More than just a vanity metric, a follower-to-following ratio is a handy tool used on social media to gauge the balance between an account's followers and the accounts it follows.
This ratio gives us valuable insights into an account's popularity, influence, and engagement level. A higher ratio usually means that an account has more followers compared to the number of accounts it follows, indicating a greater level of influence or interest in its content. On the flip side, a lower ratio might suggest that the account follows a large number of accounts in relation to its followers, possibly indicating a more reciprocal or less focused approach to following others.
Why do follower to following ratios matter?
Like many other metrics on social media, follower-to-following ratios matter for influencers because they give us some tangible insights into their credibility, popularity, and impact on social media. Here's the lowdown:
Perception of influence: A higher follower-to-following ratio usually means the influencer has a significant following and the ability to draw in a big audience. It screams influence and credibility, signaling that a wide range of social media users are into their content and opinions.
Social proof: A beefed-up follower-to-following ratio acts as a concrete form of social proof. When brands or followers see that an influencer has way more followers than the accounts they follow, it’s a clear indicator that their content is valuable and enjoyed by a good number of people. This of course can open doors for collaborations and attract even more followers.
Quality beats quantity: A higher ratio also shows that influencers are picky about who they follow. They're not out there playing the numbers game, following every influencer they might come across in the hopes that they can score a follow-back. Nope – instead, they focus on accounts that truly interest them, forming meaningful connections with like-minded creators and engaging with, and being inspired by high-quality content.
Audience reach: With a higher follower-to-following ratio, influencers have the opportunity to reach out to a broader audience. That's music to brands' ears because they want their products or services to be seen by as many potential customers as possible. A larger following means more eyes on their promotional content, which spells good news for brand collabs.
Engagement potential: While follower count alone doesn't guarantee solid engagement rates, a higher follower-to-following ratio often hints at an influencer having an active and engaged fanbase. Likes, comments, and shares are the lifeblood of any influencer, so having a loyal and interactive following is key.
How to calculate follower to following ratios:
Luckily for you, this calculation is a fairly simple one to conduct if you want to find out an account’s follower to following ratio.
The calculation is:
(Number of followers) / (Number of following) = Ratio
Examples of follower to following ratios
To get you up to speed, we can practice taking a look at various follower and following counts to determine the ratio that the accounts have.
Followers: 10000 Following: 5000
(10000)/(5000) = Ratio
Therefore, the ratio would be 2:1, or 2.
Followers: 25000 Following: 700
(25000)/(700) = Ratio
Therefore, the ratio would be 35.7:1, or 35.7.
Followers: 550 Following: 1800
(550)/(1800) = Ratio
Therefore, the ratio would be 0.31:1, or 0.31.
What is a good follower to following ratio on Instagram?
When it comes to your Instagram account, you may be wondering how many accounts you should follow versus the number of people that follow you. There isn't a hard and fast rule for the perfect follower to following ratio, but there are some key indicators to consider.
If an influencer is following more accounts than they have followers, that's a major red flag. It suggests they might be using a follow-unfollow tactic instead of creating compelling content to gain followers.
Generally, a solid Instagram follower-to-following ratio is around 3:1. So, for every 3 followers, you follow one account. The higher the ratio, the better. However, some brands and agencies have their own standards. They might consider 3:1 as average, while a good ratio starts at 10:1. Regardless, a 1:1 follower to following ratio is not desirable. Anything below 1:1, like 0.5:1, is usually seen as bad, if not downright spammy.
To quickly determine whether your Instagram follower to following ratio is good, you can try out HypeAuditor’s free handy calculator for Instagram.
What is a good follower to following ratio on Twitter?
When it comes to follower to following ratios on Twitter, there's no hard and fast rule, but the sentiment is similar to that of Instagram.
A solid Twitter follower to following ratio is also around 3:1. Of course, the higher, the better, but something around this value is a good baseline to start with. Once again, brands and businesses will have their own view of what a good ratio is for their campaigns and collaborations, so keep working to improve your ratio to impress brands.
A ratio below 1:1 is also a red flag for Twitter, indicating spammy follow-for-follow behavior patterns. This is a turn-off for brands and should be avoided as far as possible.
To quickly determine whether your Twitter follower to following ratio is good, you can try out HypeAuditor’s free handy calculator for Twitter.
Conclusion
Follower to following ratios are key for influencers, indicating credibility, popularity, and impact. Higher ratios signal a larger following and greater influence, attracting brand collaborations. Balancing followers and accounts followed, alongside content quality and engagement, is vital for influencer success in the dynamic world of social media.
