Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms in recent years, with over 1 billion active monthly users. As such, it has become an incredibly popular tool for businesses and influencers to reach their audience and promote their brand. One way to increase the reach and popularity of your Instagram account is by buying followers. However, what some may not realize is that this act can end up doing more harm than good in the long run. In this post, we will discuss why buy instagram followers could be detrimental to your overall growth and success on the platform.
Fake Followers Are Unengaged
The biggest problem with buying Instagram followers is that they are typically fake accounts that do not engage with your content. Engagement is key to growing your account, as it signals to Instagram that your content is valuable and worth showing to more people. If your followers are not engaging with your posts, your overall reach and visibility will decrease, making it harder to reach new, potential customers or followers. Moreover, having a ton of followers who do not engage with your content can signal to Instagram that your account is not valuable, which could lead to a decrease in your overall visibility on the platform.
Buying Followers Damages Trust
Trust is an essential part of the business relationship and marketing landscape, especially concerning social media. It is through the trust between an influencer or brand and its followers that allows for long-term success. When businesses or influencers purchase followers, it can damage trust within their community. Fake followers often show up as inactive accounts with no profile images, obscure names, and limited activity, all of which make it clear that they were not part of an organic growth process.
It is Against Instagram’s Terms of Service
Buying followers violates Instagram’s terms of use, which can result in suspended or banned accounts. The platform’s algorithm penalizes accounts that use inauthentic methods to gain followers by reducing visibility and engagement. Therefore, buying followers can make your account seem spammy, lowering engagement rates, and harming overall growth.
Purchased Likes and Followers are Less Effective Than Organic
If you’re an influencer or business that’s trying to build your brand on Instagram, the goal should never be focused purely on the number of followers. After all, followers are only one piece of the pie, so to speak. With paid engagement, you may experience fast results in terms of numbers. However, these numbers don’t equal success as they can’t sustain long-term engagement that is needed for business growth. Organic growth provides authentic, engaged followers that increase the reach and view of your content. Authentic followers are the best source of engagement you can get, as they will be interested in your posts and are more likely to become clients, increasing conversions for your business.
Authenticity is Key
One of the most important aspects of being an influencer or business on Instagram is authenticity. Authenticity is something that is valued by Instagram’s algorithm, making engagement and visibility easier to come by. With inorganic growth, authenticity is lost, making it harder to convince your audience of your worth and establish trust with your followers. Authenticity is a critical factor in the success of your business or brand and is something that should not be sacrificed for a short-term increase in followers.
Conclusion:
While it may feel like buying followers could be a shortcut to success on Instagram, it can end up doing more harm than good. Fake followers are not engaged with your content, do not increase conversions, can damage trust with your audience, and do not align with Instagram’s Terms of Service. Organic, authentic growth is the best way to increase your Instagram success in terms of engagement, impressions, and conversions. So, instead of focusing on quantity over quality, aim to create original content, bring authenticity to your content, and engage with your followers to increase organic growth over time.
