Should I Pay for Social Media Followers? (And What Really Builds Local Trust Online)
Buying followers sounds tempting, doesn’t it?
You hand over a small fee, and boom - your social profile looks popular overnight. Thousands of followers. Instant credibility.
But here’s the truth - especially for local businesses trying to show up in search and earn trust in their community:
Paying for social media followers doesn’t work. Not for real engagement. Not for local visibility. Not for SEO.
Let’s break down why, and what actually helps people in your area find and trust your business online.
Why Businesses Buy Followers (And Why It Backfires Locally)
Buying followers is usually about appearances.
A big follower count can make you seem more established, which might encourage real people to follow or trust you.
But:
Most of those bought followers are bots or inactive accounts.
You won’t get engagement - no likes, no comments, no clicks.
Platforms notice low engagement rates and show your content to fewer people.
Worse still, it can make real potential customers suspicious.
For local businesses, trust is everything.
And people in your area are much more likely to notice if your profile looks “off”, especially if they see 5,000 followers and zero interaction.
What Really Builds Trust with Local Customers Online
If you’re trying to reach actual people in the SO postcode area, fake followers won’t help.
Here’s what will:
✅ Google Business Profile
Make sure yours is claimed, optimised, and updated. It’s one of the strongest signals to Google - and your customers - that you’re real and relevant locally.
✅ Reviews
Real reviews from real customers on Google, Facebook, or industry platforms matter more than numbers.
They prove you’re trusted and active in your community.
✅ Useful Content
Writing blog posts that answer common questions shows up in search and gives you content to share - so you’re helping people before they even become customers.
✅ Local Links
Being mentioned (and linked) on other local sites or blogs is gold for SEO.
It helps search engines know you’re part of the local landscape.
The Local SEO Alternative to Fake Followers
Instead of paying for followers, think about where your real customers spend their time online.
Do they search Google for what you offer? Then SEO matters.
Do they follow your competitors on Facebook? Then make your own content useful, local, and consistent.
Want more people to find your site? Build backlinks from relevant local content (that’s exactly what Backlink – Sponsor an Example does).
Local SEO isn't about impressing algorithms with big numbers - it's about helping the right people find, trust, and choose you.
Summary: Is It Worth Paying for Followers?
No.
Not if you're a real business trying to grow in a real place.
It might feel like progress, but it’s just a shortcut to nowhere. Instead, invest in the things that help you grow locally:
Strong local SEO
Real customer relationships
Valuable content
Strategic backlinks
That’s how people in your area will actually find you and stick around.
Should I buy followers to make my business look more popular?
It might boost your numbers, but it won’t help with real engagement or local SEO - and could hurt your credibility.
Do fake followers hurt your social reach?
Yes. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook prioritise engagement. Low engagement from fake followers can reduce your visibility.
What’s more important for local SEO than social media followers?
Real reviews, Google Business updates, backlinks from local sources, and blog content targeting local searches.
What should I do instead of buying followers?
Create useful, relevant content, connect with your local community, and build backlinks that improve your Google presence.
