The temptation of having a large number of followers within a short duration is very high in the social media world. A lot of novice creators and companies seek the services of the so-called free followers apps or companies to make their profile appear popular during the night.
But, it is a great difference between having a high number on your screen and having a real audience who are really interested in what you write. Statistics indicate that the large number of followers may seem impressive at face value but in reality, it is a very ugly secret that may even be detrimental to you in the long term. In order to build a lasting brand, you should know the true definition of success on social media apps and why most shortcuts always result in a dead-end.
Why High Numbers Without Likes Can Hurt You
Instagram and Tik Tok rely on a mathematical formula called an engagement rate to determine whether you are going to be promoting your post to more users. It is a ratio that is determined by dividing the number of likes and comments you have received by the number of followers you have. With a free follower, you can be almost certain that they are a ghost account or a bot that would not engage with your content. When you have 10,000 followers and receive 10 likes on a single post, computer system on the app believes that you are not posting something of good quality or that you have dull content. Consequently, the app will not display your posts to real human beings who could have actually liked your posts, essentially silencing your account.
The Problem with Ghost Accounts and Bots
Free follow services operate by putting thousands of unreal profiles on your list although there is no real person behind the fake account. Since these bots do not view your videos, do not click your links, or post about your activities, they will be of no use to your business or hobby. Statistics confirm that such accounts are frequently deleted on the sites as part of a spam purges, so one might wake up one morning only to find their number of followers reduced once again to zero. False growth is just as much like constructing a house on sand, it may be fine in the short run but it has no foundation to hold your real objectives.
How Real Engagement Leads to Sales and Growth
True engagement occurs when an individual views your post and chooses to make a move as he or she found it useful, funny, or interesting. Statistics have indicated that an account with 500 followers who are very active is far more valuable than an account with 50,000 fake followers. It is the active followers who will ultimately purchase your products, subscribe to your newsletter, or refer their friends to you. Generally, social media algorithms are meant to promote meaningful social interactions, and thus when real people comment and share your work, it will encourage the platform to promote your work to even more real people at no cost.
The Risk of Being Banned or Shadowbanned
The majority of the social media are quite strict on the usage of third-party applications to boost your figures. When you are using some service to get free followers, it is likely that you are giving them the access to your account information, which is a significant security threat.
Moreover, the apps can be easily used to monitor when an account is receiving an unusual and sudden increase in the number of followers yet there is no corresponding action. This may cause your account to be shadowbanned, wherein your postings will not be seen by anyone except your followers at that moment and in other cases, your account can be deleted altogether due to breaching the terms of service.
Better Ways to Grow Your Numbers Naturally
To have your numbers go up the right direction, work on the so-called micro-content that will fix a certain group of people, or entertain them. Consider data tools that are offered by the apps and observe which of your posts received the highest number of saves and shares because it is the best indicator of actual interest. Regular posting, correct use of keywords and chatting with the individuals that comment on your postings will always lead to more growth in the long term more than any free follower gimmick. Authentic growth will also require longer term, but will lead to a community of people who are actually loyal to your brand and will help you achieve your goals in the real world.
Final Thoughts
The statistics are quite straightforward: it is not a free lunch when it comes to the growth of social media. Free followers may provide your ego with a slight lift, but they ruin your engagement rate and complicate the process of finding you by real people. It is not how many people one can build an online presence, but quality. You can create great content and speak to your followers like their human counterparts to create an account that is loved by the algorithms and that people will actually enjoy following. Ultimately, one had better have a hundred people who care than a million robots who do not.
Sources
https://www.creatorsjet.com/blog/are-instagram-collab-posts-worth-it-a-data-driven-guide
