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In today’s fast-moving world of social media, Instagram stands out as a top space for sharing creative content and connecting with others. But, many users face a common problem: the shadowban. This hidden issue can greatly reduce your visibility on the platform. This guide is here to explain what a shadowban is and give you clear steps to avoid it in 2024.

 

What is a Instagram shadowban?

 

An Instagram shadowban is the term used to describe the platform’s act of silently restricting an account’s content visibility. This can result in your posts not appearing on anyone’s feed, Explore page, or Story reel unless they’re already following you. 

 

While not an official term used by Instagram, the effects of what users describe as a shadowban can be felt significantly: decreased engagement, lost followers, and reduced reach. The frustration lies in the lack of notification or warning from Instagram, leaving users confused and unaware of their decreased visibility.

 

How Instagram shadowban works?

 

The concept of the Instagram shadowban revolves around the platform’s algorithms and moderation practices intended to maintain a safe and engaging environment. These systems automatically filter out content that may violate Instagram’s Community Guidelines or Terms of Use. 

 

When an account frequently engages in questionable activities—such as repetitive use of banned hashtags, spammy behavior, or posting inappropriate content—it may trigger the platform’s protective measures, thus reducing the account’s visibility. 

 

Although Instagram denies the existence of shadowbanning, the automated nature of content moderation means that genuine accounts can sometimes be unfairly penalized.

 

 

5 ways to avoid an Instagram shadowban

 

1. Respect the Community Guidelines: Immerse yourself in Instagram’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. It’s like the rulebook of the sea—know it, live by it. Foster a positive environment, steer clear of inappropriate content, and ensure all your uploads are rightfully yours or properly licensed.

 

2. Humanize Your Actions: If your Instagram activity resembles that of a bot, with superhuman speed in liking, following, or commenting, you’re inviting suspicion. The platform’s spam policies are clear: no hyperactive, automated behaviors. So, slow down, be human, and avoid raising red flags that could freeze your account.

 

3. Consistency is Key: Erratic posting can be as harmful as a shadowban itself. Regular, consistent engagement keeps your ship afloat in the vast Instagram ocean, ensuring your followers—and potential new ones—continue to enjoy your content.

 

4. Avoid Banned Hashtags: Like navigating through treacherous waters, using the wrong hashtags can sink your visibility. Regularly audit your hashtags, removing any that have been banned or deemed problematic by Instagram.

 

5. Sensitive Content Warnings: When discussing delicate topics, it’s crucial to handle them with care. Use content warnings, and when necessary, blur out sensitive imagery. Instagram might curb your reach if it believes you’re promoting harmful content, even if your intent is to raise awareness.

 

What can you do if you’ve been shadowbanned on Instagram?

 

 

There are actionable steps you can take to try to lift the veil of invisibility and get back into the good graces of the algorithm. Here’s a roadmap to recovery if you suspect you’ve been shadowbanned:

 

1. Take a Break: First, consider taking a brief hiatus from posting on Instagram. A pause of 48 to 72 hours can act as a reset for your account’s engagement metrics and signal to Instagram that any spam-like behavior has ceased.

 

2. Review Your Activity: Reflect on your recent activities. Have you been engaging at an unusually rapid pace or using the same set of hashtags repeatedly? Identify any practices that might have triggered the shadowban and correct them.

 

3. Remove Suspect Content: Go through your recent posts and remove any that could be interpreted as violating Instagram’s Community Guidelines. This includes checking your hashtags for any that are banned or considered inappropriate by Instagram standards.

 

4. Appeal to Instagram: If you received an “action block” notification, use the appeal process provided within the app. If you believe your content was mistakenly restricted, reaching out to Instagram’s support team can sometimes help resolve the issue.

 

5. Diversify Your Hashtags: Avoid overusing the same hashtags and ensure they are relevant to your content. Using a broad range of hashtags can help prevent your posts from being marked as spam and improve your visibility.

 

6. Engage Authentically: Reduce any automated or repetitive activities and focus on genuine, human interactions. Like, comment, and follow at a human pace, and engage with your community in a meaningful way.

 

7. Check Third-Party Apps: Disconnect any third-party apps or services that don’t comply with Instagram’s policies. If unsure, revoke access to all non-essential applications and tools.

 

8. Update Your Contact Info: Ensure your contact information is up-to-date in your Instagram settings. This can sometimes help in re-establishing your account’s credibility and authenticity.

 

9. Be Patient and Persistent: Recovery from a shadowban is not always instantaneous. Continue posting high-quality, engaging content and following best practices for Instagram engagement. Over time, you should see a gradual return to normal engagement levels.

 

10. Monitor Your Progress: Keep an eye on your engagement rates and follower growth after making these changes. Use Instagram’s analytics tools to track improvements in your content’s performance and understand what resonates with your audience.

 

 

While the shadowban remains a topic of debate, what’s undeniable is Instagram’s commitment to maintaining a safe and authentic platform. By following the guidelines, engaging genuinely, and creating valuable content, you can navigate the platform confidently, without fear of being lost in the shadows. In 2024, let’s focus on building meaningful connections and sharing our best selves on Instagram, shadowban or not.

 

At Isource Marketing, we firmly believe that businesses should take the latest trends to make their marketing actions more effective and boost their processes. Please, feel free to contact us for advice or quotes on marketing solutions, and take the bold step to enhance your B2B/B2C strategies with us.

 

 

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In today’s fast-paced world of business-to-business (B2B) technology sales, the methods we use to find and support potential customers are always changing. BANT, a tried-and-true approach, has long been a key tool. Created by IBM, BANT helps sales teams figure out if a potential customer has the Budget, Authority to make a purchase, a Need for the product, and a suitable Timing. This approach has been essential for sales teams to determine if a prospect is likely to become a customer.

However, it’s crucial to question whether BANT can still meet the demands of the current market. With new tech and changes in the way people buy, looking into new strategies is key to keeping up.

 

BANT and the Evolution of Lead Qualification

 

Checking if someone is likely to make a purchase (lead qualification) is crucial in sales, ensuring our efforts and resources are focused on potential customers who are actually interested. BANT has long served as an easy-to-follow guide for this purpose. However, BANT was created in a time when sellers had more influence over sales. Nowadays, with the internet, buyers do a lot of research and consider various options well before they speak to a salesperson.

 

This shift means it’s time to rethink old methods like BANT. Sales teams now must navigate a world where buyers are much more informed and have higher expectations. Buyers are looking for products that not only meet their immediate needs but also support their long-term goals.

 

Alternatives to BANT

 

Given that BANT doesn’t fully meet the needs of the modern B2B tech market, new strategies have come up. These new methods are designed to better understand and match today’s buying habits and what the market wants.

 

 

CHAMP

 

CHAMP stands for understanding the customer’s main CHALLENGES, who has the AUTHORITY to make decisions, how much MONEY they have, and what needs to be done first (PRIORITIZATION). This method focuses more on what the buyer needs than on selling. It helps sales teams make their pitches more relevant by showing how they can solve the buyer’s specific problems.

 

MEDDIC

 

MEDDIC is about getting to know the buyer’s business better. It stands for looking at METRICS (or measures of success), finding out who the ECONOMIC BUYER is (the person with the money), understanding the DECISION CRITERIA AND PROCESS, IDENTIFYING the main Pain points, and finding a CHAMPION (someone inside the company who supports your solution). This approach makes sure that sales efforts match up with how the buyer makes decisions and works internally.

 

ANUM

 

ANUM redefines the traditional components of BANT by emphasizing AUTHORITY, NEED, URGENCY, and MONEY, highlighting the importance of the decision-maker’s power and the immediate need for a solution. By focusing on the urgency, ANUM equips sales teams to quickly identify and seize opportunities where prospects are ready to make fast decisions.

 

FAINT

 

FAINT, which stands for FUNDS, AUTHORITY, INTEREST, NEED, and TIMING, understands that not every potential customer will have a set budget for your product but could find the means if they see its value. This approach is especially useful in the startup world and innovative industries, where budgets are more adaptable.

 

 Choosing the Right Framework Beyond BANT

 

Selecting the appropriate framework depends on various factors, including your industry, sales cycle length, and the nature of your product or service. While BANT offers a solid foundation, its alternatives can provide a more flexible and modern approach to understanding and engaging with today’s smart buyers.

 

When you use these methods in your sales plan, it’s important to find the right balance. You need to make sure the leads are really likely to buy, but also be flexible for each potential customer’s special situation. In addition, you should adapt your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system to successfully implement the chosen framework and reach your goals.

 

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If you want to learn more about sales and marketing, we recommend you to read: Lead generation: The key to success in sales

 

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In Summary

 

Although BANT’s straightforward approach and emphasis on critical factors are still appreciated, newer frameworks are proving to be more flexible and thorough, better matching the needs of current buyers.

 

Adopting these new approaches allows sales teams to improve how they decide which leads to focus on, foster stronger connections with potential clients, and achieve greater success. The quest for improved sales techniques in today’s digital era is continuous, emphasizing the importance of staying updated and adaptable.

 

At Isource Marketing, we firmly believe that businesses should take the latest trends to make their marketing actions more effective and boost their processes. Please, feel free to contact us for advice or quotes on marketing solutions, and take the bold step to enhance your B2B/B2C strategies with us.

 

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