So, social media platforms are not just for hanging out anymore. They've become places where you can actually make some cash. But starting from scratch takes a lot of work. It's not just about spending money, but also about creating really good content that the platform's algorithms will like. And let's be honest, those algorithms can be a bit mysterious. That's why people are looking to buy accounts that are already up and running.
Today, let's talk about whether it's a good idea to buy Instagram accounts, what the advantages and risks are, and where you can find them for sale.
Why buy an Instagram account?
The primary reason is to save time. By purchasing an account, you instantly gain access to an established audience, eliminating the need to build one from scratch. On some marketplaces, you can even find accounts with followers who have specific characteristics like their location, age, or gender. Plus, buying a pre-established account can be cheaper than trying to promote one yourself, so it saves you money too.
In addition to purchasing entire accounts, you can also buy subscribers, likes, comments, and more.
Some people buy accounts with fewer followers for "grayhat" advertising, which means doing things like sending spam or liking and following a bunch of people all at once. But it's important to make sure the accounts are real people, not bots. You can tell by looking at their posts, comments, and likes to see if they seem genuine.
So, when you buy an established Instagram account, you can start making money right away by offering products or services to the existing followers, instead of spending time and effort building up your own following. Having a profile with lots of followers and activity also makes people trust you more, compared to having a brand new or empty account.
How to choose an account on Instagram
There are a lot of offers out there to buy Instagram accounts. If you search on Google, you'll find over 1.5 billion results for that query.
So, how do you choose the right option and avoid making a mistake? In addition to reading the reviews of the marketplaces and sellers, there are several important points to consider.
- Transparency of the ad: When you're looking at a seller's ad, check if they've given you all the important information upfront. Do they provide screenshots of statistics and audience activity? Can you see the link to the actual profile? It's a good sign if they've been open about these details and even give you access to the email associated with the account. This shows they have nothing to hide and are confident in what they're selling.
- Account quality: Take a look at the posts, the engagement they get, and when they were posted. If a page was created recently but already has thousands of followers, it's a bit suspicious and could indicate something fishy going on. On the other hand, if the profile owner has been posting regularly for a while and receives genuine comments, it's more likely to be a real user.
- Audience activity: This is an important factor to consider. You can do a quick calculation by dividing the number of likes by the number of followers and multiplying by 100%. If the engagement rate is very high, like 25-50%, it's possible that there are a lot of bots involved. However, for high-quality accounts, the engagement rate tends to be lower as the number of followers increases. A 10% engagement rate is considered good.
With 628 million subscribers, just under 7 million likes is an objective picture of good account activity.
- Account price: Quality accounts usually come at a higher price. So, if someone is offering you a heavily promoted account with 300,000 followers for a mere $100, be cautious. It's a good idea to research the current market prices to get an idea of what's reasonable.
Prices for pages with several thousand followers.
- Paid advertising: This method requires spending some money to verify the credibility of a page. You can try ordering an ad from the account owner and see what kind of results you get. If the ad generates leads and the audience seems active, it suggests that the account is good and the users are genuine.
By following these simple guidelines, you can avoid making mistakes when selecting an Instagram account. Ideally, all these factors align with a single seller, but unfortunately, such cases are extremely rare.
Types of Instagram accounts
There are different types of Instagram accounts that serve different purposes. When you sign up or go into the settings, you can choose between two main types:
- Personal Account: This is for individuals who want to share posts with their friends and post whatever they like.
- Professional Account: This type is for people who want to use Instagram for their professional activities. It comes with extra tools like statistics and ways to make money from your content.
You can create these accounts and switch between them in the settings.
Accounts can also be grouped based on their purposes. Here are some common categories:
- Driving traffic
- Cross-promotion
- Business
- Content promotion
- Advertising
Instagram has a lot of advertisements, including cross-promotions, shoutouts, among other formats.
Another way to classify accounts is by how they were registered. You can manually create an account by filling out all the required information yourself. This is called a "self-registered" account.
Alternatively, there are automated methods using special software, which create accounts. Such accounts are cheaper and often bought in bulk for things like mass emails and actions. They don't last long, but they don't require much investment either. Linked pages, where you choose the login and password, are also considered in this category.
Accounts can also be separated based on their registration date:
- Newly registered accounts: Recently created accounts with no history of activity or content, except for personal profile data.
- Accounts registered within the last six months: These accounts have some history of interaction with Instagram and have posted content.
- Aged accounts: These accounts were created more than six months ago and have shown high activity from both the owner and their audience.
The registration date of an account affects its potential for growth. Instagram algorithms are more cautious with accounts that are less than six months old, so they have a higher risk of being blocked for minor violations. That's why self-reg accounts with tracking are considered more valuable, even though they come at a higher cost.
You can also classify Instagram accounts based on the number of followers they have and the subject matter they focus on. Accounts with a larger number of real followers in a specific area of interest are easier to adapt to your goals. Plus, when the content theme remains consistent, the followers are less likely to unfollow the account.
Pros and cons of buying ready-made Instagram accounts
There are advantages and disadvantages to purchasing ready-made Instagram accounts. Let's discuss them, starting with the advantages.
Advantages:
Saving time
When you buy a high-quality Instagram account, you don't have to spend time trying to get followers and build an audience. You can start making money right away with the existing followers. If they are genuine and interested in the account's topic, they can help you earn income. This is especially handy when you're short on time and want to get started quickly.
For just $3,000, you already have almost 260,000 followers.
Trust from new users
Instagram profiles with only a few followers don't look reliable to new people. This is especially important if you're using the account to sell products or services. But if the account already has thousands of followers who are active and engaged, it gives a positive impression to new users. It shows that the account is active and trustworthy.
In addition to the positive aspects, buying an Instagram account also carries some risks that should be taken seriously to avoid losing your account and money.
Disadvantages:
Seller credibility
The seller is the main risk in any transaction. They possess information about the account's history, which they may not always disclose to the buyer. It is important to have open and honest communication with the seller, but their claims should be verified independently. This is especially true regarding the authenticity of subscribers and their engagement. Manual verification may not always be possible, so it's advisable to use specialized software like InstaHero, LiveDune, and others to assess the account.
The seller may also not provide access to the purchased account. It's recommended to buy an account through reputable marketplaces or use brokers who oversee such transactions and act as dispute mediators.
There is a risk of purchasing a stolen or hijacked account. The registration confirmation email sent by Instagram can be used as evidence that the account has not been compromised.
Some sellers may attempt to sell the same account to multiple buyers. After purchasing an account, it's important to change all registration details and unlink them from their email, phone number, and Facebook page, replacing them with your own information,
Account suspension
Unfortunately, there is always a risk of an Instagram account being suspended, regardless of whether it was purchased or created from scratch. This can occur if the account has engaged in spamming or mass mailings, as activities on the platform are monitored by tracking systems and anti-fraud mechanisms. Regular users and analytics services do not have access to this data. There is only one defense against such a situation – the integrity of the seller.
Where can you buy an Instagram account?
There are several reputable websites where you can buy Instagram accounts. Here are a few well-established platforms that have been in the market for a long time and have positive reviews from clients:
Accs-market.com
This is a marketplace that allows you to quickly and securely purchase social media accounts, including Instagram. The site provides a search function by name and topic, as well as filters for subscribers, cost, and potential profitability.
Sellers on this platform can be selected based on verification status, verified identity, and access to the original email. Each seller also has a rating.
UseViral.com
UseViral.com offers accounts for purchase on various social networks, including Instagram. One of the advantages of this platform is that it provides support to the new owner of the purchased account, helping with any questions or issues that may arise during and after the transaction. This support can include guidance on tasks like unlinking your email or phone number and changing them to your own. It's an ideal option for those who want a turnkey solution.
SidesMedia
SidesMedia offers accounts for sale on multiple platforms, including Instagram. They provide profiles with verified phone numbers, and the cost of individual accounts starts from $2. The platform takes pride in its affordable prices and offers discounts for bulk purchases.
Conclusion
In the end, the decision to buy an Instagram account is up to you. If you want to start making money from your profile right away, buying an account might be a good option. Just make sure to use a trusted website and carefully check the account and the seller before making a purchase.
And if you're looking for ways to get more traffic to your Instagram page, you might want to check out the MyBid advertising network. The platform can help you with advertising and getting more followers. With MyBid, you'll get everything you need to quickly launch an advertising campaign, including a personal manager, an anti-fraud system, and access to large volumes of traffic from over 200 geos.