![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Quick-Dirty-1024x512.jpg)
As a romance reader – and just as a person who enjoys Instagram – there are some fundamental issues that I see time and time again in people’s feeds that really make me cringe.
As a romance author, what you post on your social media channels is an extension of yourself. It’s your brand. A way to connect to and connect with potential fans, buyers and bloggers.
So the way your feed looks and how you present yourself online could mean a fundamental difference between success and failure as an author.
As such, here are 5 quick & dirty tips for your Instagram feed as a romance author to make it the best it can possibly be.
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/line.png)
Why are you using Instagram?
I recommend having one Instagram for your friends/family/private life and another for your author persona – even if you don’t use a penname.
I mean, I’m sure your sister in law had a great 40th birthday party, and your nephew was really cute for his first dance and those 20 pics of your child/grandchild are definitely adorable…but that’s not what I’m here for.
If you don’t want the hassle/work of 2 instagram accounts – just focus on why you’re using instagram.
If it’s to promote yourself as an author and the books you write – then before posting hundreds of photos about intimate details about your life and family, pause to see if it’s something that your followers (who most likely follow you because you’re a romance author) will want to see.
If you’re there to connect with friends and family who know you as you – not just as an author – then maybe make your profile private, or don’t advertise the fact you’re an author.
A little of your personal life in your romance author feed is still a good thing – but be aware of your audience at all times.
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Jo-Author-1024x839.jpg)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Jo-Personal-1024x839.jpg)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/White-Line.jpg)
Keep it simple – don’t split images!
It’s proper cute that you’ve planned this giant image made up of all the square posts you’ve made…
…but here are some problems with that idea:
- It only looks cute if someone looks at your profile – most people are just scrolling their feeds.
- When I scroll my feed and just see a random word, half word, elbow, nipple – it looks ridiculous. It looks shoddy. It looks like you don’t know how Instagram works.
- Post one more pic and the whole image un-aligns in your feed. Not pretty.
- If your image is so good – just post it as is. Keep it simple.
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Montage-1.png)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Montage-2.png)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Montage-3.jpg)
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![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/White-Line.jpg)
Be SQUARE!
I mean, it’s all about the square – that’s really not a hard rule to follow.
Chopped off pics, quotes with the first words of each line missing, book promos where you can’t see the pertinent information – it’s not a good look. If you’ve got an image that’s not square, just paste it onto a square before posting to Instagram. You’ll have white (or whatever colour you choose) space at the sides, but at least people will be able to see and appreciate your posts/pics.
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Sqaure-8.png)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Square-9.jpg)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Square-1.png)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Square-7.png)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Square-4.png)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/White-Line.jpg)
Be yourself but not too much
I’m normally all ‘be yourself’ and ‘do you’ but sometimes things (self-deprecation?) just don’t translate.
I followed an author the other day and the first post of hers I noticed in my feed was one of her looking gorgeous (I mean, this lassie was tall and slim with #goal hair, model good looks and flawless make-up). In the caption for her image, she put: Having a bad hair day.
Now, she might have been joking. She might have really bad self-esteem (yet still like posting selfies on Insta!) but girl, seriously? You look like a douche. A hot douche but a douche nonetheless. If you want someone to tell you you look good, ask your mama.
So be yourself, but not too much!
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Fake-1.jpg)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Fake-2.jpg)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Fake-3.jpg)
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![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/White-Line.jpg)
Content is key
You can post whatever you like – obviously – but try to keep the following in mind:
- Don’t steal other people’s content then claim it as your own (if you’re reading this and you can no longer find me on Insta – I’m talking about you!)
- Fuzzy images never look good
- Don’t continually post the same content (whether that’s 20 images of your upcoming book or 20 images of yourself as a little cartoon character). Keep it fresh.
- Don’t be a douche. Your political opinions, religious opinions, footwear opinions may be important to you – but just remember not everyone feels the same way and just because they don’t, it doesn’t mean they’re wrong. Respect the right for someone else to disagree. But also – don’t call anyone else a Helen Hunt.
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Same-4-1.jpg)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Same-3-1.jpg)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Same-5.jpg)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Same-7.jpg)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Same-6.jpg)
![](https://joreadsromance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/line.png)
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