Arwa Holawala

How and when did you come up with the idea of being a bookstagrammer? Tell us a bit about your amazing journey of “thebooktheque” from zero to 39K.

Books have been a life changer for me. I owe my personal and professional growth to books. I believe that a better read society is a better developed society.
My love for books and my deepest desire to encourage more people to read books have been the motivation behind starting a book blogging account.
Moreover, sometimes I come across these wonderful books and I feel this need to share it with others and bookstagram has provided me with just the right platform.

What are the top social media platforms available in India and the USA for book promotions?

Honestly speaking, I do not think India has a proper channel dedicated to book promotions at large scale. However Instagram, Youtube, Twitter and Goodreads are the best platforms available in the market right now.

At what stage of my book publishing journey should I consider social media promotions? Pre publishing or post and How?

Creating a buzz about your book is as important as writing it. We live in a digital world wherein having a social media presence is no longer a luxury but has become an essential entity. Considering this, I believe one should start promoting as early as possible, right from the conception of idea, writing it, designing a cover, finalizing a publisher, etc.

What are the 5 most effective ways to promote books on social media?

1. Work with top book influencers.
2. Connect with readers directly
3. Ask your friends and family to review your book
4. Creating a social media page for your book
5. Conduct Author Interviews

What are the common mistakes made by first-time authors while promoting the book on social media?

1. Failing to promote their book. (the book won’t sell itself)
2. Failing to interact with readers. (failing to be social on social media)

“thebooktheque” is doing a pretty good job in its’ niche. What are the 3 top things you consider while reviewing a book?

1. Let readers know what the book is all about
2. State key leanings from the book
3. Mention the target Audience for the book

How much money should I spend on social media promotions for my book and some things to keep in mind?

This is a personal choice and may vary from Author to Author based on their financial capacity. What’s important is to promote the book by whatever means available.

What are the things an author should be cautious about before finalizing a social media handle (page) for promoting their book?

The most important thing to consider is the authenticity of the page. Gauge the quality of book review they do. Connect with book reviewer on call. Go through the other book reviews they have done. Ensure their page and posts have an organic reach. A lot of bookstgrammers use inorganic ways to boost like and comment on their review fooling authors to believe that many people are going to buy their book.

Should an author run paid ads on social media-based interests? Is it effective and what sales can I expect?

Yes, why not?

What is the Vision & Mission of “thebooktheque”? Tell us a bit about, the Kind of books you promote, your biggest strength as a book influencer, popular authors promoted so far, years of experience, any testimonials, etc.

I have been actively using bookstagram since the lockdown.
Mission: To encourage more people to read books
Vision: To read-and-recommend-rare-and-great-books
I promote all kind of books. After all every book has something new to offer, isn’t it?

At Sharing Stories, we have an ongoing campaign ‘Let’s Empower Our Kids’. Please suggest some books here that you would want your child to read before the age of 15 which could help him in understanding certain dimensions of human life like empathy, sympathy, relationships, etc.

1. The Secret
2. The Power of Subconscious Mind
3. Rich Dad Poor Dad
4. Books discussing social issues (1984, Animal Farm, To Kill a Mockingbird)

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