If you subscribe to the notion that the goal of social media is all about follower count, you are sadly mistaken. “Content is King” is the latest marketing philosophy and businesses are running with this idea to create a solid following. So, if you’re considering a shortcut to acquire that coveted mass of followers, take a look at some of the reasons you’re better off resisting the urge to buy followers as opposed to earning them.
- Keepin’ it real – Actually, we should say, keeping followers really and legitimately engaged – is essential. But that is not happening when your “purchased” followers don’t actually interact with your account. The intuitive algorithm machine of Facebook and Instagram monitors the actual engagement rate of your account and fake followers are far more likely to negatively affect your overall engagement rate, decreasing the chances of your posts organically populating in your followers’ news feeds.
- Don’t contribute to “spamination” – Nobody likes unwanted spam cluttering up their inbox. Non-genuine followers may have their own agenda and could start sending spam to your genuine followers, resulting in your real followers associating irrelevant spam with your brand.
- It’s plain old against the rules – That’s right – buying fake followers is actually not allowed under the terms and conditions of all the major social media platforms and can result in an account being deleted if it is discovered to have violated this policy.
- Fake followers don’t equal more conversions – It’s not the number of followers that benefits your business – it’s what your followers do and how they engage with your business that counts. Genuine followers are typically customers or potential customers whose interaction with your account results in conversions and sales. A fake follower has no real interest in your account so why waste your money when the chance of a return on your investment is pretty slim?
- When it’s gone, it’s gone – Your online reputation, that is. Once word gets out that your 100,000 followers were bought and paid for, the trust is gone and your online reputation along with it. Trying to rebuild it can take longer than building it the right way in the first place.
It’s definitely a great day when you look at the quantity of followers on your social media account and it’s finally at the number you always dreamed of. But if you didn’t do the hard work to achieve that number organically, it’s not beneficial at all. So, focus on how you get there rather than what the number is. Delivering relevant, high-quality content that engages your desired audience will bring the right traffic to your website and will help you grow your followers legitimately. The alternative is just not worth the risk to your reputation, nor will it net you the results you are hoping for.
If you’d like to learn more about growing your business using strategic social media marketing, contact us at info@celsiusmarketing.com or visit our website – www.celsiusmarketing.com. And don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn!
