Purchasing Instagram followers is a practice that some individuals and businesses use to rapidly increase their follower count on the platform. The idea behind buying followers is simple: it provides a quick way to gain social proof and increase visibility, especially for new accounts. However, while this may seem like an attractive shortcut to popularity, there are several important considerations to keep in mind. The practice comes with both potential benefits and significant drawbacks, making it crucial to evaluate whether it aligns with your long-term goals on Instagram.
How Does Purchasing Instagram Followers Work?
When you purchase Instagram followers, you pay a service to add a certain number of followers to your account. These followers are often fake accounts, inactive users, or bots. The primary goal is to boost your follower count, which can make your account appear more popular and credible, especially to potential followers, brands, or collaborators.
Services selling followers typically offer packages based on the number of followers you want, with some companies offering tens of thousands of followers for a relatively low cost. Once the purchase is made, the followers are added automatically to your account, and you can see an immediate increase in your follower count.
Benefits of Purchasing Instagram Followers
Quick Boost to Follower Count:
The most obvious benefit of purchasing Instagram followers is the immediate increase in your follower count. This can create an illusion of popularity and credibility, which might make your profile more appealing to new users who are hesitant to follow accounts with a small number of followers.Perceived Social Proof:
Social proof is the idea that people are more likely to trust something if others are already doing it. When your account has a large number of followers, it signals to new visitors that your content is popular or well-received. This perceived credibility can attract more organic followers who might otherwise have ignored your profile.Increased Visibility to Brands:
For influencers and businesses, a large follower count is often a metric that brands use to assess potential partnerships or sponsorships. Purchasing followers can make your account appear more influential, which might open the door to brand collaborations and monetization opportunities.
Drawbacks of Purchasing Instagram Followers
Lack of Engagement:
One of the biggest drawbacks of buying followers is that most of these followers are not real people or active users. As a result, while your follower count may increase, your engagement rate—likes, comments, shares, and interactions—will likely be very low. This lack of engagement is a red flag for Instagram's algorithm, which prioritizes engagement over raw numbers. Low engagement means that your content is less likely to appear in users' feeds, reducing the organic reach of your posts.Damage to Reputation and Credibility:
While purchased followers may temporarily boost your numbers, savvy users and potential business partners can often spot an artificially inflated following. A mismatch between your follower count and the engagement on your posts (such as getting hundreds of followers but only a few likes) can lead to suspicion and a loss of credibility. In the long run, this can harm your reputation and make your account appear inauthentic.Risk of Account Penalties or Bans:
Instagram’s terms of service strictly prohibit the use of purchased followers and inauthentic engagement. If Instagram detects suspicious activity, such as a sudden spike in followers or engagement from fake accounts, they may penalize your account. This could range from a temporary suspension to a permanent ban, which means losing your account and all the effort put into growing it.No Real Value or Community:
Purchased followers do not interact with your content or provide real value to your brand or account. They do not offer feedback, contribute to discussions, or purchase products/services you might be promoting. This can lead to a shallow following with little to no actual impact on your goals. Building a genuine, engaged community takes time and effort, and relying on fake followers undermines this process.Wasted Resources:
Purchasing followers may seem like a quick and cheap solution, but it can ultimately be a waste of money. If the followers are not engaged, they do not contribute to increasing your organic reach or engagement, which are the key drivers of long-term success on Instagram. Instead of spending money on fake followers, investing in content creation, advertising, or influencer partnerships can yield more meaningful and sustainable growth.
Long-Term Strategy for Organic Growth
Instead of buying followers, it's better to focus on organic growth strategies that build a real, engaged audience. Some effective ways to grow your Instagram following authentically include:
Creating High-Quality Content:
Content is king on Instagram. Posting visually appealing, valuable, and relevant content regularly is one of the most effective ways to attract and retain followers. High-quality images, videos, Stories, and Reels will naturally draw in users and encourage them to follow and engage with your account.Engagement with Your Audience:
Engage actively with your followers by responding to comments, participating in conversations, and asking for feedback. This interaction helps build a loyal community that feels personally connected to your brand or content. Engaging with others’ posts is also a great way to increase your visibility and attract new followers.Collaborations and Shoutouts:
Partnering with influencers or brands in your niche can help you reach new audiences. Cross-promotions, shoutouts, or joint giveaways are great ways to increase your exposure while still attracting real followers who are genuinely interested in your content.Utilizing Instagram Features:
Take advantage of Instagram’s various features, such as Stories, Reels, IGTV, and the Explore page, to maximize your content's reach. Experiment with different content types to see what resonates best with your audience and enhances engagement.Hashtag Strategy:
Using relevant and trending hashtags can help your posts get discovered by a broader audience. Research the best hashtags for your industry and audience to increase the likelihood of your posts being seen and engaged with by users outside your current follower base.
Conclusion
While purchasing Instagram followers may offer a quick and easy way to increase your follower count, it is not a sustainable or effective strategy for long-term growth. The risks associated with fake followers—such as low engagement, damage to credibility, and potential penalties from Instagram—outweigh the short-term benefits. Building an organic, engaged following takes time, but the results are far more valuable and lasting. Focus on creating high-quality content, engaging with your audience, and using proven growth strategies to foster a genuine community that will support your account for years to come.
