The only Instagram guide (now with a Bio Generator inside!) made exclusively for authors, created by an author who has sold thousands of books through the platform.
The Instagram Guide Trusted by 3,000+ Authors to Grow Their Following and Sell More Books
Step-by-step guide from a bestselling author who reached 700k+ people organically and sold thousands of books — written for beginners and those who know they could be using Instagram more effectively as an author.
What if you could open Instagram knowing exactly what to post, watch it reach readers who've never heard of you, and have those readers click through and actually buy your book?
I know how far away that can feel, because I started with none of it.
When I first started on Instagram, I had zero followers, zero readers, and honestly zero clue what I was doing. I just had a book I believed in and a hope that someone out there would want to read it.
Until one day that changed. What turned it around was simple, and a little uncomfortable at first: I started showing up like someone was already listening. I talked to my community the way I'd talk to my friends, and I connected with readers, even when I had nothing to sell. {Which is exactly what I'm here to pass on to you!}
And after years of figuring it out, I can tell you this with confidence: Instagram is still one of the best things that ever happened to authors in 2026! Here's a recent snapshot from my own account that says it better than I ever could 👇
And since I figured that out?
I reached over 700,000 people in 48 days, without spending a penny on ads
I’ve sold thousands of books straight from my own posts, no paid promotion
I built a community of 100k+ readers who continue to follow along as I release new books
This is the part you won't find in a Google search, a YouTube video, or by asking AI what authors should post. It came from years of doing it myself with real readers, and refining it with thousands of authors since. And the best part? I believe it can happen for you too.
Your readers are already waiting on Instagram!
You wrote the book.
You poured everything into it: the late nights, the self-doubt, the rewrites.
And now it's just waiting to be found by the readers who would absolutely love it.
The hardest part of being an author isn't writing the book. It's finding strangers who want to read it.
And as one student put it perfectly:
That's exactly what this guide is built for.
Because the readers who would love your book? They're already on Instagram waiting to find it.
#Bookstagram has been one of the most active book-loving corners of the internet for over a decade, and every single day, someone in that community is looking for their next favorite book.
They just haven't stumbled across yours yet!
This guide shows you exactly how to change that. Your book deserves to be the one they can't stop talking about, and your readers deserve to find it!
Can I be honest with you for a second?
You didn't write your book to watch it sit in obscurity. You wrote it because you had something to say, something worth reading. And deep down, you know there are people out there who would absolutely love it. But Instagram feels like a mystery…
😅 You open the app to post and suddenly have no idea what to say, so you close it and tell yourself you'll do it tomorrow
😅 You've posted things you were genuinely proud of and got nothing back, not even a comment from your mum
😅 You're watching other authors grow their following and sell books on Instagram and thinking "what do they know that I don't?"
😅 You've tried the hashtags, the reels, the "post every day" advice, and still… crickets
Here's what I want you to know: none of that means your book isn't good enough. It just means nobody showed you how to make Instagram work for an author.
Until now.
Imagine opening Instagram and actually finding readers from it.
You know exactly what to post and why it works
Your posts are reaching people who have never heard of you, and they're clicking through
Your analytics are finally something to get excited about
And somewhere out there, a reader just discovered your book, because you showed up today!
Here's what authors just like you are saying after going through the guide:
I took everything that worked — and nothing that didn't — and put it into one place. The exact strategies I used to grow my community, reach hundreds of thousands of readers, and sell thousands of books. All of it, laid out step by step, specifically for authors.
Introducing Accelerate Your Author Instagram!
Inside, I'm walking you through the exact strategies I and thousands of other authors have used to grow on Instagram and turn followers into readers who actually buy!
Here’s what you’ll get instant access to today!
Get more readers saying… "this author looks perfect for me!"
Your Instagram profile is the first thing a potential reader sees, and most authors are wasting their opportunity with it. A vague bio, the wrong photo, a link that goes nowhere useful, and just like that, the reader moves on.
This module walks you through exactly how to set up and optimize every part of your author profile so that when the right reader lands on your page, they don't just browse — they follow, they click, and they buy.
[BRAND NEW] Your own Instagram Bio Generator to attract your ideal readers and grow your following!
Not sure what your bio should say? Now you don't have to guess.
Enter your details, hit generate, and walk away with a polished, optimised author bio that attracts the right readers and makes them hit follow before they even see your posts.
*A free Claude account is needed to utilize this tool, 100% built with Shelby’s bio framework!
Stop guessing which type of post to use, and start knowing exactly what works
Feed posts, carousels, reels, stories, livestreams, collaboration posts — Instagram gives you a lot of tools. This module shows you exactly which ones to use, when to use them, and how to make each one work specifically for selling books.
Plus, 6 bonus video walkthroughs included so you can see it all in action, not just read about it.
P.S. Done-for-you post ideas are waiting for you in the bonus section. Keep scrolling!
Finally understand what's actually working, and post with confidence every single time
Most authors post and hope for the best. This module changes that. You'll learn how to write captions that stop the scroll, how to research and use hashtags that actually get you in front of new readers, and how to use my proven story strategy to boost engagement on every new post you publish.
⚡BONUS: An Instagram engagement checklist so you know exactly what to do every single week to keep your community growing.
Never stare at a blank screen wondering what to post, ever again
This is the section authors come back to most. Inside you'll find 50+ post and Reel ideas written specifically for authors, so you always know exactly what to post and why it'll work!
Plus 15 done-for-you caption templates you can fill in, post, and actually feel good about. No more "what do I even say?" Just open the guide, pick an idea, and show up.
Turn your Instagram followers into readers who actually buy!
Growing a following is one thing. Getting people to actually click the link and buy your book is another. This is the module that connects those two dots.
You'll learn the 3 content strategy essentials that drive book sales, the 4 content buckets every author should be using, and exactly how to move someone from casually scrolling your page to actively buying your book.
[NEW BONUS]: ManyChat Tutorial — learn how to automatically respond to comments and DMs so you're generating leads even when you're not online. If you've never heard of ManyChat, don't worry, I’ll walk you through the whole thing from scratch!
[BONUS!] 10 done-for-you Instagram Story templates that turn viewers into buyers
Stories are one of the most underused sales tools authors have, and most people have no idea how to use them strategically.
These 10 ready-to-use templates take the guesswork out completely. Just pick one, fill it in, post it, and watch your DMs, link clicks, and book sales respond. Consider these your secret weapon!
And most importantly, understand your account well enough to keep growing it, long after you finish the guide!
Most authors either ignore their analytics completely or spend hours staring at numbers they don't understand. This module cuts through all of that.
You'll learn exactly which metrics actually matter for book sales, how to read them quickly, and how to use what you find to keep growing, month after month. Because when you know what's working, you stop wasting time on what isn't!
This guide is for you if you are:
New to Instagram and want the step-by-step on how to use it, OR…
Already using Instagram but experiencing low reach, engagement and sales
Ready to give up (or already have!)
Not sure how to use everything Instagram has to offer to connect with your readers
(For a guide that could pay for itself with just 10 book sales, and then keep working for you long after! 😍)
One-time investment: $37
And as Instagram releases major updates, you'll get updates to this guide for FREE, so your strategy never goes out of date!
The 14-Day Happiness Guarantee 💛
I want you to feel completely confident hitting that button.
So here's my promise: if you go through the guide and don't find it valuable, just send me an email within 14 days and I'll refund you, no questions asked, no hoops to jump through. I built this guide to teach authors the power of Instagram. And I want you to feel that too — risk free!
Plus, you’ll get these extras throughout the guide:
Instagram engagement checklist so you know exactly what to do each week to engage your community
5 ways to grow your following
5 ways to save time creating videos
Getting comfortable on video and how to host a livestream
How to collaborate with bookstagrammers to expand your reach
You may be asking, why are you the right person to help me figure out Instagram?
Hi, I'm Shelby Leigh.
I still remember sitting at my laptop years ago, posting to an account with barely anyone on it, half-convinced no one would ever read it. I didn't have a book, a following, or a plan. Just something I'd written and a hope that somewhere out there, one person might feel it too. I'm a 4x published author now, with 60,000+ books sold and a community of over 500k readers (100k+ on Instagram alone!), all grown from organic posts. Underneath the numbers, I'm still that same writer who knows exactly how vulnerable it feels to put your work out there and wait.
Watching so many talented authors write beautiful books that never reached their readers, I knew something needed to change. That's why I created Accelerate Your Author Instagram: the exact step-by-step guide I used to grow my own readership, written specifically for authors who want to sell more books without burning out.
I truly believe that every writer can market their book without it being overwhelming, without it taking up all the time you need to write, and without spending money on advertising.
I'd be honoured to help you find your readers, and I can't wait to see what happens when the people who've been waiting for your book finally discover it. 💛
frequently asked questions
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After checking out, you'll get immediate access to download the pdf guide and reference it as many times as you need.
Lifetime access to updates: social media changes and so will this guide. I'll make updates over time to keep this guide as relevant as possible to the platform. When I make updates, I'll let you know via email so you can check it out!
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The guide is a PDF so most computers, tablets and phones will already have a PDF reader installed! Or, you can print it out.
You’ll also need an internet connection to load up the videos in the course!
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Yes! This guide is for both fiction and non-fiction authors. The guide includes video ideas that could apply to any genre: poetry, romance, sci-fi, children's, YA, thriller, mystery, fantasy, fiction, non-fiction, low-content, and more! This will even work for writers looking to pre-launch their book.
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Nope! This guide is 40 new pages packed with information specific to Instagram. There are a handful of repeat post ideas, and one page about content types that is the same, but otherwise it is all new information, with EVEN MORE post ideas to take your author Instagram to the next level.
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Yes! I have many clients who write under pen names. Though I do believe there is a benefit to showing your face and connecting with your audience, you certainly don't have to and there are other ways to build a human connection!
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You can but the catch is that generic AI doesn't know your genre, your readers, or how to move someone from scrolling to actually buying your book. Everything in this guide came from years of growing a real readership and testing what works with thousands of authors, so you're getting what genuinely sells books, not a list of generic tips. The Bio Generator built into the guide even runs on my own framework, so it writes like me, for authors, instead of sounding like everyone else. 💛
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Send us an email!
You’ve made it to the end!
And since you have, I have a feeling you really want to start seeing results from your marketing efforts.
I truly want to help. If you have any questions or concerns about getting the guide today, send me an email and let’s see if it’s a good fit for you.
I can’t wait to see what you accomplish on Instagram with the help of this guide.
Ready to get started?
Earnings Disclaimer
The results shared on this page reflect real students who showed up consistently, put in the work, and applied what they learned. I share their stories because I believe in what's possible for you too, and I also want to be completely transparent with you.
I cannot guarantee that you will achieve any specific results or income from this course. Your outcomes will depend on a number of factors that are entirely within your control, including the quality of your work, how consistently you show up, the effort you put into implementation, and the unique circumstances of your business and audience. What works beautifully for one person may look different for another, and that's completely normal.
Marketing takes time, and results are never one-size-fits-all. What I can promise is that the strategies inside this course are ones I've used personally and seen work across thousands of students, but your experience will ultimately be shaped by you.