So recently there has been a lot of drama going on over Instagram and the morals behind it. Which ways is growing accounts considered as acceptable? Who defines these rules? Bloggers? Friends? Instagram? Who manages these?
There seems to be a new trend of "Calling out" people using tactics, highlighting their growth and it can feel like a witch hunt at times, hunting down people who may be "cheating" the system, but at what point is it cheating? Which level do you find it acceptable?
If feels like everyone is having issues growing their accounts at the moment, and this plays a huge part in the feelings around instagram. The old fashioned way of good content simply isn't working, so people are pushing past the organic marker and trying for more, or becoming frustrated with those who are pushing past, so really is anyone winning? Maybe we could all learn from one another.
Acceptable & Organic:
- Posting Good Content - Of course your picture quality is key here, posting lovely, clean, crisp photos to draw in an audience, and even theming your account so it seems more flowing.
- Interacting - Constantly talking, commenting, liking on your own photos and other peoples.
- Using good captions and being regular - Simply being predictable and being human to your audience. Letting them get to know you.
Somehow Acceptable, But Definitely Not "Organic":
- Competitions - These have been going on for years, but definitely are not organic, we have all seen them and entered them, where it be following and commenting, reposting - you name it - its happened. But it is a way to drive people to follow you.
- Loop Competitions - these are newer, but the idea is the same, you end up having to follow loads of accounts to enter a competition. I have seen this method grow accounts by thousands in one day.
- Comment Pods - I hate to say this, but these are not organic, they are designed to trick the algorithm and overcome the new changes put in by instagram, this will also help to boost your following too.
- Shoutouts, shares - agreeing to do a share4share with other accounts, sure you are probably sharing with people you love, but if you agree to do it first - it definitely isn't organic.
The Grey Area:
- Follow/Unfollow - we all have seen this, accounts who will follow you, wait on you following back then straight away unfollow you again. This is part of the reason why the follower count will go up/down all day. I get about 15-20 of these per day.
- Following Accounts - Following similar accounts to yours, other bloggers, hoping they follow back.
- Unfollowing Accounts - Unfollowing accounts who unfollow you, or unfollowing accounts who never follow you back or interact.
Totally Unacceptable:
- Buying Followers - Buying 100s or 1000s of fake account followers to boost how your account looks to others. The issue with this is they are inactive, and well, your paying for em. Not good.
- Using Bots - Using a machine, or programme, to like, follow, comment, unfollow people - again costs money.
Now, the reason why so many people are frustrated with instagram at the moment is because being "Organic" simply isn't working. No one is gaining followers this way, at all. The most I have seen (check my twitter pole) is typically about 30 a week, some are loosing followers every week.
This is making people angry and frustrated, making people assume that if your account is growing it must be because you are using bots or buying followers. If you have over 20K they must be bought? I see the accusations flying about ALL the time at the moment.
How I have Grown My Account:
So I thought I would share with you all how my account is growing every month, what I do, why I do it, and why I am NOT ashamed of it.
So everyone right now has it in their head that to have a good instagram you need to follow less than 500 people and hope people will want to follow you based on your pictures, right? Good content first? The problem with this theory is that your assuming people will want to "Fangirl" you. So to have thousands of people want to follow you knowing they aren't going to get anything back.
How about if I told you that most of the people who like, interact, comment, are also bloggers, in the same situation. So basically instagram right now is filled with bloggers all doing the same thing, not following people and then complaining that no one is following them. Are you seeing the problem?
So all I do is follow people. I follow people with similar accounts, I like and comment on their pictures, I make friends - this is what instagram is designed for. I follow people every day, sometimes it's 10 sometimes if I am bored I will follow 100+, but I will check every single one and see them commenting on others, interacting, so if they follow me back, they will probably do the same with me.
Once a week I then go in and unfollow people who don't follow back - I use an app to do this, why? because I don't have time or energy to be wasting on people who don't want to show support back, I don't want to be fangirling my whole timeline, I would much rather consider everyone friends when I am commenting.
And you know what has happened with me doing this? I go onto the "recommended" bit when you add someone, so people are adding me "organically" too.
I know a lot of people disagree with my methods, and I am ok with that, I am ok with people not agreeing with what I do, but I would much prefer for you to say. Or simply block me?
Just to be clear:
I DO NOT FOLLOW/UNFOLLOW.
I DO NOT USE BOTS.
I DO NOT PAY FOR FOLLOWERS OR SERVICES.
And you can check my social blade all you want, all it will show is growth, and I am ok with that, as I am doing it all manually - myself, and that isn't anything I will ever be ashamed of.
I think I just wanted to post this for clarity, I am fed up of feeling like I am doing something wrong, and maybe it will call out people who disagree and we can have a discussion about it like adults? Maybe not.
What is your thoughts? And if you disagree, are you growing "organically"?
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