Chasing followers while the algo ignores them

Chasing followers while the algo ignores them

JUST IN (Confirmed shift, current model): the reach engine is interest-graph driven, not follower-graph. Your post is shown to people who engage with your topic — most of your own followers may never see it.

The failure mode: buying or follow-for-follow padding to 50k, then confusion when posts do 800 views.

The fix:
— Optimize for topical consistency so the algo can classify you
— Prune dead/bot followers; a bloated, unengaged list dilutes your engagement rate
— Treat follower count as a trust signal, not a distribution lever

What it means for your reach: a tight 5k niche account out-reaches a mushy 50k one.