Traffic from fake influencers: a smart move or a waste of time?

Using fake blogs to promote your product is another effective way to work with traffic. Of course, people will come up with just about anything for the sake of profit.

The approach itself is interesting, but, let’s be honest, it takes a lot of time. The idea is that a media buyer creates and runs a public channel, using the name of a popular influencer. The principle is simple: warming up the audience with fake advice. This is done across various industries, but most often in iGaming and finance.

In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at this method of working with traffic. We’ll find out: are fake bloggers a top-notch idea or a waste of time?

About working with a fake influencer

Which platforms to use?

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Telegram
• Less commonly, Discord

The platform is selected based on the GEO and the characteristics of the target audience. Next, the profiles are promoted organically—using Reels, TikTok, Shorts, and similar content. 

How to launch a fake blogger’s channel?

• We prepare the basic setup. To do this, the media buyer must ensure they have a device for work, stable Wi-Fi access, and high-quality mobile proxies for the required GEO. At the start, they do everything possible to ensure the account isn’t suspended later due to suspicious activity or other issues.
• We create accounts, channels (or both), and leave them alone to let them settle in. Start warming up and monitoring the accounts in advance—this is crucial for long-term management. Alternatively, you can buy a “ready-made” profile, though finding a high-quality one can sometimes be a challenge.
• After a few months (or at least a few weeks) of warming up, you can get closer to the core. Fill out the profile with all the important details (avatar, description, etc.). Important: Do not post direct ads or leave links. First, we’ll focus on setting up the profile and continue the warm-up, but now from the perspective of the blogger you’ve chosen. Post relevant content and monitor how the platform reacts to it. If everything looks good after a couple of days, you can move on to working with traffic. 
• Gradually promote your product. Consistency is key here. Even if you’ve already seen initial results, the need for further warming up doesn’t go away. Post content daily and connect other platforms to scale up. For example, use TikTok to drive traffic to a Telegram channel. 

What to post?

Many people think that a blogger’s job is to smile at the camera, do nothing, and rake in the money. However, that’s not the case. Behind every pretty picture lie hours spent on creating a promotion strategy, a content plan, implementing that plan, and more. We’re not even mentioning the emotional toll, which isn’t always positive and often leads to burnout for influencers. And the nature of the job is such that no one cares about your exhaustion. Either you post regularly, or someone else will take your spot. This is especially true for small-time bloggers who are just starting out.

So what’s the point of all this? Since you’re taking on the task of running a fake blog—you’re also becoming a blogger. Maybe not quite like a real one, but still.

Here are a few content ideas to make managing your profile less “painful”:

• Post news related to your niche and share your thoughts on them. This format often encourages the audience to engage in discussions.
• Expert content. Share your own experience, talk about your case studies, or “explain complex things in simple terms.”
• Lifestyle.
• If you work in the gambling industry, post game recordings.
• Audience polls.
• Etc.

What are the pros and cons of this approach?

Pros:

• A strong warm-up that motivates the audience to take the desired action. In general, running a page on behalf of an authoritative figure generates more leads thanks to the established trust in the personal brand. 
• It’s easier to redirect traffic from one platform to another.
• The ability to scale and increase the number of followers.

Cons:

• It’s a long-term game that requires a lot of effort. As mentioned earlier, blogging isn’t always as magical as it seems. Often, this process leads to burnout and the desire to quit.
• It’s difficult to retain an audience due to inflated expectations. If a user doesn’t like the advertised product, they’ll leave the channel and lose trust. In general, it takes a lot of work just to retain subscribers.
• Moderation issues may arise. People might also realize it’s a fake. This could anger the blogger’s fans and the blogger themselves. So, a flood of complaints could follow, and you can imagine what happens next.

In summary

It is possible to drive traffic through fake influencers. It can even be profitable. But the process is truly time-consuming and won’t deliver results just a week after creating an account.