Buying followers might sound like an easy way to increase your follower count on Instagram. Unfortunately, the negative consequences for your account outweigh the vanity numbers.
If you’re a business struggling to gain more visibility on Instagram, it might be tempting to buy followers from ads you see.
My advice? Never give in to these ads.
It’s important to know the truth behind buying Instagram followers.
Fake Instagram Followers
The followers you buy are usually fake or inactive accounts, or they’re bots.
These followers will not engage with your content and they are not interested in your business. They may even harm your account’s credibility.
They will never become real customers meaning they will never spend any money on your products.
If they do engage, you will most likely end up with inappropriate bot comments on your posts.
Violation of Instagram’s Terms of Service
Buying followers is a violation of Instagram’s terms of service and can result in your account being suspended – or even permanently banned.
While Instagram will purge your fake followers, they also have the right to suspend your account.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t imagine an online marketing strategy without my Instagram profile.
Decrease in Engagement Rate
Having a high number of followers but a low engagement rate can be a red flag to Instagram’s algorithm. This will hurt your account’s visibility in the long run.
Instagram will be less likely to show your posts in the news feed so your visibility and engagement will drop dramatically.
It’s better to have a smaller, engaged following than a large, unengaged one.
Wasted Money
Buying followers is often expensive and is definitely a waste of your money.
The followers you bought are not real. They will never convert into customers or help you with any real business growth.
Some of your new purchased followers are actually fronts for spam. When you used your email address to purchase followers, you gave unwanted accounts the chance to spread their spam to you.
What should you do to get more Instagram followers?
- Focus on building an engaged, organic following by creating high-quality content.
- Engage with your audience by replying to their comments and messages.
- Spend time visiting your followers’ profiles and engage with their posts.
- Invest a little money in Instagram’s advertising tools to reach new audiences.
