Instagram Comment Pods – Is it Good or Bad

Instagram comment pods have around for some time now.  Majority of those who incorporated this method on their accounts had mixed results. Some said they got positive outcome such as more likes and followers while others had it the other way around.  Let’s go deeper into this and explore exactly what it is, how it works, what it can do for your account and if it is worth the trouble.

What is Instagram Comment Pods?

When you hear the word “pod”, depending on when you were born, you might probably associate it with peas, beans, detachable spacecraft or even dolphins.  Well, we might have a different “first thing that comes to mind” answers, but there is a common factor in it, they all come in groups and functions as a support system.

Instagram comment pods are like your circle of friends on the said platform who guaranteed to always like and comment on your posts regardless of whatever you put up there.  It is pretty much like a bot, if you ask me, only with real people doing the action or at least that is how you ideally thought it should be.

How Does It Operate?

The way it is setup is not that complicated.  Each Instagram comment pod can have around 10 to 20 Instagram users who are in the same niche.  They inform each other of the new post they published through their chat group.

It does not really matter where they privately do the announcement, as long as the information gets disseminated to all members of the pod, then it is all good.  It could be an exclusive chat group on Facebook, Instagram or any other messaging app.

Once the user gets the message, they jump into action by commenting on the post.  They can also throw a couple of likes while they are at it to give more engagement boost.  Thus, it is a collective work and if it does execute as planned, each member could expect to benefit from it.

Collaborative Effort – What To Gain?

By theory, Instagram comment pods should help each participating members receive a decent amount of action or engagement on their post as soon as it gets published.  This tactic is thought to increase the likelihood of the post’s chance in getting selected for Instagram Explore page.

If the post gets featured on the Explore page of Instagram, it gets a better exposure that will result in a higher probability of gaining new followers.  Aside from that, receiving comments and likes from other known or influential presence makes a nice impression to regular users.

Are There Any House Rules?

Depending on the pod members, they can generate and impose their own policies.  Having a set of guidelines is advantageous as it can make the interaction look sincere and not obligatory.

Here are some good ones to observe should you create or join Instagram comment pods.

• Give quality comments.  It should be relevant ones and not just some gibberish one or two liners.
• The comments should not be wishy-washy like “that is nice”, “looks awesome” and anything similar to that effect.
• No “emoji” comments.  It is lazy and to be honest, robotic.
• Add some bit of personal touch, address the person who published the post and tag the user in your comment.
• Make sure that everyone in the pod understands what “give and take” means, in the real sense of it for that matter.

How to Join the Pods?

Being accepted in the pod is a rather tricky aspect.  While some are very out there and actively advertising their pods, others are somewhat mum about it.  On Twitter alone, you’ll be able to spot those who are openly promoting and inviting members to their pods.

However, the bigger question is if those engagement groups are the Instagram comment pods that are appropriate for your account.  Thus, you’ll need to do some homework on this part, check the niche and perhaps observe the engagement between the participants.

If you can’t find a suitable pod for you, then you can just go ahead and create one for yourself.  You can test it out with a couple of social media marketer friends you know who are operating within the same niche or at least a relevant one.

What’s The Downside?

Non-stop Notifications

Imagine receiving a phone call every 5 minutes or so or someone spamming your phone, you will definitely switch your phone off because it is annoying.  And just like that, the flood of notifications you will receive whenever a pod member publishes their post can be overwhelming.

Lazy Bones

It is unavoidable, perhaps anticipated, that some pod members would soon become bored and just throw in comments that are a bit off.  As humans, we all tend to lose interest on something that we are asked to do over and over again.

Minimal Conversion

Good engagement does not always mean an increase in conversion.  This is especially true if you are using Instagram for your shop.  While your pods are actively commenting and liking your posts, there is no guarantee that a sale could come from it.

No Satisfaction

Alternatives are available all the time.  It can provide temporary satisfaction but in the end, you will still have your eyes set on what is authentic and truly valuable.

Final Thoughts 

While it could be advantageous to have an engagement group such as Instagram Comment Pods, it is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing.  Thus, it may not work for all.

It is not a relationship based on genuine opinion, so it is pretty much a boxed move, hence you get calculated results.  Where’s the fun in that?

At the end of the day, it still boils down on how well you manage your Instagram account.  We are not saying that it is a bad idea to have this kind of support system, but you need to find that perfect balance between reality and fantasy.