Followers Versus Credibility -Which First? : Building Your SFI Business

Reader Question: Which Should I Build First? Followers or Credibility?

Harry Q asks : Which should I build first - Followers or credibility?

Many people feel overwhelmed with the multitude of  offers to sell them Followers on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Bloggers, in particular, are under pressure to have huge numbers of followers when competing for sponsored posts. However, buying fake followers can be detrimental to your brand.
This post shares the importance of building credibility along with followers on several social media platforms and why focusing on quantity over quality can be a waste of time and resources.

Building Your SFI Brand - Examining Social Platforms Followers Versus Credibility

When establishing your brand in a sector or niche, credibility and followers must be built together.
Why?
Having only credibility and no followers is like shouting in a desert - who knows about your credibility?

At the same time, not having credibility will limit your ability to form a real follower base. This is especially true on some social platforms.
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that will pay me a few cents when you make a purchase on their site.

Let's take a look at a few Social Media platforms.

Your SFI Brand - Examining Building Facebook Followers Versus Credibility

On Facebook the importance of building credibility while building followers is especially inportant for organic reach.
Did you know that having too many Facebook fans can actually negatively impact your page's ability to be seen?
Huh?
I can see you scratching your head.
Can there actually be such a thing as having too many followers?
Yes, you can definitely have too many followers on Facebook.
Why?
This is how organic reach on Facebook works.

1. First, you publish a post on Facebook.
2. Next, Facebook determines a relevancy score for your post and shows it to the Facebook Fans that are predicted to be most likely to interact with your post.Which followers? The followers Facebook shows your post to is a combination of  your newest fans, fans who recently interacted with your page, and fans who have selected the option to show your posts in their timeline first.
3. Then, the Facebook algorithm waits for a response. This is where the importance of real followers Facebook Followers and credibility comes in. After a few minutes, the Facebook algorithm shows your post to a few more of your Followers according to the number of interactions your post had! If no one interacts with your post through likes, comments or shares, it is not shown in the timeline of any other followers. Your post just sits there on your Facebook wall waiting for someone to happen by and read it. 

So if you buy a tonne of inactive Facebook Followers, guess where that leaves your Facebook post?
Yup!
Your post just becomes a pretty decoration on your Facebook Page.
How can you overcome this organic reach problem?
Through many hours of research and trial and error, I have discovered some unique ways you can increase your Facebook organic reach. Be sure to read the Facebook Marketing tips on our SFI Marketing team Private Promotions blog.
 Not part of our SFI Marketing  team?
Get details at SeeOur.HomeBusinessRevolution.com
Facebook in my opinion is the most important platform for establishing credibility along with followers. You need active followers on Facebook who will share your posts and comment on them in order for your posts to be shown to more people.
So what about Twitter? Can buying Twitter followers hurt your brand?

Your SFI Brand - Examining Building Twitter Followers Versus Credibility

In 2015 Twitter introduced "While You Were Away" aspect to feeds, showing users what it determined were the most relevant Tweets from the accounts they follow when they log into Twitter.  How are these determined? according to Tech Crunch, it is through user engagement. 

Sounding a lot like the Facebook algorithm , right?

The While You Were Away" is not shown every time to users, but more often to those people who click on it and interact with some of the Tweets that are served up in this feed.

Then, in February 2016 Twitter announced further changes to its algorithm that were to" make Twitter more live". This is the default option -"Show Me the Best Tweets First" 

Here, the first dozen Tweets your followers will see are the Tweets with the highest engagement. 

So, once again we see that real engaged followers are important for organic  Twitter reach.

How can you increase engagement with your Twitter posts so they are shown to more of your followers?
Be sure to read the Twitter Marketing tips on our SFI Marketing team Private Promotions blog.
Not part of our SFI Marketing  team?
Get details at SeeOur.HomeBusinessRevolution.com

Your SFI Brand - Examining Building Google Plus Followers Versus Credibility

In October 2016, Danielle Buckley announced Google Plus was now introducing an algorithm to Google Plus communities based on interaction.

So not only is interaction with true engaged Google + followers on Google + in general important ,  it is also important in Google + groups.

 While the algorithm may not yet penalize you for large numbers of disinterested followers, as other platforms do, you can see the importance of building credibility with your followers.

How can you increase engagement with your Google plus posts so they are shown to more of your followers?
Be sure to read the Google plus  Marketing tips on our SFI Marketing team Private Promotions blog.
Not part of our SFI Marketing  team?
Get details at SeeOur.HomeBusinessRevolution.com

Buying Followers? Summary

So in summary , if I  were going to buy Followers, the only platform that I can see that would not penalize me for having inactive followers would be Google +.

By establishing credibility, you will build your followers as well.
Budget time into building both credibility and followers.
If you find my marketing tips helpful and you would like to follow me, by all means follow and let's chat!
That is what Social is meant for!
Tweet me on Twitter at @SuzSaver
OR connect with me at
SeeOur.HomeBusinessRevolution.com

P.S. Wondering how can you build credibility?
Watch for an upcoming post '3 Tips for Building Credibility'