It’s a little bit unbelievable that some bloggers buy their Twitter followers. And, I will be very quick to point out that the example I am thinking of isn’t a beauty blogger. Until I checked Google, I didn’t actually think such a thing was possible, but it is.. you can buy 1K followers for $12, or, 10K for £200.
So, it’s funny initially to think that someone would be so desperate to improve their follower figures that they’d pay money for some anonymous eggs (because that’s a dead giveaway.. lots of followers with no profile picture) just so they can stats-brag. It’s like trying to buy friends… or paying someone to sit with you at lunchtime, as @thesundaygirl pointed out on Twitter. But, what isn’t so amusing is that these false stats will be bandied around to boost perceived status and impress anyone (notably brands and PRs) who’ll listen to just the raw figures quoted. And, ultimately, it’s a lie. If you’ve paid for followers, they don’t engage, they don’t tweet and they’re literally a static follow that brings nothing whatsoever to the profile – they are just shells. The blogger’s ‘value’ isn’t increased and brands or PRs may find themselves engaging with someone who is absolutely not what their figures might suggest they are. It’s lying, and it’s wrong. And, in my view, it is also fraudulent.
If ever there was a reason for alarm bells, it is this false ‘advertising’ and profile building made from hollow bricks, and folks, if you don’t thoroughly check who you’re working with, mind those eggs, because they’re absolutely rotten.
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15 comments
I totally agree with this post. I recently got asked for a second interview for a social media manager job for a firm…I questionned them about their ‘followers’ which looked wrong (high number, no interaction) and my worst suspicions were confirmed when they told me the were happy to ‘throw money at things to make them happen’. I declined the second interview. Buying followers is cheating. End of.
I just cant believe that there are people out there that would stoop so low in terms of desperation to do this not to mention to have this cash to just throw away. I for one cant see any sense in accomplishment knowing that every single one of those ‘eggs’ doesn’t care what you have to say or do. I would rather have 10 followers who I can tweet, engage with regular than a million faceless eggs sitting there for stat purposes!
Becky
beckys makeup
Just adding in some Twitter reactions to this post:
Jssccaa 10:14pm via Twitter for iPhone
@britbeautyblog like you say, baffling why anyone wastes their cash. Good post.
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suzyharper05 10:14pm via Twitter for BlackBerry®
@britbeautyblog no that would be a bit sad
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DeryaneTadd 10:14pm via Twitter for iPhone
@britbeautyblog what’s the point? Needs to be a genuine interest surely?
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ReallyRee 10:14pm via Tweet Button
This is what I was saying about buying twitter followers earlier Via @britbeautyblog goo.gl/QxeCT
Jssccaa 10:12pm via Twitter for iPhone
“@britbeautyblog: Buying Twitter followers… would ya? Could ya? ow.ly/bC6s8” it’s v obvious to us when we check for these things!
Flipside_PR 10:12pm via Twitter for iPad
@britbeautyblog what if you are really lonely? Lol!
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indulgein_me 10:11pm via Web
@britbeautyblog Why would ya?? We only have 505 and its been bloody hard work getting them but definitely wouldn’t buy them! xx
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AsianWedIdeas 10:11pm via Web
Hell no + kinda sad – RT
@britbeautyblog Buying Twitter followers… would ya? Could ya? ow.ly/bC6s8
BridesandBeauty 10:10pm via Twitter for iPad
“@britbeautyblog: Buying Twitter followers… would ya? Could ya? ow.ly/bC6s8”>>>>Thats shocking! I wouldn’t
And more..
milliepaw 10:17pm via Web
@ReallyRee @britbeautyblog Jesus! that is ridiculous, almost as bad as buying votes on facebook comps.
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SerenityofBeaut 10:17pm via Twitter for iPhone
@britbeautyblog CRIKEY :-/ The things people do :-/
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DeryaneTadd 10:15pm via Twitter for iPhone
@britbeautyblog me neither! Seems pointless to me. #bizarre
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TheBlackPearlB 10:15pm via Twitter for iPad
@SundayGirlBlog @britbeautyblog do people actually do that?
ReallyRee 10:18pm via Web
@milliepaw @britbeautyblog people do that? omjeeesuz
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MrStuCampbell 10:18pm via Twitter for iPhone
@britbeautyblog desperate
When I first joined twitter I was followed by companies who provide that service. Its kinda sad that people feel the need for that.
Its important to keep in mind that
there are more bloggers out there who are honest than the few that are getting away with this ‘false advertisement’
But if PR companies are concerned with false bloggers then perhaps they should focus some of there attention on bloggers who have a smaller readership.
I have come across so many blog that are fantastic and to the highest standard of blogs which have 1000’s following them for what ever reason they are being over looked.
I only say this in light of your post on the fake blogger. I understand that that PR companies have a job to do and may sell more from a larger readership base, but it’s not like they will lose sales by giving small bloggers a product to review every now and then its not going to damage sales and with the right labels used it could bring in thousands of views
Initially I thought it was just sad to buy followers and then I realised that it is far more sinister than it actually appears. Having looked at it a bit more, it isn’t about appearing less lonely than you are, or not wanting the shame of having less friends than everyone else. This is a bit more like fraud. It is really about tricking brands and PR companies into paying more than they should, whether it is actual fees, or free treats, or VIP invitations.
Usually this kind of thing wouldn’t bother me, but I genuinely feel for the people/PRs/brands/genuine followers/colleagues that are cheated, duped and defrauded, because quite frankly it’s a con.
Shame on them. And don’t think we are so stupid not to notice the tweetless eggs. As if!
Ree
I total agree with you. I got some comments from twitter and blog about this. I don’t think it’s a good idea. I was kinda annoyed when i got such messages
How sad! A lot of start up companies or struggling musicians do this too! I wonder who has the time to sit there and create all these fake profiles!
I read this, laughed, then read it real and laughed even more. That is completely wrong, that is too extreme. I agree that PR’s should really focus on lower followed bloggers, and hlp with buliding up base. x
Buy follower is actually pretty popular in the Chinese version of Twitter called Weibo, and beside the “zombie fans”, who are no more than a count, they also have a commenting services, just to make people appear really popular and well-responded.
I have seen one “net idol” who finally got popular enough after years of net-working (involving posting her pictures in various forum using different disguises…for the past 4-5years or so), when she got a major magazine to tweet about her, suddenly hundreds of comment (most don’t make any sense)poured right in…at the exact same minute. Anyway, how can they NOT tell there is something fishy going on?
Oh dear, this post makes me very sad.
I don’t actually know what benefits buying follows has? Maybe I’m being a bit dim! Do people seriously waste money buying followers? What happened to networking and talking to people with similar interests, surely this is a better way of attracting followers?
you are basically just wasting your money 😛 haha
http://www.MrAJBx3.com
Buying followers ultimately is pointless. If someone has a particularly high number of followers, a good PR will look at their account, their interaction and WHO those followers are before deciding how kosher.
Personally I block suspect profiles(allergic to clothing, empty, repetitive, ONLY tweet links etc)and the like following me as I’d rather have real followers than a higher (but in reality false) follower count.
Be aware of them if you automatically follow back as often that is the other trick to grow followers – follow 1,000 accounts in a day and a percentage will automatically follow back.
This is a real issue, but as a victim of this myself, I felt like I should say that people don’t always realise that’s what they’re doing. A colleague of mine recently paid a Marketing company a smallish sum of money 100 pounds I think, to promote a new product.
The company they chose claimed to ‘get your product seen’ using ‘up to f=date marketing techniques’. Their thought was if it didn’t work it wasn’t too much money wasted and if it did then great, they really needed a boost.
The next day they had 1000s of ‘eggs’ which made all their time spent talking to people on Twitter and networking just look shoddy and contrived. But what to do? You can’t remove them, you’d have to cancel the account and lose all the ‘real’ followers.
There are more people being duped than PR companies, some off those with egg followers are victims too.