How Fake Followers and Bot Accounts Is Killing Your Instagram Engagement

Are you struggling to increase your reach on Instagram despite having a large following? Do you wonder why your posts don't get as much engagement as they used to? As Instagram continues to evolve, engagement rates have become a crucial metric for measuring success on the platform. In 2023, the average engagement rate on Instagram is projected to be around 3%, which can make it challenging for businesses and influencers alike to stand out from the crowd. A low engagement rate can have a severe impact on your account's visibility, reach, and growth, but do we really know what causes it, and how you can fix it?

In this post, we'll explore why engagement is essential, how to calculate it, the major reasons for low engagement, and how fake followers and bot accounts are killing your engagement rates. We'll also provide some tips on how to retrieve your account back and increase your engagement rate to get the most out of Instagram.

But first, let's go over some basics.

What is engagement, and why is it important?

Engagement on Instagram refers to the number of interactions your post receives, such as likes, comments, shares, and saves. It's a crucial metric that determines how well your content is performing and how much visibility it is getting. In short, the more engagement your posts have, the more likely they are to be seen by your followers and recommended to new ones. When you are consistently hitting the Explore page, you know something is going right.

What's the average engagement rate on Instagram in 2023?

According to recent studies, the average engagement rate on Instagram is expected to be around 3% in 2023. However, this number can vary depending on the industry, the size of your following, and other factors. It's important to track your own engagement rate and compare it to your past performance and your competitors to get a better understanding of where you stand.

Why should you care about engagement rate?

A high follower count doesn't necessarily translate to success on Instagram. A low engagement rate can signal to the algorithm that your content isn't relevant or valuable to your audience, which can hurt your chances of being discovered and recommended to new users. Moreover, a low engagement rate can also create a wrong impression for new users who come across your page. They will likely see the account as spammy which you would definitely not want.

How to calculate your engagement rate?

Calculating your engagement rate is easy. Simply divide the total number of likes and comments your post has received by the number of followers you have and multiply by 100. For example, if your post received 500 likes and comments, and you have 10,000 followers, your engagement rate would be 5%.

Have you calculated your engagement rate?

What is your engagement rate?

• <1%
• 1-3%
• 3-5%
• >5%

Major reasons for low engagement

There are several reasons why your engagement rate may be lower than you'd like, including:

• Low-quality content: If your content isn't visually appealing, interesting, or informative, it's unlikely to receive much engagement.

• Irrelevant hashtags: Using popular hashtags that aren't relevant to your post can attract the wrong audience and hurt your engagement rate.

• Poor timing: Posting when your followers are not active can decrease the visibility and engagement of your posts.

• Lack of audience engagement: If you're not actively engaging with your audience, they're less likely to engage with your content.

• And finally, bot accounts and fake followers.

How bot accounts and fake followers are affecting your engagement rates

Fake followers and bot accounts can artificially inflate your follower count, but they don't contribute to your engagement rate. In fact, they can hurt your engagement rate and signal to the algorithm that your content isn't relevant or valuable to your real audience. Every time you post a piece of content, the algorithm shows it to a small portion of your followers to see if they engage with it, and if they do, IG understands that the content has value and further pushes it to other followers and recommends it to new ones. When your follower list has a majority of fake followers who don’t engage with your content, it doesn’t get pushed and your engagement goes down. Moreover, Instagram's algorithm is getting better at detecting and penalizing accounts with fake followers and bot accounts, which can hurt your account's reach and visibility in the long run.

What other bad practices are potentially affecting your engagement?

Besides bot accounts and fake followers, other bad practices that can hurt your engagement rate include buying likes and comments, using engagement pods, and using clickbait or misleading captions.

How to salvage a “dead” Account?

If you have a "dead" Instagram account with low engagement, it's not too late to turn things around. Here are some tips to help you salvage your account:

1. Audit your account: Go through your followers and remove any fake or inactive accounts that are bringing down your engagement rate.

2. Rebrand your account: Consider revamping your Instagram profile to better reflect your brand and niche. Update your bio, profile picture, and cover image, and make sure they align with your brand identity.

3. Engage with your followers: Focus on building relationships with your current followers by responding to comments and messages, running contests, and asking for feedback.

4. Post consistently: Set a posting schedule and stick to it. This will help your followers know when to expect new content from you, which can lead to increased engagement.

5. Experiment with content: Try out different types of content to see what resonates with your audience. Use Instagram's built-in analytics tools to track which posts are performing well and adjust your strategy accordingly.

6. Use hashtags: Using relevant hashtags can help your posts reach a wider audience and attract new followers.

Remember, salvaging a dead Instagram account takes time and effort. But with consistency and a solid strategy, you can increase your engagement rate, attract new followers, and breathe new life into your account.

There is another way...

In some cases, creating a new Instagram account might be a better option than trying to salvage an account with a large number of fake followers. This is especially true if the majority of your followers are bots or spam accounts, as this can significantly hurt your engagement rate and hinder your ability to reach your target audience.

However, before starting a new account, it's essential to identify the root cause of the low engagement on your current account. If you're not creating high-quality content that resonates with your target audience, you'll likely face the same challenges on your new account.

Additionally, starting a new account means starting from scratch, which can be daunting. You'll need to rebuild your following and establish yourself as an authority in your niche.

Ultimately, whether you choose to salvage your current account or start fresh with a new one depends on your specific situation. If you have a solid brand identity, a loyal following, and a clear content strategy, it may be worth the effort to clean up your current account. However, if your current account has a high number of fake followers or spam accounts, starting a new account might be a better option.

To wrap up...

Your Instagram engagement rate is a critical metric that can make or break your success on the platform. Fake followers and bot accounts can significantly impact your engagement rate and hinder your ability to reach your target audience. By regularly auditing your followers, creating high-quality content, and engaging with your audience, you can increase your engagement rate, build a loyal following, and achieve long-term success on Instagram. Remember, building a successful Instagram presence takes time and effort, but with a solid strategy and consistent effort, you can make it happen.

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