Influencers play a crucial role in shaping trends and influencing consumer behaviour. Although influencer advertising is an extremely lucrative investment, if the influencer hired has bought their followers, your brand’s earnings can be jeopardized. We are aware that sometimes spotting fake followers is not as easy as one might think. In this blog, we'll go over factors that can indicate fake or bought followers.
1. Low Engagement Rates
Authentic influencers typically have engaged and interactive audiences. If an influencer boasts a massive follower count but struggles with low likes, comments, and shares relative to their size, it's a red flag.
2. Generic Comments and Interactions
A high number of generic or irrelevant comments can suggest that followers are not genuinely interested in the content. Automated engagement from purchased followers often lacks personalization.
3. Mismatched Audience Demographics
Analyzing an influencer's followers is crucial. If there's a significant mismatch between the influencer's content and the demographics of their followers, it could indicate that the audience isn't genuine.
4. Sudden Drops in Follower Count
Purchased followers are often purged by social media platforms during periodic cleanups. If an influencer experiences sudden drops in their follower count, it might be a sign of bought followers being removed.
5. Unusual Follower Profiles
Genuine followers are diverse and have varied profiles. If an influencer's followers share similarities, like having incomplete profiles, lacking profile pictures, or using default images, it could signal purchased followers.
6. Consistent Follower Count
While consistent growth is normal, an influencer with an unchanging follower count, especially after a sudden increase, might be using services to maintain a specific number.
7. Unexplained Spikes in Engagement
Be cautious if an influencer experiences sudden spikes in engagement that don't align with their historical data. This could be an attempt to create the illusion of an active and engaged audience.
8. Check Follower Quality Using Tools
Several online tools can analyze an influencer's followers. Look for anomalies in the follower's activity, such as erratic posting patterns or unusual follower origins.
In this industry, transparency and authenticity are paramount. Brands and audiences alike should be vigilant in identifying influencers who resort to shortcuts for a perceived boost in popularity. By recognizing these signs, we can foster a more genuine and trustworthy influencer community.
