As bloggers we have all had it, people who follow you for five minutes, then all of a sudden unfollow you because you haven’t followed back. As someone who is trying to build honest engagement it is bloody difficult because I want people to follow me because they like my stuff, not because I have followed them and then I’m going to unfollow them afterwards. I’ve talked previously about unfollowing people is okay (post here) and that is really okay! However the thing that isn’t okay is following someone and then unfollowing just because they haven’t followed you.
The funny thing is, one blogger, not naming any names has actually followed and unfollowed me about 7 times in 1 day at one point, just because I didn’t follow them back. I jut sat there and was like, why? Why would you keep doing this! So here is an open letter to the people who play that game.
To the people who play this game,
I see you! You might think that we can’t see you, or you are being sneaky, but in all honesty, you’re not, I can see you, I can see everything! When you unfollow me, I do notice, I keep an eye on my stats and not only that there are fantastic apps that are around like CrowdFire app which is actually one of my favourites because you can see who mutual follow and who is unfollowing you.
Why would people even bother doing this in the first place? I think sometimes people believe it is a much quicker way of building a following, especially if you’re a blogger because the number of followers you have is more important sometimes than proper engagement on your social media feeds. Yes it might be a quick way of building a following but honestly it isn’t worth it!
I know personally I want people to follow me for honest reasons, because they like my content, because they like my honesty, or that I’m a little bit quirky sometimes.
So, if you’re going to play the follow/unfollow game on me, here is what to expect. I’m not going to follow you back, I only follow people who truly engage with me, who speak to me and who inspire me on a regular basis. I will always check my apps to see what is going on as I like to keep up with who is following and unfollowing me.
Please only follow me if you actually want to, not because you want to boost your following.
What are your thoughts on this? Leave your response in the comments!
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Yes! This has irritated me for so long. It’s frustrating because I only ever follow someone if I’m genuinely interested in their content, and I wish that people would do the same for me. It’s even worse when someone follows you, you follow them back, and then they unfollow you. That’s just rude. Great post x
hannahsnotebook.net
Exactly! That is the most important thing, to follow people you actually want to follow, not because you want a follow back to boost your numbers. It is just annoying when people do that! <3
Hi Amie! I’ve just discovered the Crowdfire App and it’s very useful indeed. I’ve had some people follow/unfollow me many times too and it’s a bit annoying. Sometimes I follow them back but only to find out they’ve just unfollowed again… Why?? ????
I’m glad I follow you because I find you have an amazing personality. You just seem so sweet and loving, which I’m sure you are!! Also great content and photos on your blog! Have a great weekend!
Crowdfire is my absolute everything! I use it for everything and it is so fabulous! I honestly think that people do it just because they want to boost their numbers, I literally cannot fathom why though it seems to be a waste of time! Thank you so much angel it means the world! <3
Great post ! I have to say that I hate getting comment when peoples says things like: ‘Follow me and I follow you back’ and not even comment on my actual blog post. I can ensure you that I won’t even bother checking their blog and I won’t bother following them either . Maybe when I first start blogging and I had like 3 followers I may have did it few times but I can ensure you that usually 95% of them never follow back and like you I rather people following me because they like my blog and not hoping I’ll follow them back. I hate that game too…I don’t do it as I find it lame anyway and some how it feel fake and it seems those people are just doing a blog to get free stuff and dont care about getting followers that actually might like their blogm.
http://allornothing-blog.blogspot.co.uk/
I totally understand where you come from, I think definitely what you said in the beginning it is trial and error, I think I did at first to be honest, but I paced myself, built content and worked hard. You can do this darling, your blog is fantastic, you’re doing an incredible job! <3
Great post! I always wonder about these people as well. Sometimes people follow me and I can already tell that they won’t be around for long because they so obviously have nothing in common with me, so it’s quite apparent that they’re only hoping for me to follow back. But I only do so if I feel like I would actually enjoy reading what this person is writing/putting online.
I totally agree with you, these follow-unfollow people are so annoying and sometimes really diminish the enjoyment of social media and blogging for me.
Patti shiftingtales.com
Thank you so much Patti, I follow people who I don’t have a lot in common with sometimes because I love their posts and they inspire me, however, I do get that feeling from some people sometimes! <3
This is one of the biggest frustrations I have with the blogging community. There’s so many people that see it as purely a numbers game and will do anything to try and boost their followers – including following and unfollowing the same person again and again.
ARRGGHH x
http://www.kirstyburrage.com
I’m totally with you! That is something that I really don’t like about blogging is because a few people will do anything just to boost their numbers, and I can understand it because brands want numbers for followings but it isn’t everything! <3
It is so frustrating and it happens all the time, especially on instagram. They follow and half an hour later they unfollow. Makes me so angry. Why bother doing this, I mean, what is the point? I am not going to follow anyway, I only follow people who inspire me, take nice photos and have amazing content! Well written post and exactly what I needed to hear 🙂
Yiota
PinkDaisyLoves
I find Instagram to be the worst for it to be honest! I swear some people do it just for fun! I am totally agreeing with you, follow people who inspire! <3
Yes! I know this one blogger who continually adds me every time I post new content, then unfollows the next day when I haven’t. Like, seriously, wtf? You realize I can see this, right? Why bother to follow/unfollow at all? Either don’t follow and just read it when you feel like it, or keep following in general. It would save all of us so much time!
Angie | Chocolate & Lipstick | Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Blog
I know that feeling, it is one of the worst feelings because it’s like am I not good enough for when I don’t post content? Ugh it is so annoying! <3
I find this so common, specially on twitter. It is horrible but I tend to ignore it although it just gets harder and harder.
http://www.thelisasworld.com
I know that feeling Lisa, I actually find it worse on Instagram because it can be a little more difficult for engagement, but honestly if they don’t want to be part of that journey it is their loss! <3
My friend and I were talking about this the other day! In her case, she has this one particular person who follows and unfollows her multiple times every single month. The funny thing about it is that it’s a girl that did not even get along with her at all in high school and they’ve never talked since high school, which was about 5 years ago! I just don’t get it!
Nicole | The Glam Surge
I know that feeling, honestly there is always one who does it all the time and it is so annoying! I had a similar person but I think they gave up about a month ago and just left me alone finally! <3
ARGHHHH yes gurl! This post gets me omg. This happens to me on a daily basis on both Instagram and Twitter and it’s frustrating! Sadly I’ve had “bigger named bloggers” do this to me too. Not shaming anyone in particular but it is pretty shameful that they are building their following falsely! Why would you want that anyway? Like a fake number? I love my readers and followers because they’re there to see my content, not for another number!
GURL I love your content and I love YOU! Maybe one day these people will stop with their games!
Thank you so much Maisie it means the world! I have had the same thing and honestly it hurts my feelings because I’m like am I not good enough? I love you too guuurrrrl & bump <3
I totally agree! I am always so confused when I get followed and unfollowed repeatedly for no apparent reason, it seems such a waste of time to me…?? I also cannot stand those “follow for follow” comments all over my Instagram >:( I just think, if I want to follow you I will, and you telling me to do so will almost definitely reduce my likelihood to follow you by 100%?! Really well written post, loved it <3 xxx
I am totally with you on that, it is a waste, I don’t understand how it was supposed to work to get you to your goals. Exactly my point, if I wanted to follow someone I totally would, but not because someone says follow for follow 🙂 <3
Love this post! The follow/unfollow game irritates me to no end! I had a blogger follow and unfollow me every day for a solid month before I got annoyed and blocked them.
One of the most annoying aspects of social media! I don’t even understand how anybody has the time or patience to follow/unfollow. I mean don’t they have anything better to do? I had somebody do this to me for weeks on instagram, and when I started my second instagram, they started the same on it!
Lauren | Lauren the Daydreamer
This infuriates me so much! Especially those that you follow and they follow you back and then within a day unfollow you! Like you didn’t actually need to follow me in the first place then did you… haha great post! xx
Eleanorclaudie.com
This annoys me so much too! I only follow people if I want to follow because I enjoy their content, never just because they followed me! I hate the whole follow-for-follow thing, like I’m down with supporting each other, but I don’t see why I should waste time reading or browsing something I’m just not that into. I’ve noticed a few do it to me and I just ignore it. Recently I noticed my ex do it to me as well like dude I can see you! *eye roll*
Yes! I absolutely 100% agree with you!
Following then unfollowing is just ridiculous – why would you do that? What are you gaining from it?
Not a new follower thats for sure because there is no way I’m going to follow someone back if they follow then unfollow me. No way!
Megan / http://www.meganmarieblogs.blogspot.co.uk
my gosh, I love this post! I hate the follow/unfollow game.. As a newbie blogger and twitter user it drives me nuts!
Good post!
Thanks for posting this. I’m just starting out blogging and finding this really frustrating. Definitely going to check out the Crowdfire app!
Amy x
http://www.whatamysays.com
Such a great post! I only noticed a few times on Instagram, and I really don’t understand how they think this is going to help them grow in the long run! It’s a sad tactic…
This is so annoying! I run tow blogs and I am also trying to build a brand for myself as a journalist so when you get an increase in followers and then a few days later it drops dramatically because you haven’t followed them back it becomes really disheartened. Its horrible as well because it makes you feel that you are doing something wrong for people to unfollow you and you don’t know what it is.
Hear hear. Worse for Twitter and Insta, not so much for my blog – I don’t have many followers and feel bad even suggesting ‘follow me’ or getting a mailing list seems too egocentric. Crowdfire is good for the f/uf and repeat offenders on IG just get blocked these days 😉 Have to rely on my brain though as free Crowdfire seems to do just one account (my Twitter). Just keep at it… those number chasers weren’t real followers 🙂
This doesn’t happen with me very often but i’m not as active with twitter anymore. My biggest gripe is people adding me to the same list over and over again!
The follow/unfollow game is the most irritating thing about blogging and worryingly, there are some things (like a Facebook page for bloggers) that actively encourage people to do it. I’ve had bloggers, brands and even sports fanpages do it to me on Twitter and I’m now so fed up with it, I call them out. Usually the person/brand I’ve called out block me but a few have responded with “it’s not me, it’s Twitter”. Like we’re dumb enough to believe Twitter has randomly followed and unfollowed the same person for them 10 times.
I suggest to report as spam people who are follo\unfollow many times in the same day and then block them
I don’t followback anymore anyone, I’m not interested in working with numbers on IG so I don’t care i have not a crowd that follows me
Anyway it’s an unfair behavior, when I see someone who unfollow me after few days I instantly unfollow
I think there is no excuse for this, it’s unfair and rude, that’s all
Loved your post!
Whoever plays this game, is in the Blogging community for the wrong reasons! Success with engaging with honest readers; I am trying to do that as well.
I like your blog! 😉 Thanks to #BloggingGals for showing it to me.
Great post! I hate when people do that. I only follow people that interest me. I would also rather have 100 followers that acutally care about what you post then having 5000 that just follows for the sake of it. Numbers isnt everything!
I really thought was just me having a problem with persons who follow to unfollow minutes later. This is the sad reality of social media nowadays and it’s very annoying when people follow with the expectation that you would follow them back. I have no problem with that but I would think they are following because there is a genuine interest in my posts/blog. I wish people would realize you can’t build a following with engagement overnight and would stop the crap in 2017!
Btw I love your blog. Great job.
http://www.travelbeautyblog.com
This exactly! What a fab post. I was actually talking about this today to my other half – how there seems to be a culture that is more I interested in getting a bigger following than getting an audience who actually care about your stuff. It totally baffles me – surely us bloggers write for an audience and if you’ve got 10k followers but only 1000 actually care about what you write then what’s the blooming point? Organic growth is totally the way forward but it’s a shame that not everyone feels this way. I’m still very new to the blogging scene and already this silly behaviour is doing my nut in…I seem to gain 5 Instagram followers and lose 10 – although so far I’ve not noticed it too much on Twitter.
Gah, anyways, this is a brill topic and I’m always interested in reading other blogger’s opinions about it.
I HATE WHEN PEOPLE DO THIS SO SO MUCH. Like, blogging isn’t about the numbers it’s about building an engaged audience and if I’m not going to engage with your content there’s no point for either of us is there???x
Mia // https://okaaythen.com
Oh, I hate it with a passion. In fact, I found this post by googling “why following and then unfollowing people is shit!” haha It is killing a lot of the fun of blogging for me, that’s for sure. I want to build my followers, of course, but I will only follow people I genuinely like (especially on IG). For a while, I actually thought people followed me because they liked my stuff; but now, I think it is just a ruse to get more followers and that’s sad. Like you, I had someone follow and unfollow me three times in the space of a week, and if she does it again, I am going to have to have words!
I am so glad I am not the only one who feels like this. Many of us are striving to make a real go of their blogs and it is so demoralising to see you’ve had ten new followers but lost 20 🙁
Oh, and I’ve social media stalked you a little and followed in some places. Not for a reciprocal like, of course, just because what you’ve written really strikes a chord, and your IG feed is stunning! x
I see people talking about this quite often. How do you know when people are unfollowing you? Is there a tool I can use to know?
Couldn’t agree more! I’d take one genuine follower over 100 people that don’t care or want to engage with me! I want my feeds to be filled with people whose content i want to read, not just to make up numbers! Great post ?
Hels x http://www.thehelsproject.com
Oh my god YES YES and YES to all of this! As a very new blogger (I’m only three weeks in) I cannot explain how demotivating it is to go to bed every evening thinking your following on Instagram has grown a little – and we are talking like 6 or something – only to wake up and you’ve actually lost 10+ followers overnight…the people who only followed you to see if you would follow back! It’s so tiring…I follow people because I enjoy their content and want to see more, and to make connections with likeminded people. I only want people who feel the same to follow me or what’s the point? Sorry, rant over haha – really needed to read something like this! Found your blog through #thegirlgang chat tonight (although I think I may have already been following you on Twitter…) and I’m so glad I did ?
Sophie xxx | Sophar So Good
I totally agree with you! Lately I’ve been going on a little following spree because I want to make sure I support bloggers who write about all different topics, and are from all parts of the world. I want to learn from people, and I’ve learnt so much from people within the community and it has helped me so much!
That is the most important thing darling, that you follow people because you want to see their content and you like what they’re doing!
You’re too kind, thank you my angel it means the world! xxxx
Hi!! 100% agreed! Sometimes I will follow people back because I’m interested in building a community! I started keeping an eye on my stats as well (unfortunately). I will end up unfollowing people if I’m no longer interested in their content OR I followed someone back only to find they unfollowed me. Not about that game! It makes me sad, especially for the accounts that really try to engage with the rest of the people!
Have a good one!
Aaah….I just found your post and this thread, googling to find out about this strange Insta follow unfollow thing. SO pleased we all feel we’re in the same boat. And here I was, starting to get an inferiority complex, all quietly on my own…
Am very new to blogging and ALL the social media stuff – I started our blog at the end of Jan this year, and finally got the courage to start using Instagram about a month ago, because I felt like I was peeing in a dark suit with my blog posts… you know, you get a warm feeling, but only you know what you’ve done!
So, I thought, let me at least share all the original piccies I’m so proud of, and gained 50 followers in a couple of weeks. Awesome! They love me!
Then I started seeing numbers gained overnight drop again the next morning, and began getting paranoid. What have I done? What did I say?? Ermergerd…. I bet it was that stupid, amateurish Checkers Garden video I posted….! Eeek.
Thank goodness I found you lot. I’m so relieved 🙂 And thank you Amie for the post. I agree with all of you here. I love writing for my blog, I’m proud of our pics and videos, and I really, really want to develop a following of interested readers or subscribers. If I pick up 50 or 100 interested people for now, I’m happy. I want to know that I’m making a difference in some people’s lives.
So far, I only have 6 subscribers on my blog, and that’s me, my husband, my two daughters and their boyfriends! But I don’t “buy” likes, and I definitely don’t buy into the follow unfollow scam. That’s fake and it’s rude – and look how it makes everyone feel!
Keep up the good work all and let’s hang in there 😉
Janine x
It is so annoying when your stats go up and down my darling but honestly just keep going, do your thing and enjoy sharing your gorgeous photos! xxxx
Thank you for that! Yes, we certainly will…put our heads down and soldier on…;) At least the “Likes” mean something, right?!
Exactly, keep going angel, you’ve got this! xxxx
I found you while looking for an explanation to why people follow-to-unfollow on tumblr.
I run three tumblrs for my art, and this is driving me mental because I even get the email notification of a new follower. When I check, the follower is not following me, so… why I got the notification in the first place?
It’s not having them expecting follow-backs after five minutes or something. They seem to INSTA-FOLLOW-UNFOLLOW me, as if they clicked the “follow” button, then instantly click it again to unfollow me. At first I thought it was a random mistake, but it’s being repeated over and over, to the point I no longer trust the new follower notification email. I got so angry I decided to block whoever does this because I feel this is some sort of attention-whoring or some bad-taste trolling.
If you have had the same experience, please let me know. I’d love some help or at least an explanation.
I have had the same experience, I have 2 tumblrs and honestly it is really hard, but some people don’t appreciate what a talent you are, they are just all about the numbers! I’m so sorry that people have done that to you though, I do feel your pain xxxx
This is a bug bear of mine! Some days I get so many followers, yet they never like my feed and then unfollow! It’s so disheartening as I am really trying to grow my social media and these people don’t make it easy.
katescloset.uk
I know what you mean my lovely, it is a struggle but just keep producing your incredible content, don’t give up! xxx
Well said! I am a new blogger (just started last week) and even though I am so new at this, I have had 44 people do this to me in the last 3 days alone! Trying to grow an audience nowadays is a lot of hard work and it is very disheartening when I check my Instagram account only to see that most of the people who followed me a few hours ago (and many of whom I followed back and engaged with by liking their picture and leaving thoughtful comments) have just unfollowed me. It’s great to know that I am not alone in this and thank you very much for posting your thoughts on this issue. It’s great to know that there are other people out there who care about genuine interaction and being authentic more about their numbers and stats!
I honestly don’t understand this approach AT ALL! Sure, it may work to inflate your number of followers, but the odds are that your engagement is trash because no one is actually following you for your content. 1 follower that regularly engages/reads your content/purchases through your affiliate links/etc is better than 1000 followers that never visit or engage on your site….
I completely agree, it’s actually one of my least favourite parts of blogging. Instagram is particularly bad for this, and it can be really demotivating when you think you’re gaining genuine followers and then they’re gone the next day! I’ve been around the 2,400 mark for like a month now because every time I gain a couple I lose a couple too
This frustrates me so much! I get people message me saying “if I don’t follow them back, they will unfollow me”. My response is always, “go ahead”. I want people to follow my account because they like my content, that’s why I follow others.
This was a great idea for a post! Thanks so much for sharing!