Follow-loops vs Collab posts: follower quality gap

Follow-loops vs Collab posts: follower quality gap
n=64 growth campaigns, 60-day retention tracked.
— Follow-loop / engagement-pod acquired: median 38% still-following at day 30
— Collab-post (shared author) acquired: 81% still-following at day 30
Loops inflate the headline number; collabs compound. Post-acquisition reach rate on loop followers ran 6% vs 17% on collab followers.
Shadow-risk: loop participants saw a median 14% reach dip across the account during active loop weeks.
So what: a Collab post borrows a real audience that actually wants you. Follow-loops buy a number that decays and can suppress your whole account.