The Harsh Reality of Engagement Trains
If you’ve been working on growing your Instagram account, you’ve no doubt heard of an “engagement train” They usually look like this:
A group of people (influencers, business owners, etc) agree to like, comment, and save each other’s posts.
Some have strict rules, like “comment with at least five words,” or “save and share the post to stories.”
The idea is that the more engagement you get, the better Instagram ranks your post, leading to more reach and visibility.
On the surface, it sounds like an easy win. More likes? More comments? More shares? Harmless, right? But here’s the hard truth: engagement trains don’t actually help you grow. In fact, they often do more harm than good.
But Why?
If you’re relying on engagement hacks to boost your content, you’re not building a real audience, and Instagram’s algorithm will catch on quickly. It can not only ruin your reach and distort your analytics, but it leaves you with engagement that’s inconsistent and fake.
The Algorithm is Smarter than you Think
Instagram knows the difference between real engagement and forced engagement. If your engagement suddenly spikes when you drop a post, then drops back down after the engagement train is over, Instagram knows it’s artificial. In turn, they start to see your account as one who relies on forced engagement, rather than organic interactions. As a result, your posts are shown to fewer people over time - not more.
It Ruins your Audience Targeting
When you join an engagement train, most of the people interacting with your posts aren’t your target audience. Other influencers or small business owners trying to boost their own engagement aren’t contributing to your bottom line - sales. Instead, your posts are being shown to people who would genuinely follow and engage with you.
Play the Long Game, not the Short one
While these trains might seem like a quick way to boost your numbers, if you’re serious about growing on Instagram, focus on attracting real followers who actually care about your content.
At the end of the day, a thousand fake comments mean nothing if they don’t lead to real engagement, real connections, and real success!
