Have you ever been tempted to buy Instagram followers in an effort to boost social media influence? Oh yes, it certainly sounds tempting, does it not
You see influencers with thousands of followers and wonder how they acquired them. Well, a few thousand purchased followers will get you there faster, won’t they
Well, don’t get that credit card yet; let’s get real about the effect that buying followers and views really has on social media growth.
What does buying followers and views really mean?
When you buy Instagram followers and views, you’re actually spending money on numbers and not real engagement. They’re either bots or fake accounts and won’t be commenting, liking and sharing anything of yours.
Yes, you may get a lot of followers overnight, but does that really help your brand? Let it be put into perspective—do you really want 10,000 followers that don’t engage at all or 1,000 true followers that actually engage with the things that you’re posting?
Buying followers also does not help with credibility. The social media users of the modern world know whether a social media account bought followers or not. You will be triggering red flags if you’ve got a lot of followers and few likes and comments.
They will begin suspecting that you’re not a real one, and that’s the last thing you need if you’re trying to influence and be trusted.
The dangers associated
It’s not a matter of looking artificial—buying views and followers has real consequences. YouTube and the likes of it frown at artificial views and followers.
They will punish you if they spot artificial followers and views. This may include having the content barred from the search results page, losing credibility, or, worse, having the account suspended or banned.
Also, bought followers won’t get you results. You won’t get results if you’re attempting to build a brand, network with business companies, or earn an income online with bought followers.
Sponsors and business companies don’t just keep an eye on the followers; they keep an eye on the engagement rates. They want to see real interactions, such as comments and shares that bought followers won’t provide.
Why organic growth is better
Well, if followers aren’t the answer, then what do you do instead? You focus on organic growth. This entails acquiring real individuals who actually take an interest in the things that you’re talking about. Yes, it will take a little extra time, and the reward will be great.
Real followers will actually engage with likes and comments and will help you build slowly. This will build credibility and legitimacy that will be the backbone of long-lasting social media success.
Organic growth also involves playing by the rules. The social media algorithm rewards real engagement.
The more that your followers actively like, comment and share your posts, the higher the chance that they will be seen by a larger audience. This becomes a cycle of growth that’s real and lasting.
The real deal of YouTube view purchases
What about YouTube views purchased? You may be inclined to buy real YouTube views in the hope of making your video look more popular, but it has the same issues. YouTube’s algorithm favors watch time and engagement and not views.
You’ll be receiving bots and spammers that will immediately click and leave if you buy views from them, and that harms your watch time. This lets YouTube know that the video’s not interesting and won’t be promoted to real users.
Also, just the way it does with Instagram, YouTube has strict regulations against artificial views. They will take it down and potentially take away your account if they realize that you’re faking views.
Imagine spending a lot of effort making the videos and then removing them due to artificial views. It’s not worth it.
Similarly, the temptation to buy real Facebook followers is strong, especially when you see others with massive follower counts.
However, just like with Instagram and YouTube, these bought followers are usually inactive accounts or fake. They will not engage with your posts, but they might hurt your reach.
Alternatives of buying followers and views
Instead of buying followers or views, create a real audience instead. Here are a few strategies that actually work:
- Produce Quality Content: Write content that will appeal to the audience. They will follow and share if they get anything useful out of it.
- Interact with Your Readers: Respond to comments, ask a question, and start a dialogue. The audience will be more inclined to stay if they’re heard.
- Work with Others: Collaborate with fellow influencers or creators within the niche. This will expose you to their audience and allow you to grow organically.
- Utilize Keywords and Hashtags: Use relevant hashtags within Instagram and tag YouTube video keywords correctly to enhance visibility.
- Consistency Is the Key: Post often and stay relevant. This will demonstrate that you’re active and committed and will encourage them to follow and participate.
Closing thoughts: Is it worth it?
In the end, it will temporarily inflate the count if you buy followers or views, but it’s not a strategy that will stand the test of time. You’re really trying to construct a home with a foundation that’s not solid—it’s good initially, yet it won’t stand the long term.
Success with social media comes with authenticity, consistency, and true connections. So don’t waste money on purchased followers and ask yourself this instead: Do you crave artificial popularity or real influence?
If you actually want a social media audience, instead, try focusing on real engagement and natural growth. This will take a while, yes, but the payoff’s higher and it’s a lot more lasting.
In short, it might be a short-cut to buy followers and views, but it comes with consequences and has drawbacks.
Instead, focus on making good content, engaging with users and building a natural audience base. You will be rewarded and will get a dedicated audience that loves the content that you put out.
