As a small business marketing consultant, I‘m regularly asked about the best and safest ways to grow a brand on Instagram. Many entrepreneurs are tempted by tools like FollowLiker that promise automated likes, followers and engagement. However, there are serious risks with these Instagram "growth hacking" services.
In this in-depth review, I‘ll share:
- What FollowLiker is and how it works
- An unbiased look at the pros and cons of using FollowLiker
- The potential risks and downsides you need to be aware of
- My professional advice for safer, sustainable Instagram growth
What is FollowLiker and How Does it Work?
FollowLiker is a third-party automation service that offers users the ability to auto-like posts, auto-follow and unfollow accounts, and send auto-DMs on Instagram.
The service runs on desktop software you download and install. Once setup, you can configure FollowLiker to automatically interact with accounts and posts based on specific hashtags, locations or usernames you define.
FollowLiker claims it will help you get more followers and engagement on Instagram hands-free. It offers different monthly subscription plans starting from $15 up to $99.
Potential Benefits of Using FollowLiker
On the surface, FollowLiker seems appealing because of the benefits automation provides:
Pros
- Saves time liking posts and following users manually
- Increased exposure and discoverability on Instagram
- Provides analytics into your account growth
- Affordable compared to hiring someone to manually grow your account
- Ability to scale up followers and engagement faster than manual efforts
At first glance, these benefits are very enticing for any business or influencer trying to build their presence on Instagram.
But are the pros really worth the risks involved? Let‘s look at the potential downsides.
The Hidden Risks and Downsides
While FollowLiker promises quick growth, there are significant long-term risks associated with using automation services:
Cons
- Against Instagram‘s Terms of Service (risk of ban)
- Poses security and privacy risks
- Could damage engagement and follower quality
- Limited customer support
- No long-term growth strategy
According to Instagram’s Terms of Use:
“You can‘t attempt to create accounts or access or collect information in unauthorized ways. This includes creating accounts or collecting information in an automated way without our express permission.”
They explicitly prohibit any automated liking, following, commenting or other activities – even from third-party apps. As per their August 2020 Terms update:
"We prohibit crawling, scraping, caching or otherwise accessing any content on the Service via automated means, including but not limited to, user profiles and photos (except as may be the result of standard search engine protocols or technologies used by a search engine with Instagram‘s express consent)."
While the exact % of bans from automation is unknown, any activity detected as inauthentic puts your account at high risk of suspension or termination.
For small business owners who have invested significant time building their organic audience and content, getting banned can be detrimental.
Professional Tips for Growing Your Instagram
Instead of turning to risky automation tools, focus on an organic Instagram growth strategy:
- Optimize Your Content – High-quality, relevant posts tailored to your audience. Utilize visuals and captions that resonate.
- Engage Thoughtfully – Take time to build connections by commenting and liking posts from accounts you’d collaborate with.
- Run Contests & Giveaways – Encourage follows and engagement with fun contests. Offer prizes relevant to your niche.
- Partner With Influencers – Work with influencers who genuinely care about your brand and can introduce you to their engaged followers.
- Analyze Your Metrics – Use Instagram’s native analytics to make data-driven decisions about your content and growth strategies.
- Post Consistently – Maintain an optimal posting cadence so followers know what to expect from you.
The key is growing your account slowly but surely by nurturing authentic connections and providing value to each follower. This results in higher retention and engagement over time.
Trust that staying true to your brand and putting your audience first is the path to sustainable Instagram success.
