Launched in 2016, TikTok has become one of the fastest growing social media platforms of all time, with over 1 billion monthly active users. As TikTok’s popularity continues to soar, many creators are eager to grow their follower count. While a large following can help spread your content and bring opportunities, buying fake followers can damage your reputation and get your account shut down.
Growing an authentic, engaged audience takes time and effort, but is far more beneficial than inflating numbers artificially. This guide will explore better ways to expand your real follower base, while cautioning against risky shortcuts.
Dangers of Buying Followers
There are several risks associated with buying followers on TikTok or other social media platforms that you should be aware of before considering this route:
Risk of Account Ban
Buying followers or engagement goes against TikTok’s Terms of Service and could result in your account being banned. TikTok regularly cracks down on inauthentic activity, so accounts with fake followers often get suspended.
Lower Engagement Rates
Having an inflated follower count with very little engagement looks suspicious and will lower your account’s engagement rate. This signals to the algorithm that your content is not resonating.
Hurts Credibility
Followers, likes, and comments obtained illegitimately can hurt your credibility and reputation. Audiences value authenticity and can usually spot when someone’s following isn’t real.
Waste of Money
Any followers, likes, or views bought from third-party providers are not going to be long-lasting. You end up wasting money on temporary vanity metrics rather than building real audience interest.
Better Ways to Grow Your Following
There are better, organic ways to grow your TikTok following that don’t involve buying fake followers. The most important tactic is to create high-quality, engaging content that your target audience will genuinely enjoy and want to follow. According to Social Pilot, “A tried-and-tested tip to gain TikTok followers is to post consistently. It’s highly encouraged to post original content at least once every day if you want to see significant growth in followers.”
Make creative, entertaining videos using trends, challenges, effects, sounds etc. that are popular on TikTok. Optimize your content for the platform – keep videos short, engaging and mobile-friendly. Use relevant hashtags so your videos show up in hashtag searches. As Search Engine Journal suggests, “use hashtags that are relevant to your content and niche.”
Collaborating with other creators via duets, stitching, or split screens can introduce your account to new audiences. Promote your TikTok across other social platforms where you have a following. Run contests and giveaways to incentivize following. And importantly, engage with your viewers by responding to comments, doing live streams, etc. to build relationships.
Paid Promotion Options
TikTok offers several paid promotion options to help grow your account and reach new audiences. Some of the most popular paid strategies include:
TikTok ads – Targeted in-feed video ads can help get your content in front of relevant viewers. You can promote your TikTok videos directly or promote your website, app, or other destinations.
Influencer collaborations – Partnering with popular creators can expose your brand to their engaged follower base. You can pay influencers to create sponsored content featuring your products.
Cross-promotions – Team up with complementary brands for co-marketing campaigns. You can leverage each other’s audiences and split costs.
Sponsored hashtag challenges – Create a custom hashtag challenge and sponsor it to promote it to a wider audience. The sponsored hashtag lets TikTok users create related content driving engagement.
Paid promotion can complement your organic growth efforts and help you efficiently scale an engaged following on TikTok. Just make sure to target your spending to reach genuine users likely to appreciate your content.
Third-Party Services to Avoid
There are many third-party sites and services that promise to get you more TikTok followers quickly. However, most of these should be avoided, as they use shady practices and cannot guarantee real, engaged followers.
In particular, avoid any site that claims it can guarantee thousands or millions of new TikTok followers. While these services may deliver on those promises technically, the followers will likely be bots or inactive accounts. TikTok is very good at detecting and removing fake followers, so you’ll end up right back where you started.
Similarly, you should stay away from sites that offer to sell likes, comments, views, and other engagement. This type of fake engagement can get your account banned and is against TikTok’s terms of service.
Instead of paying for followers from third-party sites, focus on creating high quality, engaging content. Use TikTok’s built-in tools to promote your videos, collaborate with others, and utilize trending sounds and hashtags. While this organic growth takes more work, it will pay off in the long run with real fans.
How TikTok’s Algorithm Works
TikTok’s algorithm differs from others like Instagram or Facebook. Rather than promoting content from accounts you follow, TikTok’s algorithm curates content based on each user’s interests and engagement. According to a New York Times article, the TikTok algorithm favors three main factors:
The algorithm favors engagement and shares. If a video receives a high number of likes, comments, and reshares, it signals users find it valuable. Therefore, it will be shown to more users. Longer watch times also show users are engaged with the content.
The algorithm values watch time. If users watch a video all the way through, it suggests they find the content interesting and want to see more of it. Videos that capture and retain attention get promoted further by the algorithm.
The algorithm prefers authentic content. Videos with originality instead of overused sounds or trends tend to perform better. Relatable content that feels real, raw, and unfiltered also resonates more with viewers.
Setting Realistic Growth Expectations
Gaining 1,000 new followers per day is highly unlikely for most accounts, especially when starting out. According to research from RivalIQ, the median TikTok account gains around 200-300 new followers daily. However, growth rates can fluctuate substantially based on the type of content and engagement.
While gaining followers may seem important, it’s more beneficial to focus on engagement metrics like likes, shares, and comments which signal your content is resonating with viewers. As SocialInsider reports, overall engagement rates on TikTok have declined 43% year-over-year, underscoring the need for creative, high-quality content that engages the audience.
When first starting out, it’s important to be patient and allow time for organic growth through consistently producing engaging content. While some viral videos will lead to overnight increases in followers, this type of growth is unreliable. Stay committed to your content niche and strategy. Measure your progress through key metrics like likes and shares, not just follower count. Maintaining realistic growth expectations helps keep your efforts focused in the right direction.
Measuring Your Progress
It’s important to track your growth and engagement metrics over time to measure your progress. Look at key analytics like likes, comments, shares, and watch time. Pay attention to the demographics of your new followers and who is engaging with your content. As your following grows, your videos will reach larger audiences which can impact engagement rates. Don’t get discouraged by lower engagement numbers on videos with high view counts. Compare your growth and engagement metrics to competitors in your niche to benchmark your performance.
Monitor analytics platforms like Hootsuite regularly to identify trends and patterns. Focus on steady, organic growth over time rather than drastic overnight changes. Set realistic goals and timelines for growth based on what you’ve achieved so far. Consistently creating high-quality, engaging content tailored to your audience is the best way to build a loyal following that interacts with your brand.
Maintaining Momentum
Once you’ve built up an initial following on TikTok, it’s important to maintain that momentum so your account continues to grow. Here are some tips for keeping up engagement over time:
Post consistently – TikTok’s algorithm tends to favor accounts that post regularly. Aim to post at least 1-2 times per day to stay visible on your followers’ For You pages (source). Having a consistent posting schedule will also help build expectation and interest.
Stay relevant with trends – Check out trending sounds, hashtags, and video ideas that are popular on TikTok. Putting your own spin on trends can help increase visibility and engagement.
Ask followers for feedback – Polling your audience on content ideas or collaborations will make them feel more invested. Also ask for critique on areas you can improve.
Refine content strategy – Look at your best performing content and double down on those formats and topics. Pay attention to when your followers are most active and adjust your posting times accordingly.
Conclusion
In summary, buying TikTok followers is not an effective or sustainable growth strategy. It goes against TikTok’s terms of service, can get your account banned, and looks inauthentic to real users. You’re better off focusing on creating high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your target audience.
Instead of buying followers, spend time understanding TikTok’s algorithm and analytics. Set realistic growth goals and benchmarks. Engage meaningfully with your community through likes, comments, duets and stitches. Collaborate with others in your niche. Use relevant hashtags, captions and sounds that connect with viewers.
Remember that real growth takes time and consistency. Don’t get impatient and resort to shortcuts. Stay inspired and keep adapting your content based on what performs best. Maintain a regular posting schedule to build momentum. Focus on the quality of your followers, not just the quantity. Keep experimenting, learning and having fun on TikTok!
