Level Up Your Bookstagram: Canva Tips & Tricks for Book Bloggers
If you’re a book blogger trying to grow your Instagram, you already know that visuals matter. Whether it’s a glowing review, a book haul, or your monthly wrap-up, the right design can stop a scroll and invite someone to stay.
But don’t worry, you don’t need Photoshop, a marketing budget, or design training to make it work. You just need Canva, a few good tricks, and a little bit of consistency.
Here’s how I use Canva to create clean, on-brand, and scroll-worthy graphics that help my book content stand out on Instagram.
Start with a Branded Template
Why it matters:
Consistency builds recognition. If someone sees your post in their feed and instantly knows it’s yours, you’re winning.
What to do:
- Create 2–3 reusable templates in your brand style (colors, fonts, logo/handle).
- Use them for book reviews, new releases, wrap-ups, or top 5 lists.
- Set up folders in Canva to organize by type (e.g., “Reels Covers,” “Carousels,” “Mini Reviews”).
📌 Tip: Canva’s “Styles” panel lets you apply your brand palette to any layout in one click which is a huge time saver.
Use Smart Mockups for Book Covers
Why it matters:
Seeing a book in context (on a shelf, in a hand, or beside a coffee cup) makes it more visually engaging.
What to do:
- Upload a high-res cover image
- Click Edit Image > Smartmockups
- Choose a lifestyle setting (eReader screen, shelf flatlay, etc.)
- Resize and crop as needed
📌 Tip: This works especially well for ARCs and indie books that don’t have a lot of staged photos online.
Create Carousel Posts with Intention
Why it matters:
Instagram favors carousel posts for engagement, and they’re a great way to share more info without overwhelming one image.
What to do:
- Design in multiples of 1080x1350px (tall format for feed)
- Think in sections:
- Slide 1: Hook or cover image
- Slide 2–4: Key points (book tropes, quotes, spice level)
- Final Slide: CTA (“Save this for later!” / “Drop your fave monster romance below!”)
📌 Tip: Keep transitions consistent between slides using repeating graphic elements or colors to tie the set together.
Add Text Hierarchy (Without Clutter)
Why it matters:
A post with too much text is hard to read, but a post with no structure loses attention.
What to do:
- Use 2–3 font sizes per post:
- Large (Headline) for things like book title, rating, theme
- Medium (Subheading) for things like quotes or short reactions
- Small (Details) for things like author, genre, date
- Limit font styles (one serif, one sans-serif max per post)
- Always center key info or align it consistently
📌 Tip: Canva’s “Position” tool helps you align text perfectly every time.
Use Free Frames and Grids for Aesthetic Layouts
Why it matters:
Frames let you upload book covers, profile pics, or aesthetic images with consistent cropping and it just looks cleaner.
What to do:
- In the Elements tab, search “frame” or “grid”
- Choose shapes that match your vibe (rounded corners for softness, sharp edges for bold posts)
- Drag and drop your image in, and Canva will auto-crop it to fit
📌 Tip: Use circle frames for author headshots and rectangle frames for book spines or stacked TBRs.
Bonus Tools I Love
- Magic Resize (Pro only): Reformat one post into Story, Reel cover, or Pinterest sizes in seconds
- Text Effects: Use curve, shadow, or glow sparingly to make titles pop
- Brand Kit (Pro only): Save your brand fonts and colors so you’re not scrambling every time. Bonus that you can have more than one brand kit to help you create seamless posts if you change up your grid!
Final Thoughts
Canva has seriously changed the way I show up online. With a few go-to templates and a little intentionality, you can create bookish graphics that feel just as you as the reviews you write.
It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be yours.
Let’s Talk About It
Do you use Canva for your book blog or Bookstagram? I’d love to see your favorite tricks, templates, or design tools!
Drop your Canva wins (or frustrations!) in the comments and let’s make our content beautiful and easy.
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