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If you manage a social media profile, you’ve likely come across numerous ads offering a certain number of followers in exchange for a monetary amount. Perhaps you’ve even considered taking this shortcut to expedite the arduous journey to building an audience. You’re not alone—developing a brand on social media is an exceptionally demanding task that requires time and specific knowledge. In this article, I will explain why buying followers on social media is not a step you should take and what you should focus on instead.
The first question to ask when opening a social media profile is - what is your goal? If your aim is to increase sales, the number of users for your service, or introduce your products to a targeted audience, then you must consider whether the steps you want to take align with the ultimate goal. I can confidently say that purchasing followers will not achieve the aforementioned objectives.
To illustrate the entire process, I will explain how buying followers works. It involves a simple cycle: companies specializing in this practice hire individuals whose job is to create as many fake profiles on social media as possible. Later, these profiles are used to boost the follower count. Although their ads often claim these are genuine followers, it's mostly a falsehood. Even if they were real followers, they wouldn't be interested in the content you post or the products and services you offer. Despite the increase in your follower count, the engagement rate on your profile will remain at the initial level, casting doubt on you from the start. After all, what would you think of a profile with hundreds of thousands of followers but only a few likes and comments? Your reputation is jeopardized because nobody wants to follow profiles with fake followers or those that lack interesting content.
I'm not saying that numbers aren't important, but on social media, we should measure entirely different metrics and statistics, not just the number of followers. People who decide to buy followers often assume that a large follower count will attract new users. This assumption is usually incorrect, as practice shows that numbers typically start to decline after the purchase rather than increase.
There are several reasons why this step is perilous, and I'll list some of them here.
The biggest obstacle is the increasingly stringent regulations imposed by social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Buying followers violates multiple rules of these social media networks, and by taking this step, you risk having your profile deleted or, at best, suspended. Instagram and other social media platforms reserve the right to delete any account that doesn't adhere to their rules, and for severe violations, they may do so without prior warning. Additionally, Instagram and Facebook regularly review their user lists and delete inactive and fake profiles, meaning a significant number of your purchased followers could easily be removed.
As I mentioned at the beginning of the text, purchased followers do not engage with the brand, nor do they care about your posts. Aside from achieving nothing beneficial with this step, you actually gain many negative effects. Your marketing statistics will be permanently ruined, which is a nightmare for anyone involved in marketing. Crucial measurements can no longer be accurately conducted, rendering marketing senseless without valid data. Why is that? Fake profiles will skew any calculations completely.
In addition to the aforementioned problems, a side effect of purchased followers is often spam comments that are irrelevant to your profile.
Is there an alternative to buying followers? Absolutely! First and foremost, I advise you to try creating more authentic and high-quality content that your audience will love. Additionally, consider preparing an advertising plan and strategy, test your audience, and run a few ads to see the reactions. This way, your story will spread quickly, efficiently, and without the fear of undesirable consequences.
If you're still unsure where to start, feel free to contact us for advice or collaboration.
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