Is Buying Instagram Followers Worth It?
TLDR: Since those followers will either be low-quality followers and/or bots it might not be worth it.
Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over 2.3 billion active users. As a result, it has become a key tool for businesses, influencers, and individuals looking to not only build their brand, but also connect with their audience. However, in recent years, many people have started paying for followers on Instagram in an attempt to boost their presence on the platform. This begs the question: Is buying followers really worth it?
I’m always seeing ads on my social timelines advertising paid followers, and I can’t lie - I may have clicked on a few just to read what they offer. It seems like a great deal, right? Pay 20 dollars, get 100’s of followers, and BOOM you’re done growing your audience. It may look great to have followers, but just because you have followers doesn’t mean you have a community of accounts to support the content you put out. Chances are, those accounts are either going to be terminated because they’re bot accounts or they just aren’t going to interact with your content (which is the exact opposite of what you want to happen).
What does it mean to buy followers on Instagram?
Before we dive into why buying followers is a bad idea, let's first clarify what it means to buy followers on Instagram. Essentially, it involves paying a third-party service to add a large number of followers to your account. These followers are typically fake accounts or bots, which means that they won't engage with your content or help you build a real audience.
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Why buying followers is a bad idea?
It damages your credibility - When you buy followers on Instagram, you are essentially lying to your audience. You are presenting yourself as someone with a large and engaged following, when in reality, those followers are not real people and are not interested in what you have to say. This can damage your credibility and make it difficult for people to trust you or take you seriously.
It doesn't help you reach your goals - One of the main reasons people buy followers on Instagram is to increase their reach and visibility on the platform. However, fake followers won't actually help you achieve this goal. They won't engage with your content or share it with their own followers, which means that your content won't reach a wider audience. In fact, buying followers can actually harm your reach, as Instagram's algorithm may view your account as spammy or inauthentic and decrease your visibility on the platform.
It wastes your money - Buying followers on Instagram can be expensive, especially if you want to add a large number of followers to your account. However, as we've already established, these followers won't actually help you achieve your goals on the platform. This means that you are essentially throwing your money away on a service that doesn't provide any real value.
It can get your account suspended - Instagram has strict rules against buying followers and other types of fake engagement. If the platform detects that you have purchased followers, they may suspend or even delete your account. This can be a major setback for businesses and influencers who have invested time and effort into building their presence on the platform.
It doesn't lead to real growth - Ultimately, buying followers on Instagram is a shortcut that won't lead to real growth on the platform. If you want to build a genuine following and connect with your audience, you need to put in the time and effort to create high-quality content, engage with your followers, and promote your account through legitimate channels. While this approach may take longer, it will ultimately lead to more meaningful results and a stronger presence on the platform.
Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash
Instead of just telling you why buying followers is a bad idea, I want to give you some tips on how to grow your Instagram followers organically:
Create high-quality content - The key to success on Instagram is creating content that resonates with your audience. This means taking the time to plan and execute high-quality photos, videos, and captions that are visually appealing and engaging.
Use hashtags - Hashtags are a great way to increase the visibility of your content on Instagram. By using relevant and popular hashtags, you can attract new followers who are interested in your niche or industry.
Engage with your audience - Engaging with your audience is crucial for building a strong following on Instagram. This means responding to comments and direct messages and liking and commenting on other users’ posts.
While it may be tempting to buy followers on Instagram, it's not worth the risk. Fake followers don't engage, it's against Instagram's terms of service, it's a waste of money, and it can damage your reputation. Instead, focus on creating high-quality content and engaging with your audience in an authentic way. Over time, you'll attract a genuine following that will be more valuable to your brand than any number of fake followers could ever be.
