We’ll start this blog by acknowledging that yes, it is very easy to buy social media ‘likes’ and followers for your business pages. There are companies that pay individuals about 10 cents per ‘like’ or follow. There are also software programs that create fake social media accounts for the sole purpose of selling their “likes.”
If this is news to you, your next question is probably, “Are these social networks doing anything about this?!”
And the answer is yes, they are trying to. Facebook has removed pages that have purchased fans as well as more than 83 million fake, software-created profiles but has slowed in its efforts after real accounts were accidentally deleted in the process.
“So, if there’s a good chance my business page can get away with it, why shouldn’t I consider purchasing more fans or followers?”
While it may seem like a great way emulate success or an easy tactic to get the ball rolling after a new account is set up, your real customers and investors aren’t stupid. Once they see that zero of these 30,000 Fans have any interest in interacting with the social media page, they’ll likely realize your followers have been purchased. At that point, your brand’s ethics are being questioned, and there’s a good chance people will start talking negatively about it. Also, buying ‘likes’ or followers is expensive, and there is a very slim chance you’ll see a return in the investment.
In the end, faking your way to success will very rarely obtain it. It is important you project an authentic brand. Trust is very important to consumers. Once you violate it, your business could be in a lot of trouble (both with your social media networks as well as your actual customers). At Baer Performance Marketing, we recommend you grow your social media fan base naturally by engaging with followers and using the mediums to distribute valuable content.
If you’d like further assistance with social media marketing, please give us a call at 920-632-7648.
Sources:
http://www.rkfuturetech.com/does-buying-facebook-likes-actually-help-your-marketing-campaign.html
