When managing an Instagram account, follower count is often a key performance metric valued by marketers. As a result, some Instagram social media managers have started toying with the idea of buying followers. By buying followers, the Instagram account would have a sudden boost of followers and display an immediate increase in their follower numbers.
However, does buying followers on Instagram truly yield effective results? What potential risks are there? How can one successfully increase their follower count without resorting to buying followers? In this article, KOL Radar uncovers the truths so you’ll be forewarned!
3 Major Risks of Buying Instagram Followers
1. You Violate Instagram’s Community Guidelines and Risk Your Account Being Penalized
Instagram’s official Community Guidelines clearly state that accounts with artificial followers could be penalized. The guideline clause is written as follows: “To foster meaningful interactions, do not artificially boost likes, followers, or other interactions with money or other incentives. Violating our guidelines could lead to content removal or account deletion.”
It’s clear from this clause that purchasing followers on Instagram is considered a violation of the platform’s official policies. If Instagram takes action to penalize you, your account could suffer from a reduced reach and may even be permanently deleted!
2. You Risk Being Flagged as an Abnormal Account and May Be Deleted
Accounts that purchase followers on Instagram are mostly populated with bots or fake profiles. These accounts are flagged as “abnormal” by Instagram and are often subject to official deletion.
Therefore, while buying followers may result in a sudden surge in follower count, it could also lead to a drastic decrease due to the platform’s efforts to clean up abnormal accounts. For creators or brands aiming for long-term success, this isn’t a wise move at all.
3. You Lose Engagement and Risk a Decline in Performance
Gaining or buying lots of followers on Instagram has another undesirable side effect; these followers aren’t attracted by the account’s content and are unlikely to engage with your account. With a high follower count but a low engagement rate, this can create a negative perception of your performance metrics, leading to reduced effectiveness and overall interactions for the account.
3 Major Risks of Buying Instagram Followers. (Compiled by KOL Radar)
Want to Increase Instagram Follower Numbers Without Buying Followers? Try These 4 Methods.
1. Use Influencer Marketing
While buying followers on Instagram might increase the visibility of your content, these purchased followers may not necessarily be your target audience. As a result, the marketing effectiveness could fall short of overall expectations.
To attract more followers to your brand’s Instagram account, KOL Radar recommends that brands collaborate with influencers to reach potential customers through the influencers’ followers.
For example, using the “collaborator” feature by publishing a post alongside an influencer, or partnering with them for giveaways and live events, can expand your brand’s visibility. We also recommend using the various filters on the KOL Radar platform to find influencers that align with your brand’s identity for collaboration.
2. High-Quality Content Management
To increase your number of followers, buying followers is not the way to go. Instead, focus on content creation and visual presentation on your feed. Instagram social media managers should consider what type of content can spark followers’ interest, keep them engaged, and encourage them to share those posts. By shifting their priority to follower engagement, content will be pushed and shared organically within the community, which helps boost Instagram follower count.
Furthermore, when planning your Instagram content strategy, it’s recommended that social media managers start by reviewing the Instagram Insights report. Understanding the follower demographics and interaction patterns enables you to create content that matches well with your followers’ preferences, leading to successful and effective account management.
3. Aligning with the Algorithm
The Instagram algorithm is constantly evolving. As such, Instagram social media managers should not just focus on engaging topics, but also adapt their content strategy to the current algorithm trends. By doing so, they can easily gain more exposure without resorting to buying followers, ultimately increasing their Instagram follower count.
For instance, Instagram is currently placing a strong emphasis on short video content like Reels. The algorithm boosts the visibility of Reels, enabling the content to reach a wider audience including those who are not your followers. To enhance community engagement, Instagram creators are encouraged to plan Reel content that aligns with this trend.
4. Advertising
Instead of spending money on buying followers, it’s advisable to allocate a budget for advertising. By investing in ads, you not only avoid violating Instagram’s guidelines but also gain the advantage of targeting your desired audience more accurately. After running ad campaigns, the real-time insights from the Insights report help you gauge the effectiveness of your efforts.
4 Ways to Increase Instagram Follower Count Without Buying Followers. (Compiled by KOL Radar)
Conclusion
Buying followers on Instagram may be tempting, but can lead to unpleasant consequences like account suspension and poor marketing results. Instagram social media managers should think twice before resorting to buying followers, as it could result in irreparable damage to your account. Instead, social media managers should make the most of the platform’s features and other resources, such as collaborations with influencers and advertising campaigns. Taking proactive steps to grow your followers organically is a safer and more effective approach for creators aiming for long-term stability and success.
Interested in learning more about influencer marketing strategies? Reach out to KOL Radar for an obligation-free consultation!
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