5 Reasons not to buy Twitter followers
by Startacus Admin
Here at Startacus we’re forever championing the benefits that having a comprehensive, effective and (most importantly) active social media marketing 
plan can have for your business. This is especially the case when it comes to startups, who can find that platforms like Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter can be really effective in increasing the market awareness of their brand and can be handy in gaining a dedicated and loyal following.
Having a large number of followers brings with it a great many benefits, not least of which is the credibility it can add - potential customers will think “oooh look how many Twitter followers they have… this must be a well respected, competent and professional business”.
But of course (like all things) social media sites have their challenges and one of the greatest of these and which is facing the modern startup is how to increase their number of friends, followers etc. It is here sadly, that many businesses begin to make their way down a dark and treacherous road… a road called “Fake Twitter Street”. Ok perhaps that's being a little theatrical but you get what we mean…
There are countless sites out there telling how wonderfully simple, cheap and effective the purchasing of twitter followers can be. No doubt for some it has produced results, however we take a rather more cautious view of creating a fake following… and here’s why.
It’s a lie.
Ok so maybe its only a little white one (or rather hundreds of little white ones) but nonetheless it is still dishonest. Is that really the image you want to project of your business?
It can be very obvious
If you have only tweeted 50 times and yet have 3000 followers and your name isn’t Kylie Minogue then it will be as obvious as a hippo in a paddling pool that your followers have come straight from your credit card!
You may think to yourself “So what, if a couple of people realise my Twitter followers are fake, what difference could that make?”Well quite a lot actually, think about it like this… if you need to buy Twitter followers to appear reputable, doesn't that automatically suggest to a potential customer that you are not reputable and therefore should be avoided like the plague? By taking the easy route out, you may have scared off a potential follower…and isn’t 1 real follower infinitely better than 1000 fake ones?
There are tools to spot it
Yes many of you will be surprised to know that there are tools readily available which are designed to expose the use of fake followers…a fact which many have only been made aware when it’s too late! These tools have ruined reputations, turned industry experts into laughing stocks and left rivals jumping up and down with glee! Consider carefully before you buy!
It can make you stop trying
There is nothing like the sight of an empty follower list to make you work harder, but one that is jam packed with followers (albeit fake ones) can cause you to rest back on your laurels and neglect what is really important - increasing your following of actual human beings!
It’s dangerous!
Yep, thats right dangerous! Without sounding too much like a scaremongering politician/weatherman, purchasing Twitter followers can pose a real threat to your internet security and also that of your real contacts! Whilst there is nothing illegal about the creation or indeed the sale of fake followers, those who engage in this activity may have their sights on much much bigger prizes! It can sometimes (not always of course) be a front to gain access to important personal information such as your credit card/bank details and can also facilitate phishing, hacking and relentless spamming of your contacts.
Of course there are two sides to every story… and we know that there are a lot of very convincing arguments out there in favour of the purchase of Twitter followers… but if you are in two minds about it, perhaps it might be best to err on the side of caution?
Why not take a look at some of our other great social media related posts? (and of course follow our Startacus Twitter account too!)
Advertising on Twitter - it’s here!
The Startacus guide to social media competitions
Pinterest web analytics - A Pintroduction
Social media really works?!
If you like what you see here on Startacus, why not become a member of our growing community? It's free! And you'll get all this - exclusive access to our Business Toolkit, discounts and offers galore for your business via our member only business deals, the chance to network and connect with loads of fellow self-starters, and maybe even become our celebrated 'Self-Starter of the Week' and tell the world your startup tale! Join right here for free
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Innovative startups are currently being sought by BMW Group Financial Services UK which has just launched the third instalment of its Innovation Lab
Starting a business can be a lot of hard work, so here's a few ways to avoid burnout and find a healthy work life balance.
At one-day event Ideation NI Thon, students will get the chance to solve global and local sustainability, environmental, city and health problems.
NI startup ESTHER, a peer-2-peer giving platform allowing charitable donors to give money directly to people living in poverty, head to New York for a 4-day fact finding mission.
The lowdown on how an Australian startup generated global sales for their innovative product, "weighted blankets"...
At 82% the UK takes 4th place in the list of countries being most ready for automation and robotics, whilst 30% of UK population’s jobs are at risk of automation.
The innovative game, eQuoo that helps users build their emotional fitness and thereby help fight their mental illness
The London-based femtech startup that is using AI and genetic testing to provide a tailored oral contraception service for women
Recent research by Starling bank shows that in 2019, women earned up to £12,319 less per year than their male colleagues of the same age and within the same industry
Brandtech group, You & Mr Jones, has invested in ethical video startup Good-Loop who have closed a US $1.6m seed funding round.
Published on: 20th January 2014
.png)
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Ideation NI Thon at NI Science Festival sets out to solve global issues 17th Jan 2020 At one-day event Ideation NI Thon, students will get the chance to solve global and local sustainability, environmental, city and health problems.
- NI startup ESTHER takes flight to New York 16th Jan 2020 NI startup ESTHER, a peer-2-peer giving platform allowing charitable donors to give money directly to people living in poverty, head to New York for a 4-day fact finding mission.
- 2019 stats show that the gender pay gap continues 14th Jan 2020 Recent research by Starling bank shows that in 2019, women earned up to £12,319 less per year than their male colleagues of the same age and within the same industry
- Digital DNA Awards 2020 nominations now open 13th Jan 2020 The Digital DNA Awards, held in partnership with MCS Group, celebrate the best tech talent, from companies of all sizes, excelling in the world of Digital and Tech and not just in NI...
