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If you aren’t a blogger or social media influencer then you will probably have zero interest in this post. HA! But really though…today am going to talk about Instagram Pods and what I really think about them. This all stemmed from an article that was on BuzzFeed a couple of weeks ago titled “Facebook Removes 10 Instagram Algorithm-Gaming Groups with Hundreds of Thousands of Members”.
I remember seeing the article and skipping over it because I didn’t know what “algorithm-gaming groups” were but when I started seeing it popping up in all of my blogging facebook groups I knew I had to check it out. That’s when I discovered that it was all about Instagram Pods, Facebook groups that were all about them and that BuzzFeed had somehow infiltrated them and gotten them shut down. Bad move BuzzFeed. I mean, why? What did those groups really do to you?
If you are confused as to what these groups did and why they got shut down let me explain.
An Instagram Pod is a group of like-minded people who share similar content on Instagram. They have a group message going on Instagram (or an outside messaging app) where they drop links to Instagram posts that they want more engagement on. When a link is dropped int eh group, everyone in the group must like the pic and/or comment on it usually in a certain amount of time.
The people in these groups doing all of this liking and commenting are trying to beat the dreaded “Instagram Algorithm”. They think that the more likes and comments you get on a post right after it’s posted the better chance it has getting seen by more people and for the most part, I think that’s true. Some people are relying solely on hashtags to get their photos in front of more eyes and some people are in these groups.
Here are my thoughts on the groups – I have talked about my love/hate relationship with Instagram recently and I think that as long as you aren’t buying likes (yes, that’s a thing) then you do you. If you want to hashtag the shit out of your photos then do it. If you want to drop a link in a group message and get likes then do it. The way I see it as you are doing the same for other people and it’s the same as bloggers supporting each other by sharing content so why not? If you feel like it helps, you aren’t hurting anyone and you’re not paying for likes then more power to you!
Have I participated in Instagram Pods in the past? Yes. I did once and I lasted about a week because being in a group like that is a huge time commitment and I couldn’t keep up. I got tons of traffic to my photos that way but it just wasn’t for me. Also, the people in my group were more fashion bloggers/Instagrammers and the people liking my posts weren’t people that would normally like what I post so it was kind of pointless. They weren’t my target audience. So if you do choose to participate in an Instagram Pod be sure that the people in your group have a similar aesthetic as you!
Where this whole thing gets tricky is that apparently now advertisers/people who want to work with bloggers/Instagrammers on sponsored posts are asking if they have EVER used Instagram Pods and are refusing to work with them if they have. WHY???
I have already stated my opinion on this and I think that refusing to work with people who use Instagram Pods is just wrong. I think that however you choose to get your content out there (as long as you aren’t paying/buying followers/likes/shares) and what you are doing is working for you then keep it up! The whole reason that brands work with influencers is to get their products out to new audiences and they want the influencers to share the shit out of the content so what if they choose put it in an Instagram Pod to get more likes? Or in a Facebook share group to get that post in front of as many people as possible? That’s what they want, right?
And what I want to know is how will they really know? If this is something the influencer does all the time and they don’t for that one post because a brand asked them not to and the the engagement sucks on that one post they can’t really be mad, can they? It’s what they wanted. And let’s not forget the Facebook and Instagram boosting tools. Brands want us to pay to boost those posts (legally) but they frown on “free” engagement that we get in pods and share groups? That just seems wrong to me. I say “free” because reciprocating and staying active in those groups takes lots of time!!
I get that brands want organic influence and ten years ago (shoot, even 5 years ago!) that would have been possible but the market is so oversaturated with influencers (both big and small) that it’s hard to get the likes, shares and comments that we once did without some kind of facebook sharing group or Instagram Pod.
In conclusion, I feel that BuzzFeed had no business “exposing” these Facebook groups for Instagram Pods because I’m sure they cut off some people’s livelihood. Now should those people have been relying on those group’s to get engagement? No, but I still think that BuzzFeed was in the wrong and I do think that influencers should feel free to share their content in Facebook share groups and Instagram Pods if they truly feel like they help them.
So tell me friends, fellow bloggers and influencers…
What are your thoughts on Instagram Pods and Facebook Share Groups??
I read that same article and came to the same conclusion. Who cares? I, too, have a love/hate relationship with Instagram. I have never participated in pods but I don’t think it’s much different from dropping my Instagram link in a Facebook group and do the “you like mine/I like yours” kind of thing. Back off, BuzzFeed.
Yup, I’m with you: who really cares? I’m not part of a pod, but I am in Instagram groups where people like photos. Instagram can be tricky and I find if I don’t do this, my photos don’t get many likes because of their weird algorithm. I just don’t have to patience to figure it out since it’s always changing.
Instagram isn’t my favorite to be honest. But BuzzFeed is sticking their nose where is doesn’t belong. Not on my top ten list of things I really care about right now.
I love that you are telling exactly what you think. A lot of times blotters don’t like to tell exactly how they feel. I do not buy likes for my blog. I think that it’s better to get the more naturally if possible.
I’m totally with you on this one! I’m part of a few pods where I genuinely care about the others’ content and I’m glad to be a part of it.
Instagram is one of the hardest platforms to grow organically. I mean that’s the goal for all of us. But I feel like people are often doping their best and most people can tell when someone bought followers or whatever. So who cares if people use pods. That’s really no different than saying hey to your five friends that went to a conference with you – can you show me some love on this post? Just don’t buy followers or be shady. Pods are fine but yes they are a huge time suck.
With you! As someone looking for the content many of you put out, I don’t give a blast how it gets to my eyes. If it goes against the rules of Insta (or whatever platform), then it’s their game their rules. But until and unless you’re breaking the rules, do what you do. Buzzfeed exists to get clicks and likes, just like everyone else. This time, they did it by blacking their own eyes in the process. They should have just joined a pod and been done with it.
I am not part of a pod but I would like to be if it can increase my followers. I post every day on instagram and it is a big part of my business.
It’s so hard to keep up with the changing trends in influencer marketing. Instagram Pods is something I need to do more research on.
I’m what I would consider an Instagram influencer and occasionally am in share groups. Have made some genuine friends as a result, but they don’t seem effective in growing any longer.
I have this love hate relationship with IG. People treat it as if it’s their only way to get new followers and sometimes end up not concentrating on their actual blog. I think people should do what they want and feel comfortable with at the end of the day. Do I agree with a lot of what they do?!? Probably not but it’s their decision and not mine! I think that pods can actually be a place where people genuinely want to follow those people and are genuine with their likes and comments. However, it’s also not always like that.
Ye-ah! I have the same love/hate thing for all social sites. We need them. But, even if we do what we want to do, like you stated it TAKES SO MUCH TIME. It’s not like it’s a free McDonald’s frappe. Our time is valuable too.
Sighing…Nice :(
I’m just like meh over it. I don’t see why BuzzFeed are so bothered? Perhaps if Instagram didn’t make everyone jump through hoops to be seen people wouldn’t resort to such things, and I for me I find the follow unfollow and people actually buying followers / likes from fake accounts more of a bother.
I’ve never participated in a pod. I didn’t even know this existed. I think its important for bloggers to collaborate with other bloggers because we are like minded and need the support. Having groups like that shut down seems to infringe on freedom of speech and the sharing of ideas with one another. This is how a lot of bloggers do business.
I have a love hate relationship with just about every kind of social media! It can be such a good thing and such a hard thing for sure!
I think Buzzfeed is just jealous, I mean come on, does IG pods affect them? Of course not! I use hashtags and do FB groups thread for likes but never used the pods.
Totally agree! I actually didn’t know Buzzfeed did this, but I did notice a lot of groups were getting deleted. Such a shame! Instagram is a business for so many people.
I actually just read this article yesterday. I was a little stumped why anyone cares and think it’s all so crazy. Instagram is a hard one to grow and reach. I have had my account since 2010 and have been working at it since then!
Wow, I didn’t know this existed! Thanks for enlightening me and sharing your thoughts. I’ve never been in a pod group. I do like Instagram though.
I have been reading many comments about the love and hate with instagram and also the changes in algorithms. I am not interested actually on pods. I just like to post and I feel happy when people get to appreciate my posts as well.
Oh, Buzzfeed. I understand that the average person needs to know if they are being shown an ad. But if someone is hustling to get his/her content out there, I’m not going to be mad about that. It’s hard enough to get noticed without big companies like Buzzfeed naysaying.
Totally on the same page with you. I think people buying likes/followers are the ones that IG needs to watch out for but those in groups and pods are basically working to get their content out. I say working because as you said it takes a lot of work. I always found IG, although my favorite social media platform has double standards when it comes to this and their algorithms.
On one side they encourage a kind of “competition” for people to get likes and comments to be noticed and put the pressure on users to get those likes/comments. When they do – even through pods and groups they are penalized?! WHAT? If this is not wanted then IG needs to rethink the whole idea behind their algorithm and concept – and make it a more inclusive platform where not the amount of like / comments dictate a good picture or product but the real quality. That in my opinion would mean something like have real live curators sitting on the other end and re-programming the algorithim.
I think it was a bad call on BuzzFeed!