I remember quite vividly the day I almost cracked and bought Instagram followers. I was sitting at my desk, holding my mug of cold coffee—I always forget to drink it before it cools; story of my life—feeling supremely annoyed. A brand collaboration had just fallen through, and I’d learned it went to someone who, by all logical standards, had less experience but more followers. My frustration was through the roof to the point where I was literally like: What if I just skip this grind and buy a ton of followers overnight?
Looking back, that probably changed the way I would use social media for good. Because here is the harsh truth: having a large number of followers may appear to be instant credibility, but it actually isn’t a shortcut to real engagement. In fact, buying followers can do way more harm than good—believe me, I almost learned that the hard way.
The (Almost) Temptation of Buying Followers
When Instagram started blowing up, so did those weird websites and services promising “Get 10,000 Followers for Just $XX.” Back then, it wasn’t that expensive, and I saw friends’ accounts shoot from 500 to 5,000 followers practically overnight. It was like watching someone cheat on a test in high school—they got the good grade, sure, but they didn’t actually learn anything. Still, it was tempting. I mean, who wouldn’t want to wake up to a big follower count without lifting a finger?
Nowadays, these services have evolved. Some claim to provide “real” followers—actual people who get paid to follow your account. But honestly, even if they’re breathing humans, they’re still not your people. They’re not there because they genuinely love what you do. And that lack of genuine interest is painfully obvious when you start posting.
The Reality Check I Almost Ignored
I was this close to clicking “Buy Now” for a package of 3,000 “real followers.” They promised me minimal risk and a super subtle growth pattern so it wouldn’t look suspicious. But I hesitated. Something about it felt like hosting a party full of random strangers who’d rather play on their phones than talk to me.
Here are the risks that ultimately scared me off:
Low Engagement
Let’s say you all of a sudden have 10,000 followers, but you’re still getting only 10 likes per post. That is like throwing a party for 100 people and only 2 show up. Totally embarrassing, and people notice these red flags big time—especially brands.
Algorithm Penalties
Instagram’s algorithm is sharp. If your follower count spikes like crazy but your engagement doesn’t, you might get shadowbanned, and then your real audience won’t see your posts either. (Been there with a friend’s account—it wasn’t pretty.)
Reputation Damage
If someone figures out you bought followers, your credibility goes straight out the window. It’s awkward to explain, and you can lose partnerships faster than you can say, “#ad.”
Violations of Terms
Instagram specifically prohibits the buying of followers. If you get caught, you can kiss your account goodbye—possibly forever.
I knew a guy who spent a small fortune on followers, only to have his account shut down within a week. Talk about an expensive mistake.
Real Stories That Stuck with Me
I’ve watched accounts jump from 10k to 100k followers seemingly overnight. Instead of looking impressive, it was just… off. Their posts would only get a handful of spammy comments, and after a few weeks, Instagram did a massive purge, removing thousands of fake profiles. The influencer’s follower count plummeted right back down, leaving them worse off.
On the other hand, a travel blogger friend of mine went from 2,000 to almost 50,000 in three years—yep, three whole years. She was consistent in her posting, shared great stories, and responded to every single comment. Now, her engagement is insane, and brands are lining up to work with her.
How I Learned to Grow Genuinely
So once I decided not to buy followers on Instagram, I had to rethink my whole strategy. So here are some of the things that I worked on:
Unique Content, All Day
I realized that people connect more with real, messy moments than perfectly posed images. Once, I accidentally posted a picture of my cat in mid-yawn because I hit the button too soon to share. Guess what? It went on to get the most likes I had seen all month! Talk about a happy accident!
I got picky with my hashtags. When I used broad, popular ones like #love or #instagood, just because everybody else did, my posts kinda flopped. Targeted hashtags related to my niche did way better: quality over quantity.
Collabs & Conversations
Teaming up with other creators really helped. Joint giveaways, live chats, or even just shoutouts introduced me to new audiences that actually cared about my content.
Another win: responding to my followers’ comments like they’re real people—because they are.
Consistency Wins
I would post at random times, with random filters, for random reasons. No wonder my audience was confused. Once I nailed down a consistent look and schedule, people knew what to expect—and they stuck around.
Final Thoughts (Typos and All)
I’m so glad I didn’t hit that button and decided not to buy followers on Instagram (although I almost did—I still cringe when I think about it). Genuine growth is slower, yes, and it takes real effort. But if you’re building a brand that matters, authenticity is what lasts. Buying followers might feel like a quick fix, but it’s basically fool’s gold—looks shiny, but worthless underneath.
My advice? Invest your energy in content that resonates with actual humans, engage with your community, and don’t beat yourself up if you make a few mistakes. (I once spelled “Wednesday” wrong in three different posts. Oops!) People appreciate the real you, typos and all. So, stay genuine, keep going, and—trust me—your authentic tribe will find you.
