also add links to videos to generate traffic to a website or landing page of a publisher’s choice. All while still working with original content from BookTokers, which maintains authenticity, with recommendations coming from familiar faces from within the bookish community.

Not Like Other Girls campaign Activation

We launched a 50 person campaign on our platform. Additionally, we had a call-out in our newsletter and social channels, which have a collective reach of almost 20,000.  There was an overwhelming response from the community, with over 100 applicants, who were very enthusiastic about this new release. Not Like Other Girls is exactly the type of book our readers can’t wait to dive into!

We also ran two SparkAds traffic campaigns, whereby we selected two of the best creator videos for boosting, adding a card to the video with a click-through trackable link to buy the book at Barnes and Noble.

@_alyssaslibrary_

thank you to @Bloomsbury Books and @bookinfluencerscom for the copy of this book! this releases april 30th and i highly recommend! (check tw’s before you start!! i have some listed on the screen) #booktok #bookreview #notlikeothergirlsbook #yamystery #mysterybooks #thrillerbooks #bookrecommendations

♬ original sound – alyssa📚🍉
@promisevideo

Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo comes out April 30th – I didn’t have ‘deeply personal trip back to raw teenage experience’ on my 2024 bingo card, but damn… I loved it! definitely check TW’s before diving into this one. thank you so much to Bloomsbury and Meredith for this ARC! #notlikeothergirlsbook #mysterybooks #teenfiction #booktok #bookrecs @Bloomsbury Books

♬ original sound – lauren’s books

Results

This campaign generated 50 pieces of organic content across Instagram and TikTok. Notably, this included 15,000 organic engagements (Likes, Comments, Saves) and 7,000 views (just on TikTok, excluding Instagram impressions). Furthermore, our creators produced a range of engaging and quality content in various formats, including static images, Instagram Reels, and TikTok videos. We’ve included examples of the types of content created in this article.

After including the results from the SparkAds campaigns, the campaign produced 40,000 views (an increase of 468% and on TikTok alone, excluding organic Instagram impressions), generating 441 Clicks through to the chosen webshop. 

Our community really got behind Not Like Other Girls and the themes it tackles, many giving it 5 Star Reviews.  Here are some snippets from their reviews:

Honestly a great read for fans of Mindy McGinnis and Tiffany D. Jackson – Not Like Other Girls is a stunning debut.

@Azeebooks

This book is on the top of my favorites for 2024!  @adventurenlit

Not Like Other Girls’ is a piercing debut that deftly navigates the labyrinth of the quest for identity and young adult trauma while rightfully scrutinizing the harsh treatment of it, all wrapped in a mystery that holds you captive till the last page. 

@thejinxedlibrary

I am so devastated by this book, and yet I’m also left feeling hopeful at the same time. I think I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. I’m still shocked this is a debut novel because of how good it is.  @2_girls_bookin_it

We are pleased with these results for a debut title, and the client has given really positive feedback. This resulted in a collaboration with Bloomsbury UK on the same book release.

“Working with BookInfluencers.com for our debut novel Not Like Other Girls campaign was an absolute pleasure; their professionalism and creativity helped us elevate our book’s visibility and engagement.”

Lily Yengle, Associate Director of Marketing, Children’s Bloomsbury Publishing.

We look forward to further campaigns with our friends at Bloomsbury!

If you’re interested in learning more about SparkAds and running a Book Tour with us, email us at contact@bookinfluencers.com.

Four ways to Collaborate with Readers

Antina May 22, 2024

Whether you work at the marketing department of a publishing house or running your own show as an indie-author; there comes a moment in which you need to collaborate with readers to help you get your book out there. Maybe it’s different when your name is Colleen Hoover, Stephen King or Taylor Jenkins Reid, but they didn’t get to be auto-buy authors overnight either.

For most marketers, PR managers and authors the reality is that it is hard to sell books. How do you get your book into the hands of readers? There are different ways to achieve that goal. In this blog I will share different ways to collaborate with readers to reach even more people.

Meet the Online Book Community

The online book community is huge. People from all over the world use the world wide web to express their opinions about the books they read. They leave reviews on Goodreads or Amazon, write blogs on their personal websites, post pretty photos on Instagram, talk about their favorite authors on YouTube or create entertaining videos for TikTok. To give you an idea about the size of the community; the hashtag #bookstagram on Instagram has been used 104 million times to date. The hashtag #booktok on TikTok was used 32.6 million times already.

We, as consumers, get influenced by what we see online. We’re growing more and more sceptical about commercials where we believe recommendations by our peers to be more trustworthy. Readers are influenced by what other readers read. They go on Goodreads to read reviews before ordering a book. They go on Instagram to read about the latest releases and they scroll through TikTok to hear all about the latest BookTok hit. So, the next question is: how do you get collaborations with these readers off the ground in order to promote your book? These are some of your options.

Running your own promotional campaign

A lot of spare time, an established backlist, a large mailing list and a strong social media presence are the perfect ingredients if you’re looking to run your own promotional campaign. You have already connected with lots of readers and they can’t wait to read the next book you’re wanting to publish. You got this! The reality is that besides the big publishers and a handful of well-known indie authors, most of us don’t have these ingredients at our disposal. And spare time is an issue for everyone. So even the large publishers often lean on others to help them market their books. Let’s take a look at the routes they choose.

A Readalong with The Tandem Collective

Tandem is well known in the book community because of their unique concept: the Readalong. They send out free copies of the book to a select group of micro influencers. Led by a coordinator, the groups read the book simultaneously and use prompt cards to discuss the books topics in a private chat. In the meantime, participants share their thoughts on their social media channels, involving other readers in their journey through the book. Lately they have been working on books by Gabrielle Zevin, John Marrs, Claire McGowan and many many more. Reach out to naomi@thetandemcollective.com to learn more.

A virtual book tour with Bookinfluencers.com

Bookinfluencers.com runs virtual book tours, like many other book tour companies. However, they bring something more to the table than your average book tour company. Their in-depth knowledge of TikTok ads manager ensures that publishers and authors can make the most of their book tours. Any BookTok video can be promoted resulting in increased views, engagement metrics and even clicks to webshops. Bookinfluencers.com also relies heavily on their strong community management skills that lead to high upload percentages. We all know nothing is more frustrating than distributing books and getting nothing in return. Lately Bookinfluencers.com have been working on books by Kalynn Bayron, Junji Ito, Ali Hazelwood, Samantha Shannon and R.F. Kuang. Email me at antina@bookinfluencers.com to learn more.

A bookish challenge with ChallyPop

The new kid on the block is ChallyPop. ChallyPop is a competition-based platform that enables everyone to potentially be a paid creator based on the quality of their content rather than the size of their following. The platform challenges creators of all sizes to enter by making content based on a brief. The top 20 submissions receive a money prize. ChallyPop just launched and is running 3 challenges set by one of the largest publishers in the world, Simon & Schuster. Creators are challenged to create content about the thriller Redemption by Jack Jordan, the romantasy The North Wind by Alexandria Warwick and the romance Under Your Spell by Laura Wood. ChallyPop is a great method to get early attention for a new release and to encourage preorders. Email the team at hello@challypop.com to learn more.

As you can see, there are various ways to collaborate with readers. It’s up to you to decide the best course for your book.

Meet our Featured Book Influencers for Summer!

Maren May 17, 2024

We love our community at Bookinfluencers.com. Because of this, on our website, you will always have access to a selection of our featured book influencers and a couple of times a year, we like to shine the spotlight on them. With summer just around the corner, we wanted to share our newly featured book influencers with you. All the influencers are dedicated and passionate and have created engaging content that resonates with audiences worldwide.

Maja Madsen Kleive @majaicalreads

I started with my TikTok because I didn’t have anyone to talk about books with – and I also loved the Booktok community so I was really intrigued to start making content myself and share my own thoughts. I’ve met so many new and fantastic people through this platform, and I’m so happy for the change TikTok/Booktok has made on my life. My favorite genres are most definitely Fantasy, Romance and preferably them together as a Romantasy! I love a silly romcom, but can also deep dive into a 8 book long fantasy series with world building and action. I LOVE Sarah J. Maas, Elsie Silver and Stephanie Garber! This year my goal has been to read more authors and I recently started The Secret History by Donna Tartt – and I must say that I might have a heart for classics as well! 

@majaicalreads

You’re a wizard Ig!🧙‍♂️Thank you @LukeChmilenko , @gdpenman & @bookinfluencerscom for the opportunity to read The Drop of a Hat 🤍 #funnyfantasy #dropofahat #majaicalreads #funnybooks #booktok

♬ original sound – Maja | MajaicalReads📖🧝🏼‍♀️

For favorite books you’re asking a really hard question, because there are so many! If I must pick a few I would HAVE to include Kingdom of Ash and A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas, and Heartless by Elsie Silver. But a series that’s really captured my heart is The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing and Iron Flame). 

Lily Magnfält @lilythebibliophile

I started my Booktok account during a tumultuous time in my life. I stopped being afraid to show my love of books because people had sneered at it before and decided to go for it. Booktok already existed and it quite frankly gave me the guts to post videos and become a part of the community. It has given me a great many friends to share my love of books with which I will forever be grateful for.

@lilythebibliophile

In collaboration with @The Black Rose Bookshop 🫶🏻 this is the perfect spring/summer read🤍 #booktok #losingmybreath #romcom #grumpysunshinetrope #steamyromance #bookrecs

♬ original sound – LILYTHEBIBLIOPHILE

Some of those favourite books are fantasy and romance titles such as Addicted to You by Krista & Becca Ritchi, House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas, An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh.

Stephanie Fletes @steph.lafayette

I started my Tiktok account back in 2021 as I was getting back into manga and reading a few novels in my friends book club. I suddenly felt the need to collect every physical volume available of my favorite manga series Skip Beat!

@steph.lafayette

We have a new release from @VIZ This is Stitches by Hirokatsu Kihara, it tells of nine unresolved mysteries as short stories and illustrated by Junji Ito. [ Sponsored Post w/ @bookinfluencerscom ] #vizmedia #manga #mangatok #stitchesmanga #hirokatsukihara #junjiito #sponsored

♬ Coast – Hotel Pools

From there I ended up recommending and reviewing some of my favorite series and I also got back into novels and have grown my library quite a bit. I enjoy horror, romance, and science fiction. Some of my favorite authors are Clive Barker, Grady Hendrix, Ali Hazelwood, and many talented mangaka.

Jessica De Lellis @oddandbookish 

I started my Bookstagram in April 2017, when I fell back into love with reading. Since then, I have expanded into other platforms such as TikTok, Storygraph, Litsy, and blogging. My favorite genres include romance, historical fiction, and contemporary. Some of my favorite books are Jane Eyre, Little Women, and Conversations with Friends. 

Velishia Govender @bookishrebel01 

Hi, I’m Velishia, a South African Bookstagrammer. I live for bookstore visits and large amounts of iced coffee. I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember and started my Bookstagram in 2019. I wanted a place to rant about all my favourite books, meet new bookish friends, and add to my never-ending TBR. I read a bit of every genre, but my favourite genres are fantasy, historical fiction, and romance. My favourite books include anything written by Emily Henry, Danielle L Jensen, and Cassandra Clare.

Zoe Nira @zoenira

My name is Zoë, but on TikTok I’m known as Zoë Nira (Nira is my middle name, not my surname 😉 ). I’m 22 years old and besides reading, I also love spending time with my friends and of course my boyfriend.

@zoenira

We like a bit of both worlds 🤭. #booktok #bookworm #booktoker #romancebooks #romancebooktok #romancebooktoker IB: @Cathy Lammers

♬ HXC Deli BornDead Abare Mix – borndeadclothing

I started reading the Twisted series in March 2023 and was sold after this. I came across this series on TikTok and never left BookTok. To this day, I don’t know how this came to me. I started my BookTok account in August 2023. What started with one video a day quickly grew to 3-4 videos a day and I now have almost 15K followers!

I mainly share videos about spicy romance books, but most importantly, I find it important for me and other people to laugh at my videos. Oh yes, my fave authors are Elsie Silver, Ana Huang, Liz Tomforde and Becka Mack.

Nebula @nebula.jp

@nebula.jp

@VIZ Sent me volume 1 of their new Original series “Status Royale” and it looks like It’s going to be a great VR Esports manga! #statusroyale #vizmedia #vizoriginals #mangarecommendation #mangareview

♬ Time – Goslow & VOLKHIN

Hi, my name is Nebula, I make anime and manga content on TikTok! I started my page on TikTok to talk about shows and manga series that I enjoy and felt like they needed some time in the spotlight. These shows and series weren’t being covered by anyone at the time so I wanted to change that and introduce them to a wide variety of people on the app. Some of my favorite genres for anime and manga are psychological, drama, slice of life, romance, and fantasy. Some of my favorite authors are Shuzo Oshimi, Inio Asano, and Kanehito Yamada. I also really enjoy a handful of series like Blood on the Tracks, My Happy Marriage, Frieren Beyond Journey’s End, Kowloon Generic Romance, and The Tunnel to Summer The Exit of Goodbyes!

Sarah Imler @sarahs.bookspace

I’m Sarah, 24 years old and I come from Austria. I discovered my love of books in 2020 and haven’t been able to stop since. My favourite genres are romance and dark romance. Or combined as dark romance! I can’t decide on favourite authors because there are just too many! But when Stella Tack brings out a new book, I order it immediately!

Sarina Bouwmeester @livethebooklife 

I’m Sarina and I’m a Dutch Booktoker and Bookstagrammer. I’ve always enjoyed reading, and a few years ago I decided I wanted to share my love for books on social media so I started my Bookstagram. Connecting with other readers and to share and receive book recommendations is one of my favourite things about Bookstagram. I love all kinds of books, from fantasy to romance, but contemporary books have a special place in my heart. I focus on reading inclusive and diverse books! 

@livethebooklife

Spannend!! Zin in 📚#livethebooklife #boektok #booktok #noexit #marenstoffels #uitgeverijleopold

♬ Amsterdam – Gregory Alan Isakov

If you want to see more about our featured Book Influencers, or become a Book Influencer yourself, check out Bookinfluencers.com

ChallyPop Challenges: The Results

Kristin May 3, 2024

In the era of digital space, social media floods our screens daily. The sheer amount of content we engage with can be inspiring, yet it can also overwhelm those aspiring to follow in the footsteps of influencer creators. Enter: ChallyPop Challenges.

My journey as a bookish creator on Instagram started over 4 years ago. With less than 10 followers, I was eager to share my passion for books with fellow readers on social media. Although I put lots of energy into creating posts, writing reviews, and engaging with others and I met many wonderful people through that account, growing in following was almost impossible in the beginning.

This left me wondering what I was doing wrong and how I can leave my mark on the bookish creator space. How can I stand out from the crowd if all the work so far wasn’t enough? Especially as it was much harder to even be considered for ARCs or PR boxes from publishers if you didn’t have the numbers to support your requests. Needless to say, financial compensation for all the time and effort you’ve put into creating content was out of the question! I wished for a change in the social media game which will give me an equal chance as someone with big follower accounts. I wished for a space like ChallyPop.

Now, I am proud to be part of a team that realizes the potential in everyone. Just like the sister companies Bookinfluencers and Tandem Collective, ChallyPop is here to disrupt the influencer market space in a fun and innovative way. Think of the platform as the new ‘cool kid’ on the block, celebrating creativity in the creator space over any follower metrics. Or, as I’d like to describe it, a ‘breath of fresh air’ for micro influencers.

Introducing ChallyPop Challenges

In April, we launched our first ChallyPop challenges. We encouraged influencers from all social media platforms and sizes to take part and share with us their most anticipated books, films and TV shows and compete for many rewards. The different tiers offered financial incentives starting from $10 USD to the grand prize of $100 USD.

1st Place: $100 USD

2nd Place: $75 USD

3rd Place: $50 USD

4th – 10th Place: $25 USD

11th – 20th Place: $10 USD

Needless to say, we were beyond happy with the wave of positive responses! As our Book ChallyPop Challenge came to an end, over 100 creators submitted their entries for a chance to win one of the many prizes. From intricate stop-motion animations to hilarious faux Facetime conversations, the submissions were as diverse as they were impressive. We’re blown away by the level of talent on display and thrilled to award prizes to our top contenders. 

Meet the winners of our first ChallyPop Challenge

Congratulations to our top three ChallyPop challengers: @Booksandcoffeemx, @stars.and.embers, and @probablybusyreading. Your creativity and dedication have set the bar high for future ChallyPop Challenges, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll create next. Take a look at their entries:

1) First place: @ Booksandcoffeemx

Our judging panel were so impressed by your stop motion video which we know must’ve taken ages!

2) Second place: @ stars.and.embers

You cracked us up with your faux Facetime video!

3) Third place: @ probablybusyreading

Your content was so unique and beautifully crafted.

To everyone who participated, whether you were selected or not, we extend our warmest gratitude. Your contributions have made our first ChallyPop challenges a great success, and we’re committed to continuing to provide a platform where creativity thrives.

If you didn’t get selected this time around, please don’t be disheartened. Keep on having fun with the content you’re creating and you never know, next time around, it might be you collecting the crown.

Make sure you check out the full list at challypop.com, under Past Challenges.

Now, here is our wrap up video dedicated to YOU:

Stay tuned for more exciting ChallyPop Challenges and opportunities coming your way. Follow us on Instagram & TikTok @challypop_official and visit the website, challypop.com, to stay updated on all the latest news.

With ChallyPop, the spotlight is yours for the taking – so let your creativity shine!

ChallyPop: A new way to engage creators

Jenny April 24, 2024

Have you heard of creator burnout? This is something that is becoming more prevalent in the book influencer community. People are creating more and more content and don’t always get paid for it. This can make influencers feel like they are unpaid labour; reading and posting about a book as part of a marketing campaign, with sometimes no remuneration other than the book itself. This then leads to more burnout for creators who feel like they have to be constantly creating for no financial gain. Antina, along with Naomi- founder of Tandem Collective, decided that there is a gap in the market for creators. Enter, ChallyPop! A new platform that gives every creator the chance to be paid. ChallyPop doesn’t take follower count or engagement into account when judging entries to their challenges, instead looking at just the content, creativity and effort taken. I sat down with co-founder Antina to find out more about Chally Pop.

Where did the idea of ChallyPop come from?

Over the years I have heard bookish creators voicing their frustrations about why influencers in other sectors get paid for their reviews and posts. In the book community, however, there can be a feeling that a book is all the payment needed. This is in part why I founded Bookinfluencers.com, and for me, ChallyPop is a progression from this.

We wanted to be able to empower all readers to be creators and influencers. Whether you have 100 followers or 100,000 followers, we believe that you are able to reach other readers and inspire with your content. And we believe that you should be remunerated for this. ChallyPop is here to encourage a new generation of creators who don’t need to worry about their follower count.

We’ve seen the power of micro creators compared to macro creators and paid ads. Some studies show that 61% of consumers place their faith in influencer recommendations, while only 38% show similar trust in branded posts.

The music industry has similar platforms for sounds from track releases, but we haven’t seen this in publishing yet. There is so little communication across industries, and there is so much to learn from each other.

What is your and Naomi’s background and history?

Naomi and I met working on a campaign a few years ago. Last year I became ill and Naomi stepped in to look after Bookinfluencers.com, while I was undergoing treatment. During that time we would bounce ideas around and talk about new ways to breathe life into the book marketing industry. This was not only a way to help distract me from my illness, but to get ideas from another like-minded business owner. Naomi came to me discussing creator burnout and what we could do, this triggered the same thoughts I had when I launched Bookinfluencers.com about why influencers in other sectors can expect payment for promotions as the norm, whereas in the book world, it is the exception. Together, we formed ChallyPop!

Naomi founded Tandem 8 years ago. Over the last few years Tandem has grown a lot and the team there is really strong. I know Naomi really enjoyed the more hands on work at Bookinfluencers.com when she covered for me. We both love the challenge of a new idea, so although it is scary to launch a new business, it is also so exhilarating.

Where does ChallyPop fit in the bookish community?

I love our bookish community, and the community is everything to Bookinfluencers.com. There can be a cynicism around creator marketing, particularly with the big macro creators running multiple ads and sponsorships. There are a lot of studies that have shown that micro creators have the best engagement rates. Micro creators are automatically closer to their audience and able to interact and engage in a way that feels genuine. We want to show that every reader can influence others’ book buying habits. Word of Mouth marketing is a human behaviour- we are much more likely to buy something if our friend or someone we know has bought it. In the digital age, this stretches to social media too. We are inspired by creators who feel like our friends more than celebrities. We want to empower the consumer to be the creator. This allows the reader to shape the narrative of the marketing.

How does ChallyPop fit in with existing companies?

ChallyPop fits in between what Tandem and BookInfluencers.com do. We think that ChallyPop could be instrumental on multiple campaign types, from cover reveals to big budget titles where we know people are going to buy the book anyway.

We know that ChallyPop is likely to change and adapt over time, we might end up using it in a way that is completely different to the current plan, but this is something that we love about all our businesses: we are able to change and adapt as we learn and get feedback.

Essentially, at ChallyPop we don’t want to label people as nano-creators, or micro-creators, or macro-creators. We just look for quality content, which anyone can make.

Visit ChallyPop’s website to learn more about their current challenges.

Book Festivals: Volunteering at the Tucson Festival of Books

Guest Blogger April 5, 2024

What Is a Book Festival?

A Book festival, also called a literary festival, is a gathering of readers and writers that usually feature talks, panels, workshops, and opportunities to meet authors and purchase books and bookish merchandise. There are festivals of all shapes and sizes around the world, and even some that focus on specific genres. 

Meet the Tucson Festival of Books

The Tucson Festival of Books began in 2009. Now held annually on the University of Arizona campus, the festival boasts over 100,000 attendees and a new southwestern animal mascot every year. It’s a free event to attend and features authors of all genres in a variety of scheduled talks and panels. In addition to this, there are booths from different publishers, authors, and literacy organizations.

A Day Volunteering at the Book Festival

The festival relies heavily on its volunteer force for the festival to run smoothly. Volunteers are needed to fill more than 2000 shifts in the weeks leading up to, and during the festival weekend. Volunteers help with everything from author transportation to line management at popular presentations. I have volunteered with the festival for the last two years.

A day as a volunteer starts with check-in. You’re given a t-shirt, a bookmark, a button, and a name tag before you head off to your chosen location. For me, that’s heading to the Indie Author tent. The Tucson Festival of Books has three indie author tents as part of their Reimagined Indie Author program: Children’s, Teen/Young Adult, and Adult Fiction and Nonfiction. 

After going over the itinerary for the day and any reminders, I’m off to the Teen tent. There, I help check in authors and answer questions as attendees try to find different locations throughout the festival. As the authors promote their books, I get to watch, helping out when needed and running back to the Adult tent if we need more supplies. During downtime, I talk with the authors about their work, where they’re from, and learn more about why they decided to write. At the end of my shift, I help with the paperwork as we clean up for the next group.

Why I Volunteer

I spent my middle and high school years walking around the book festival with my family, seeing all the booths but not really knowing what was happening. It was a family outing, a way to get outside and enjoy what is typically nice weather before the harsh Tucson summer. However, I never bought books or looked further into it. Sometimes I knew the authors attending, but I never tried to meet them or attend one of their panels.

In college, I watched as the festival spent several weeks setting up tents, only to come back from spring break and watch any evidence of the event disappear. Later, walking around the festival with my sister and nephews, I still never saw what the festival truly was. 

As an adult finding my love for reading again, I decided to focus my time and energy on causes that make me happy and make a difference in my community. Reading has become a fun activity for me again, and volunteering at a festival that encourages literacy felt like the perfect way to spend my time.  

Volunteering with the Indie Author pavilions lets me discover new authors and stories while helping spread the word about them. It’s an amazing experience to watch as other readers find them, too. Aside from enjoying new stories and meeting new people, it reminds me of why I love to read. There’s a story for everyone, and it wasn’t until I dived back into the community as an adult that I realized that. The festival makes a difference, and I’m glad to be a part of the magic.

Liz Young is a reader and writer from the southwest USA. She enjoys discovering new authors and stories, in addition to eating tacos and spending time with her cat. She has an active Bookstagram account. (https://www.instagram.com/lizanneyoung97)

TikTok Trends: how to know what to post

Jenny March 29, 2024

TikTok Trends can be tough to figure out- you’re off the app for one day, and suddenly everyone is doing a new dance, or silent reviews…how do you keep up with it all?

If you’ve seen our previous blogs, we’ve given you advice on how to start a TikTok, and spoke at length about the joys of the app. You can find pretty much everything on TikTok: from romance to horror, thriller to fantasy. Sometimes it can be hard to know what to post though. However, jumping on those TikTok Trends you see everywhere can be really fun, and can help your content reach more people. Read on to find out about some of my top TikTok Trends, and how to recreate them yourself.

TikTok Trend #1: Silent Book Reviews

@julianna_reads

This was a slowish start for me but then it blew my mind. Must read fantasy, all the stars. Dark academia perfection! #babel #rfkuang #darkacademia #fantasybooktok #silentbookreviews

♬ original sound – Julianna

Silent Book Reviews are everywhere at the moment. They are a really fun way to review a book with out having to say anything. Hand gestures and facial expressions can be universal, meaning that your content can appeal to more than just your own language speakers.

This is a really easy trend to jump on: read a book, then film yourself reacting to it without saying anything. How did you feel? Did the book shock you, scare you, make you cry? Show these emotions and you’ll have a hit on your hands!

TikTok Trend #2: I Can’t Do Nights

@elenasbooktok

i love this feeling #booktok #tandemcollectiveuk #theschoolreunion #theschoolreunionreadalong #shaliniboland #thrillerbookstok

♬ eye cunt dew knight – AHRIHQ

This clip from the movie Five Nights at Freddy’s is used by creators to show them staying in rather than going out. In the BookTok world it is usually showing someone reading their book instead of wanting to go out partying.

This is a very quick sound, so you just need to mime along to the words. You could be reading and show your frustration at being disturbed, or have a friend join you and show how you prefer reading on the sofa instead of going out to the club.

TikTok Trend #3: Aesthetic videos

@jenny_readss

this book is giving me genuine, visceral stress. my stomach is sore from all the tension and I’m obsessed! also this is the best excuse to use this sound. Have you read this book? If you’re on #northseatiktok pick this one up, it’s safer than actually going there! Just. #thelastpassenger @Lex Brookman #thriller #northsea #readthebook #thrillerreads

♬ Hoist the Colours – Bass Singers Version – Bobby Bass

Aesthetic posts and videos have been popular for a while. They are starting to make a resurgence on TikTok in various forms. People have created a “what you see vs what I see” trend: this starts on you reading a book, then switches to multiple aesthetic images showing what happens in a readers head. Other examples include using aesthetic images to show the plot of a book, or persuading you to pick the book up based on its aesthetic.

This trend can take a little more time because you need to find multiple aesthetic images. Pinterest is a good starting point, but make sure that the images are free to use. You then need to use TikToks editing software to stitch them together so they flash through, making a video that gives the vibes of the book.

TikTok Trend #4: Kardashian’s Kwotes

@shaebabybooks

My Top 2023 Releases⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #iconicbooks #booktok #bookrecommendations #2023books #bestbooksof2023 #greekmythology #literaryfiction #horror #shortstories #gifted

♬ original sound – kardashianicon

Whenever a Kardashian says something meme-able, the internet is going to go wild. TikTok includes lots of Kardashian quotes and sounds, including ‘Because it’s iconic‘ or ‘I’m resilient, I’m strong‘

These are another easy one to use. Pick your favourite quote, and mime it while showing your favourite book.

TikTok Trend #5: The Silent GRWM

@camillalor

make sure you listen carefully🤝🏻

♬ original sound – Cam

The Silent GRWM (Get Ready With Me) trend is used to highlight all the reasons to not do something. It starts with the creator saying ‘Get Ready With Me as I tell you why not to do…’ this could be ‘ not to read this book’, ‘not start a BookTok’ or anything that you are passionate about. The rest of the video is just silently getting ready. This shows that there are no reasons to not do the thing!

Another nice and easy trend to do yourself. Just think of something that you are passionate about, or you think everyone should do. You then just film yourself doing your morning routine.

How to find TikTok Trends

Unfortunately, the only real way to find trends is to scroll on the app, and I know we all aim to minimize our screen time. However, other ways to use trends can be using a popular song (Texas Hold ‘Em by Beyonce, or Yes, And by Ariana Grande come to mind), if there is a style you like, save it and reproduce it yourself. If you see a style used a few times, save and have a go yourself. Check out trends from other sides of TikTok: BeautyTok, DanceTok, CelebrityTok- they are all full of fantastic trends you can make bookish!

Jenny is a book influencer over on Instagram, and tries to post on her own TikTok and YouTube as well. In her day job she works for Tandem Collective as a project manager and trend collector for the rest of the social team.

Book Influencer insights: Meet Velishia from South Africa!

Maren March 22, 2024

We love interviewing the many wonderful authors we work with. However, we also want to shine some light on the fantastic influencers in our community. Book influencer Velishia Govender, @bookishrebel01, from South Africa has been a member of the Bookinfluencers.com community for a long time. I sat down with Velishia to share more about our community and book tours – from the other side.

Let’s start at the beginning! How did you get into reading and content creation?

My bookish experience has been quite an adventure. My love for books started at a very young age. I come from a family of avid readers who have always encouraged my love for books, so it’s no surprise I became a bookworm. In 2019, I discovered Bookstagram and the book community, and I couldn’t have been more excited. Books have always been a significant part of my life and I took a real interest in content creation when the pandemic started. Becoming a bookish content creator gave me a place to be creative and share my love for books with people who have the same interests.

Velishia is an active community member and has participated in many campaigns. On our platform, influencers are presented with multiple campaigns, and they are welcome to register for the campaign that fits them. What makes you register for a campaign, Velishia?

I know we always say don’t judge a book by its cover but honestly, often it’s the cover that usually catches my eye and makes me want to immediately check out the synopsis and sign up for the campaigns. Incentives are also a motivator when signing up. Getting physical books, gift cards, or even monetary compensation adds extra excitement to joining a book campaign.

“Your best content will always show in books you love.”

The book tour process looks very different for an author and an influencer. What does a book tour look like for you as an influencer?

What I would generally do is firstly check if the tour is for International, US, or UK (I look for international campaigns). Next, I would find out the genre of the book I’m interested in and read the synopsis to find out if it’s a book I would enjoy. If it is a genre or story, I think I would enjoy I’ll sign up. Then I read the book, post some reading updates (a quote, reaction, or my progress) then post my review to my socials.

Book tours with book influencers have become a powerful tool in book marketing. As an influencer, there are many ways to interact and engage with your audience. How do you engage with your audience with book tour content and determine the success of a post? 

A few ways I engage with my audience is through Q&A on my post or posting reading updates/progress via Instagram stories. One of my favorite ways to engage is by posting quotes or little snippets from the book I’m currently reading. A good quote has a way of grabbing your attention and making you want to add a book to your TBR.

Audience engagement and connecting with fellow readers are key factors in determining the success of a post. I’m not just talking about the number of likes. Having someone comment about the book, saying that they would like to read it or telling me what they love about it, is also a win for me.

What’s your favorite part about book tours and the book community?

The best part about book tours is connecting to new authors and discovering new genres. I’ve read genres that I normally wouldn’t and now have some new favorites.

The best part of the book community is the people. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming and always ready for a bookish-fueled rant and to provide endless recommendations. I’ve met some of my favorite people in the book community.

And finally, do you have any advice for new influencers on how to stand out on book tours?

My advice would be to choose book tours you are genuinely interested in or for genres you really enjoy. Your best content will always show in books you love.

Are you a publisher or author looking to reach new audiences and readers through Bookinfluencers.com? Contact contact@bookinfluencers.com, and we will help you out!

How to get started with Booktok – staying true to yourself & our best tips

Paula March 8, 2024

I often get questions about how to get started with Booktok. Personal questions like how did I begin my own channel: where my main focus is Dutch literature and young adult books, as well as more general questions. In this blog post I will share my best advice on how to get started with Booktok. In my opinion, the most important thing is staying true to yourself.

#1 Now is the best time to get started on Booktok

I started on Booktok during one of the first lockdowns during COVID-19. Tiktok was at his highest peak and everyone needed to stay inside most of the time due to quarantine. We all know what happened then: people started picking up new hobbies. And for a lot of people that was reading. I was lucky at the time when I started my channel: it was the perfect time. But because we can’t turn back time (thankfully, when we look at Covid times), the best advice about how to get started with Booktok is: start now. The perfect time will not come, the only perfect time is now.

“The best advice about how to get started with booktok is: start now”

Create an account dedicated to books and start creating content. It’s scary, but if you want to start a Booktok account that’s the best, and first, step. Still a bit too scary at first? You can also start with videos where you don’t show your face yet. Once you’ve settled in a bit, you can make it more personal. It’s your channel and it’s your choice.

#2 – Stay true to yourself

One of the biggest pitfalls of novice Booktokers is that they only make videos about the most popular titles. And that makes sense, because videos about Twisted Love and It Ends With Us will probably also fill your own For You page. Booktokers get a lot of likes with those types of videos.

Still, my best advice is to stay true to yourself. Share what you really read, look at titles that you don’t often see online and make a video about them. I have noticed that people really appreciate it when you recommend books that you genuinely are enthusiastic about, even if they don’t know that specific book yet. They get to know it through you! And because of all your original tips (and enthusiasm about it), they will start following you. TikTok is about personal connections and if people trust you and like your taste in books, they will come to you.

#3 – Find your own niche on Booktok and interact

Let’s be real: nothing is more fun than receiving an original book recommendation instead of yet another lyrical video about the most popular fantasy book of the moment. Although combining both is perfectly fine, my personal favorite Booktokers are people that will share original titles and have their own taste. I also love to explore niches like Booktokers who read literary fiction, because yes: literary fiction is also a part of Booktok.

“Interact with smaller accounts, help each other grow and just have fun”

My advice? Dive into Booktok before and as you start your Booktok account. Find Booktokers who read the same books as you. That’s how you can find your niche, from fantasy to thrillers or manga – everything is on Booktok. If it’s not on your FYP yet, it’s time for another deep dive! Interact with smaller accounts, help each other grow and just have fun. Niche-ing down doesn’t mean you can’t post about manga if you normally post about romance books, it’s about finding out what you stand for. I personally combine YA and Dutch literature on my account and that works well. If you are someone who reads manga and romance, make your channel about both genres and put this in your bio. On Booktok there are so many accounts, it’s nice to have an account where it’s clear what to expect.

#4 – Try different forms of content

First it was all about short videos on TikTok, nowadays gallery posts and longer videos are also popular. When you start, it’s important to try different forms of content. Try things out and find out what feels good for you and what works. A combination of gallery posts and videos is a good thing to start with! For longer videos it’s important that you are strict with editing and make it worth watching. A long talking video or vlog can be fine, as long as you cut out the parts where you might talk too long about the book. Keep in mind: would I watch this kind of video if this was on my FYP? Keep it catchy.

#5 – Quality over quantity

When I see Booktokers talk about their ways of how to get started on Booktok, it’s always about posting every day or multiple times a day. They say that will help you grow. I think that’s a misconception. It’s way better to have one video of high quality than 10 videos where you just jump on a trend or use a popular Capcut template. Remember that you don’t have to post all the time. Have fun on TikTok, make a video whenever you want. 2 to 3 times a week is fine if you are just getting started, just make sure that the video screams what you want to express with your account.

Starting on TikTok: Author Anne van Zwieten

Paula February 23, 2024

Last year we organized a campaign with two books by Dutch author Anne van Zwieten. Anne was also just starting on TikTok herself, we spoke to her about that process, influencer marketing and finding her audience online.

As we launched the campaign, you were just starting on TikTok. How did you feel about starting on TikTok?

I thought of it as a fun challenge. I was a bit afraid that I would be too old for the target group and that there would, therefore, not be much interest in my work, but nothing could be further from the truth. I actually quite enjoy making my own videos, although I do feel very old among all those young faces sometimes!

@annevanzwieten

Als nieuwkomer op #booktok stel ik me graag als schrijfster aan jullie voor. Ik schrijf romans en thrillers met sterk uitgewerkte personages. #romans #thrillers #campagne #bookinfluencerscom @Paula ✨ | Boekentips

♬ origineel geluid – Anne van Zwieten

What do you enjoy about being on TikTok?

I find it interesting how younger people view my work. Not only in terms of content but also in terms of execution, such as the cover of the book. I enjoy learning from this feedback. It is really a misconception that the younger generation only reads thrillers or feelgood. I feel honored and proud that my books are so embraced.

What advice would you give to other authors who also thinking about starting on TikTok?

Just do it. I really liked working with with bookinfluencers.com because it immediately allowed me to reach a large audience of readers and influencers. So I’d definitely suggest that to other authors.

What do you enjoy most about working with influencers who have read your books?

Their vision on content and design. I prefer substantiated reviews. Not only: read this book, but also: why. That can also help me a lot with my upcoming books. It’s also very heart-warming to see the videos where the influencers opening up the package with my two books. It is so funny to see them open it, because I packed everything myself and then see my personal text in the book with their name above it. Writing is a lonely profession. With the influencers and readers it feels more like a joint project.

Why do you think it is important to profile yourself online as an author and be in touch with your readers?

Besides the fact that I really enjoy building relationships with my readers, it is simply a necessity to present yourself online as an author. We live in a digital world. There are so many writers that not everyone is able to sell their books in a traditional bookstore. New authors hardly get a chance, the same books are everywhere while there are so many more books out there. Online platforms like Amazon and the Dutch bol.com determine the market a lot, together they sell many more books than all bookstores combined, so you have to be digitally visible.

If you want to read more author interviews, check out these from Nicholas Williams, Simone Warren and Katie Keridan

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