SHOULD YOU EVER BUY SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS?

There is an ongoing debate in the world of social media over whether or not it’s ever acceptable to buy social media followers. Actually purchasing your fan base is tempting for a number of reasons

• You’ll see an instant boost in your followers and likes
• More followers can help social media accounts look more popular – which is a good thing when you’re looking to get your audience to trust you and make a booking
• Followers and likes are a vanity metric, meaning you’ll instantly look better and more established should rivals check out your profiles
• It could be argued that it will be easier to build genuine followers if new users discovering your Facebook page or Instagram profile see thousands of other people already liking you

However, don’t be swayed. Here are a few of the key reasons why purchasing social followers is almost invariably a bad idea:

They Won’t Engage With Your Content

You spend a lot of time, energy and probably also money crafting your social media content, showcasing the very greatest attributes your hotel and location have to offer. You post high quality images and perhaps even include video tours and other interactive content like blogs, infographics and useful guides. Yet what use is this if the vast majority of your social media followers never engage with what you produce? Buying followers can actually hide how effective your social media marketing is, by muddying the waters when it comes to tracking metrics such as likes v comments ratio.

They’re Not a Long-Term Solution

Social media channels are wise to the issue of bought followers, and so all it will take is a quick spring clean to clear your bought audience and reduce you back to your real followers. After you’ve gone to the trouble of buying a following, this could be more than a little irritating.

They Damage Your Reputation

Social media users aren’t stupid. A quick search through your following and they’ll be able to see who is truly there for the content you produce or out of a love of your hotel, and who is simply there as a paid follower. This could cause tremendous reputational damage – and even reduce your number of real followers.

Bought Followers Violate Most Social T&Cs

A closer look at the terms and conditions of most social media platforms will tell you the truth – that bought followers are a very bad idea, and could even see your account penalized. There are lots of strong policies against buying your following precisely because they paint a misleading picture for visitors of your profiles and pages.

Earned Followers Bring More Value

Social media services can help you maximize your social following and social media marketing efforts without resorting to paid followers. An audience and following which has been truly earned is far more valuable for many reasons. They have a genuine interest in your brand and the content you create, meaning they’re far more likely to share it far and wide and further increase your reach and following, without using methods which could ultimately prove detrimental to your online reputation.