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Instagram Automation: The Truth About Bots, Scheduled Posts and More Followers
As an Instagram user looking to build your following, you’ve likely come across promises of automation tools and growth hacks to gain more followers. The options seem endless – you can schedule posts in advance, use bots to like and comment, or even buy followers. While these techniques may seem appealing, the truth is that most are against Instagram’s terms of service and will do more harm than good. The authentic way to grow your following is by posting high-quality, curated content, engaging with your followers, and building real connections. If you make the effort to understand your audience and what they want to see, your followers will increase over time through genuine interest in your profile. Don’t get distracted by shortcuts – focus on creating content people care about, and your followers will follow. buymalaysianfollowers
The Benefits of Growing Your Instagram Following
Growing your Instagram following provides many benefits for both personal and business use.
Increased Exposure
- The more followers you have, the more people will see your posts and stories. This increased exposure means greater visibility for your brand, product, service or message. With a larger reach, you’ll gain more likes, comments and shares which helps to boost engagement and rankings.
Improved Searchability
- An active profile with lots of followers signals to Instagram’s algorithm that your account is popular and worth promoting. Your posts and profile are more likely to appear in search results and the Explore tab, which leads to even more new followers discovering your account organically. Using relevant hashtags, captions and keywords in your posts further helps to improve searchability.
Partnership Opportunities
- Once you’ve built up a sizeable, engaged following, you’ll open yourself up to interesting partnership opportunities with brands, influencers and other accounts in your niche. Collaborating on giveaways, promotions, guest blogging, podcasting or other joint ventures is an excellent way to gain more visibility and new followers for both parties.
Monetization Potential
- For business accounts, a large, targeted following creates the potential for monetization through sponsored posts, product promotion, affiliate links, online courses, memberships, and more. As an influencer, you can charge higher rates for brand sponsorships and collaborations based on your number of followers and level of engagement.
Growing an authentic following on Instagram takes time and consistency. However, by posting visually engaging content, using relevant hashtags, collaborating with others, and engaging actively with your followers, you’ll be gaining new fans in no time and reaping the many benefits of a strong Instagram presence.
Manual vs Automated Methods for Gaining Instagram Followers
If you want to gain more Instagram followers, you have two options: manual methods or automated tools. Both approaches have their pros and cons, so you need to determine which is right for your needs and goals.
Manual Methods
Manually gaining followers typically yields higher quality followers who are genuinely interested in your account and content. However, it requires consistent time and effort to discover followers, like and comment on their posts, follow them, and engage with those who follow you back. Some effective manual techniques include:
- Searching for and following accounts with similar content or those following your competitors. Like and comment on their posts, and many will follow you back.
- Using relevant hashtags to increase visibility to targeted audiences. Like and follow accounts that engage with your posts.
- Collaborating with influencers in your niche by having them promote your account to their followers or doing social media takeovers on each other’s accounts.
- Staying active in your target audience’s communities by joining Facebook Groups, forums, etc. and promoting your account.
Automated Methods
Automated tools like bots, schedulers and follower growth services can save time but may result in low-quality followers who don’t engage. They work by automatically following, liking and commenting on accounts that meet your target audience criteria. However, many platforms now have advanced detection for spotting and banning accounts using these tools.
In the end, a combination of manual and automated methods is often the most effective approach. Automated tools can help discover potential followers, but manual engagement and relationship-building will lead to the highest quality followers over the long run. The key is finding the right balance for your needs and staying within Instagram’s terms of service.
The Truth About Instagram Bots and Automation Tools
Instagram automation tools like bots, scheduling apps, and follower growth services often promise an easy path to more likes, comments, and followers. However, many of these tools violate Instagram’s terms of service and can negatively impact your account.
Instagram Bots
Bots are automated programs that like, comment, and follow accounts on your behalf. Some claim to boost your followers and engagement, but Instagram bots are against Instagram’s policies and can result in your account being banned. Bots are unable to engage genuinely with your followers and often spread spam. It is unethical to use bots to manipulate Instagram’s systems and other users.
Scheduling Apps
While scheduling apps themselves do not violate Instagram’s terms, some of their features may. Bulk liking, commenting, and following other accounts in hopes of reciprocal engagement can be seen as spamming by Instagram and is against their policies. However, scheduling your own posts in advance and staggering them for optimal engagement is perfectly acceptable. If using a scheduling app, do so cautiously and avoid any automated liking or following.
Buying Followers
Purchasing followers is ineffective and will not lead to real engagement or growth. Instagram prioritizes accounts with active, engaged followers, so buying followers will not increase your visibility or ranking within the platform. Bought followers are often bots themselves, and Instagram may purge them from your account, leaving you back where you started.
The only proven way to build a real following on Instagram is by posting high-quality, valuable content, engaging genuinely with others, optimizing your hashtags, and building connections in your niche. While growth may be slower, the followers you gain will be real people actually interested in your content. Focus on creating a strong brand and community rather than chasing vanity metrics. Your account will thrive as a result. In summary, avoid the temptation of quick fixes and automation on Instagram. Play by the rules, post authentic content, engage with your followers, and build real connections. Your account will be better for it.
Best Practices for Scheduling Instagram Posts
To get the most out of Instagram scheduling, it’s important to follow some best practices. By optimizing how and when you schedule posts, you can increase engagement and gain more followers.
Post at Optimal Times
The time you share content on Instagram can significantly impact how many likes and comments you receive. According to studies, the best times to post on Instagram are:
- 8-9 am: People are starting their day and catching up on social media.
- Noon-1 pm: People are on their lunch break and browsing Instagram.
- 5-6 pm: People are winding down from work and spending more time on their phones.
Aim to schedule at least one post in each of these time periods to maximize visibility. Check your own Instagram insights to see when your followers are most active for the best results.
Use a Mix of Content
Don’t just schedule promotional posts or photos of your products. Provide a variety, including:
- Behind-the-scenes shots
- Spotlights on customers or team members
- Quotes and stats related to your industry
- Educational content like tips, how-to and tutorials
A good rule of thumb is the “1:3 ratio” – for every 1 promotional post, schedule 3 non-promotional posts. This keeps your followers engaged and gives you a more authentic presence.
Use Captions that Spark Engagement
The caption is just as important as the photo. Aim for captions that:
- Ask open-ended questions to encourage comments
- Share a quick tip or fun fact related to your post
- Use humor to gain likes and shares
- Tag relevant brands or influencers when appropriate
Keep captions concise but compelling. Mention @username for any brands or people featured in your posts.
Check Scheduled Posts Before They Go Live
Even with the best scheduling tools, there is always a chance of error. Be sure to double check:
- There are no typos in the caption or hashtags
- The photo looks high quality and fits your brand esthetic
- You’ve used the optimal number of hashtags (around 5-10) to maximize reach
- The time the post is scheduled to go live still fits within your target posting times.
With practice and consistency, scheduling Instagram posts will become second nature. Keep optimizing based on insights to gain more followers and boost your engagement.
Conclusion
In the end, there are no shortcuts to growing an authentic and engaged following on Instagram. While automation tools and scheduled posting can help streamline your efforts, your followers will see through disingenuous engagement tactics. Focus on posting high-quality, visually compelling content that provides value to your target audience. Be active and engaged in the community by liking and commenting on other posts and building genuine connections. Host contests and giveaways to increase visibility and engage your current followers. With consistency, quality, and community building as your guiding principles, your Instagram following will grow organically over time through real and meaningful interactions. The truth about gaining more Instagram followers is that there are no bots or tricks that can replace authenticity and hard work. By avoiding automation and scheduled posting, you’ll build a following that is invested in you and your brand for the long term.
