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Can You Buy Instagram Followers?
Instagram has 2.35 billion users as of 2023. Needless to say, the platform is essential for small businesses to reach potential customers and build brand awareness. However, with so much competition, it can be tempting for businesses to take shortcuts to gain more followers quickly. One such shortcut is buying Instagram followers, but this can actually do more harm than good. In this article, we’ll explain why small businesses should not buy Instagram followers and provide alternative strategies for growing a genuine following.
What you will learn
- Why Small Businesses Should Not Buy Instagram Followers
- What to Do Instead of Buying Instagram Followers
Why Small Businesses Should Not Buy Instagram Followers
Buying Instagram Followers is Against Instagram's Terms of Service
While it is technically possible to buy Instagram followers given the crazy amount of services offering it out there, it is not recommended. Let’s start with the most obvious reason. Buying followers is against Instagram’s terms of service, and it can result in negative consequences for your account, such as being flagged as spam, having your account suspended, or losing credibility with your real audience.
Instagram has stated clearly that they do not condone the practice of purchasing fake followers. According to their policies, individuals who buy fake followers are considered to be equally responsible as those who sell them. This means that Instagram has the right to ban both the buyer and seller of fake followers.
If you decide to buy fake Instagram followers, it is important to note that Instagram may ban your account for promoting unethical practices. While every account may have some fake followers, purchasing fake followers will result in a higher percentage of fake followers than normal, and Instagram’s algorithms are likely to detect this quickly. Therefore, it is not recommended to buy fake followers as it can lead to serious consequences for your account.
Fake Followers Do Not Engage
Another huge reason why buying Instagram followers is a bad idea is that fake followers do not engage with your content. These followers are often bots or inactive accounts that are not interested in your business or products. As a result, they will not like, comment, or share your posts, which will not help your business’s reach or visibility.
Ultimately, even if buying followers is quite cheap nowadays, it may cost you way more than expected. As we explain in our article on social media KPIs you need to track to grow your business, follower count may be an important metric but engagement is the reason why the social platform’s algorithm will push your content.
In contrast, genuine followers who are interested in your business will engage with your content, increasing your reach and visibility to their own followers. This engagement will send positive signals to the Instagram algorithm, which can boost your visibility in the feed and on explore pages.
Fake Followers Harm Your Credibility
Buying Instagram followers can harm your business’s credibility and reputation. It is easy for people to spot fake followers, and this can make your business look dishonest or untrustworthy. Potential customers may also question the quality of your products or services if they see a large number of fake followers but little engagement on your posts.
Moreover, the use of fake followers is a reason for users to report your account for violation of Instagram’s terms of service and can lead to account suspension or termination. This can damage your business’s reputation and result in the loss of genuine followers and customers.
Fake Followers Do Not Convert to Customers
The ultimate goal of social media marketing is to convert followers into customers. Buy Instagram followers and you will only get fake followers. Risking to state the obvious here, but fake followers are unlikely to become customers because they are not interested in your business or products. They are only there to increase your follower count and do not provide any real value to your business.
In contrast, genuine followers who are interested in your business or products are more likely to convert into customers. By engaging with them and providing valuable content, you can build trust and credibility, which can lead to conversions and sales.
What to Do Instead of Buying Instagram Followers
1. Focus on Quality Content
The best way to attract genuine followers is by creating high-quality content that resonates with your target audience. This can include product photos, behind-the-scenes shots, and user-generated content. Your content should be visually appealing, informative, and provide value to your followers.
By focusing on quality content, you can build a loyal following of people who are genuinely interested in your business or products. This will increase engagement on your posts and help your business reach new potential customers. If you don’t know where to start, check out our article here on how to use content pillars to create engaging, genuine content for your audience.
2. Engage with Your Audience
Engagement is a critical aspect of social media marketing, and it goes beyond just posting content. You should actively engage with your audience by responding to comments, DMs, and mentions. This shows that you value their input and appreciate their support.
By engaging with your audience, you can build a community of followers who feel connected to your brand. This can lead to increased loyalty and advocacy, which can ultimately drive sales.
Hashtags are a powerful tool for increasing your reach and visibility on Instagram. They help people discover your content, even if they are not already following you. However, it’s essential to use relevant hashtags that are specific to your business or industry.
By using relevant hashtags, you can attract followers who are interested in your business or products. This can increase engagement on your posts and help you reach new potential customers.
Becoming a hashtag expert is not easy when you’re already wearing many hats. Try Creasquare for free to generate written content and your hashtags automatically using AI, guaranteed to save you some time!
4. Collaborate with Influencers
Another effective strategy for growing your Instagram following is to collaborate with influencers. Influencer marketing involves partnering with popular social media users who have a significant following in your industry or niche. By collaborating with them, you can reach a new audience and increase your visibility on Instagram.
When selecting influencers to work with, it’s essential to choose those whose audience aligns with your target market. This will ensure that the partnership is relevant and valuable to both parties. You can collaborate with influencers in several ways, such as sponsored posts, giveaways, or product reviews. To learn more about influencer marketing and how to get started with brand deals, check out our article here.
5. Run Instagram Ads
Running Instagram ads is another effective way to reach a larger audience on the platform. Instagram ads are paid promotions that appear in users’ feeds or stories. You can target your ads based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and location to reach your ideal audience.
By running Instagram ads, you can increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, and ultimately drive sales. It’s important to create compelling ad copy and visual content that resonates with your target audience to maximize the effectiveness of your ads.
6. Leverage User-Generated Content
User-generated content (UGC) is content that is created by your followers or customers. It can include photos, videos, reviews, or testimonials. UGC is a valuable asset for small businesses because it provides social proof and authenticates your brand.
You can leverage UGC by reposting it on your Instagram feed or stories and giving credit to the creator. This not only shows your appreciation for your followers but also helps to build a sense of community around your brand. By encouraging your followers to create and share content, you can increase engagement and reach on your posts. Here’s an example:
@sav_surfs all the surf products *actually* use!! (part 01) 🏄♀️🫶✨ to find the products: 1. click the 🔗 in my bio 2. click “my surf essentials 🏄♀️” 3. ta-da ✨ #surfessentials #beginnersurf #surflife #surfergirl #surfequipement #learningtosurf #surftok ♬ I Get Around - The Beach Boys
Conclusion
Buying Instagram followers may seem like an easy way to grow your following, but it’s not a sustainable or effective strategy for small businesses. Fake followers do not engage, harm your credibility, and do not convert into customers. Instead, small businesses should focus on creating quality content, engaging with their audience, using relevant hashtags, collaborating with influencers, running Instagram ads, and leveraging user-generated content.
By implementing these strategies, small businesses can build a genuine following of people who are interested in their business or products. This can lead to increased engagement, visibility, and ultimately, sales.
