Instagram Followers vs. Likes: Which Is More Effective for Growth?

Profile visibility is a big deal on social media platforms like Instagram. This is expected given the long list of privileges with increased visibility. Some of the said benefits include:

· Brand Awareness – Enabling broader reach

· Positive Reputation – Increased visibility is usually assumed to be a sign of trust and credibility

· Competitive Advantage

· Content Being Valued by Algorithm

· Sponsorship and Partnership Opportunities

· Business Growth & Sales Opportunities

· Increased Engagement

The list goes on but all point to increased visibility on these platforms being highly beneficial.

It therefore begs the question of how profile visibility can be increased. There is the organic and time-consuming approach on one hand and the inorganic approach on the other hand. The purchase of Instagram likes and/or followers is one of the ways that the inorganic approach may play out.

As a result, some people who have decided to go the inorganic route find themselves having to choose between the purchase of either. There are areas that both edge each other and this article sheds more light on this. So, read on to stay informed.

What Drives Instagram Growth: Followers or Likes?

Frankly, there is no definite answer to whether either is better for growth. Both offer unique advantages and the best approach is leveraging both. However, below are some things to note in the spirit of answering the proposed question:

1. Visibility & Reach

Liking a photo or video post directly impacts the post in question. Of course, this can have ripple effects as it informs the decision for other posts by the same account to be checked out. However, the fact remains that liking a post directly impacts the post, and reaching for other posts is not always guaranteed.

This is an area where increased followers edge likes. The reason is that the profile’s reach and visibility are more encompassing and also sustained. By the way, the social media platform’s algorithm tends to judge popularity using followership more than likes.

2. Credibility & Influence

There is such a thing as authority sources in the academic world. The same is applicable in the social media landscape as some accounts/profiles are consciously and even subconsciously perceived as authorities.

The question is what the yardsticks are for deciding which account/profile is worthy of being considered an authority. Popularity is one such and a very notable one at that.

By the way, authority is as good as credibility, and this points to the fact that increased popularity usually implies credibility on social media. Bearing this in mind, both Instagram likes and followership confers credibility. However, one edges the other and it is followership for certain reasons.

The major reason is because likes are directly about posts. On the other hand, followership cuts across just posts and has to do with the entire account. For example, this is a major consideration when partners and sponsors are on the lookout for profiles for brand influencing.

However, the perfect approach to ensuring growth on Instagram is making moves to increase followers, as well as likes. You can see iDigic for more insight into the possibility of growing inorganically through likes and follower purchases. Doing this ensures both short and long-term credibility. Influence is also attained.

3. Insights & Feedback

The two aforementioned yardsticks have made it seem like purchasing Instagram followers is way better than purchasing likes. Well, there are several ways Instagram likes edge followers, and the chances of gathering feedback and insight is a prime example. You see, the idea of growing a profile inorganically is not to undermine the importance of organic growth.

Rather, it is to offer a head-start for organic growth. The goal should be to have the inorganic process play out in such a way that it positively impacts organic growth.

For example, the organic feedback left should inform the kinds of posts that would be made going forward. This can only happen through likes and comments left by viewers.

4. Algorithm Boost

It is a known fact that some posts tend to have more visibility on the platform than others. Bearing this in mind, the question is whether the algorithm’s decision to make certain posts more visible is more influenced by likes than followers, or otherwise.

It turns out that likes edge followers in this regard. A post from a profile with huge followership may be outranked by a post from someone with far less followership. This is usually down to the number of likes, as well as other metrics such as shares and reposts. This is especially true if it happens within a short period.

5. Loyalty & Community Engagement

Likes are important but their benefits are short-lived compared to followership. The decision to become a follower usually implies that the user has decided to continuously and consistently stay tuned.

Furthermore, direct and long-term interaction is more guaranteed with followers. This ensures a deeper connection with the account in question. It is one that is usually way more than likes can offer in the long term.

6. Engagement Rate

It is one thing to have loads of followers and another to have active followers. While your followership size is important and partly determines visibility, the same applies to how active your followers are.

Given this, the amount of likes that your post gathers, especially from your followers is how the engagement rate is determined. On the contrary, there are adverse implications when the engagement rate is not at par with the increase in following.

This can lead to decreased visibility on Instagram, at the very least. This is one of the several reasons why it is better to purchase both likes and followers in the spirit of improving your visibility.

Final Note

The conclusion here is that the inorganic purchase of both Instagram likes and followers benefits users who want increased visibility. While there are clear indications that both purchases edge each other in certain ways, they work better together. So, bear this in mind when attempting to increase visibility inorganically.