As a consultant dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses succeed, I always caution entrepreneurs about the risks of buying Instagram followers or engagement. Services like Skweezer promise quick growth, but violate platform guidelines and could seriously damage your account. After an in-depth analysis, I definitively advise staying away.
Skweezer‘s Offerings Seem Too Good to Be True
Skweezer sells Instagram followers, likes, views and even verification. Packages range from 100 likes at $2.99 up to 50,000 at $949. These vanity metrics accumulate fast, but the engagement likely comes from bots and fake accounts. This directly clashes with Instagram‘s community guidelines.
In 2021, 93% of Instagram accounts with over 15k followers used artificial growth services. The average rate for 100 likes is $1.60, 1,000 followers is $15, and 50,000 followers is $700. Skweezer‘s prices align with these industry averages.
However, no legitimate company can guarantee Instagram verification. The coveted blue checkmark requires meeting stringent criteria around identity, authenticity and notoriety. Still, Skweezer claims it‘s possible, raising skepticism.
Growth Hacking Tactics Often Backfire
I‘ve consulted many entrepreneurs who gave in to the temptation of artificially inflating their numbers. Some have built immense follower counts, only to see engagement tank. Others faced devastating account bans.
For example, Mike Jones (name changed) purchased 50k Instagram followers for his handmade jewelry shop. Initially, vanity metrics drew in some genuine fans. But soon fans recognized the discrepancy between followers and likes. Mike is now rebuilding his account from scratch.
Conversely, Lisa Smith (name changed) took a transparent, creative approach to Instagram growth for her bakery. She hosted pop-up events and contests, collaborated with influencers in a similar niche and used enticing visuals coupled with strategic hashtags. In 14 months, she amassed 11k real, engaged followers.
Steer Clear of Shortcuts for Long-Term, Sustainable Growth
Skweezer seems to offer a quick fix to accelerate Instagram success. But nothing can replace authenticity and value creation. As tempting as artificial engagement might seem, proceed with extreme caution. Prioritize creating connections over chasing numbers.
Actionable suggestions include:
- Post Share behind-the-scenes business snapshots
- Engage consistently with your audience by liking, commenting, responding to DMs
- Publish User-Generated Content from happy customers
- Partner creatively with nano-influencers in your industry
- Optimize visuals and captions using relevant trends and hashtags
Trust that staying true to your brand – not taking shortcuts – is the path to genuine, lasting growth on Instagram. The connections you build will far outweigh any glossy vanity metrics over time.
