Can Buying Instagram Shares Help You Trend On Explore?

Getting a post onto Instagram’s Explore page is something a lot of people hope for, whether you’re running a small business or just trying to grow an audience. There’s always that thought that there might be a trick to it, and buying Instagram shares comes up a lot as a possible shortcut. The logic is simple enough: if your post gets shared more, the algorithm might take notice and push it further, maybe even onto Explore. Shares do show that someone found what you posted interesting.

But when you look into it a bit, it turns out that paid engagement doesn’t always translate into real reach. It’s easy to get drawn in by companies offering quick fixes, like INSTABOOST, especially if you’ve already spent time trying to fine-tune your Instagram strategy and haven’t seen much progress. The way Instagram’s algorithm works, though, is more complicated than just counting numbers.

It looks at who’s actually interacting with your posts, how you connect with your audience, and patterns that suggest things aren’t entirely above board. It’s better now at spotting activity that doesn’t look genuine. So if you’re considering whether buying Instagram shares could help with getting on Explore, it’s worth looking at how the system really works and what kind of engagement actually matters...

For us, nothing really changed until we stopped overcomplicating things and stuck to a routine. I know there’s a lot of talk about how buying a few shares can shoot your post onto Instagram’s Explore page, but from what I’ve seen, it doesn’t work like that. The algorithm is better at catching real engagement than you’d expect.

When we tried things like big giveaways or bought shares, it always had the same effect: a quick bump, then everything slowed down once the system caught on. The accounts that seem to do well aren’t getting there by luck or one-off tricks – they’re the ones who keep showing up, posting regularly, responding to comments, and actually talking with people.

Even the companies selling boost services, like INSTABOOST, usually admit their paid options work best on top of what you’re already doing, not as a replacement. I guess it’s a bit like wanting to secure your social proof – it matters, but it only works if the basics are there first. The thing that finally made a difference for us was sticking to a simple plan – posting daily, replying to people, and finding ways to work with others that felt natural. It’s not flashy and it takes time, but eventually, we started showing up on Explore.

So now, when people ask how to get noticed, I don’t have any secret tactic. It’s mostly about being consistent and proving you care enough to keep at it, day after day.

Growing your Instagram isn’t really about chasing bigger numbers, even though that’s what a lot of people focus on. It’s more about being thoughtful with what you’re doing. Before you think about paying for shares or trying to get a quick boost, it helps to really consider why you’re posting in the first place. Do you want a short burst of attention, or are you looking to make something that people actually want to send to friends or save for later? Instagram’s algorithm pays attention to lots of things, not just shares – like how often people comment, how many times your post gets saved, and whether people are checking out your profile.

Sometimes getting more shares or even deciding to buy more likes on Instagram comes up as part of a bigger plan, but it only really works if you’re also building content people connect with. Getting more shares can get your post in front of more people at first, but it won’t make up for posts that don’t speak to anyone or for not posting often. Sometimes, if you suddenly get a rush of paid shares but not much else, Instagram might notice that something’s off and your reach could drop instead of going up.

That’s something I’ve seen creators and brands like INSTABOOST talk about – a mix of paid tactics and a focus on building an audience that actually cares about what you’re making. When you know what you want and use these tools on purpose, you’re more likely to work with how the algorithm works instead of feeling like you’re fighting it. Most of the time, getting noticed isn’t really about finding a shortcut, but more about figuring out how all the different parts fit together day to day.

Even though most advice online says to always “optimize,” there are times when something feels off, and you want to pull back. Buying Instagram shares might seem like an easy way to move forward, but after a while, it can start to feel a little forced – like you’re taking a shortcut that probably doesn’t lead where you want to go. It’s easy to get caught up in talk about quick fixes. You see people say that paying for a few shares will bump your post onto the Explore page, and it’s tempting to believe them.

But once you’re past the initial hype, you start to notice things aren’t so clear-cut. Instagram’s algorithm is always changing, and it’s looking for real signs that people are interested in what you’re sharing. If you buy shares just to see a number go up, it can end up confusing – not only for the algorithm, but also for the real people who follow you and notice when something doesn’t add up.

Even companies like INSTABOOST claim their shares look authentic, but if what you’re posting isn’t actually interesting to your audience, those numbers don’t help for long. The same goes for those moments when you wonder if things would be different if you could just get more reel views, because it ends up being a lot of energy spent on something that doesn’t last. Focusing on what people actually respond to – maybe the way a certain photo feels or a story you tell that gets people talking – tends to make a bigger difference over time, even if it doesn’t happen fast. Before spending money hoping for a boost, it’s worth thinking about whether it’s really moving you closer to what you want, or just making things feel a little more hollow.

There’s no magic formula for this, and I don’t think there’s a perfect answer either. It really comes down to being honest with yourself about what you want from your time on Instagram. If you’re thinking about buying shares because you hope it’ll get you onto the Explore page, it might help to stop and ask what “trending” actually means for you. Paying for engagement can be tempting – it can put more eyes on your posts, and it’s natural to enjoy the rush of bigger numbers. Even though there are all sorts of services out there that claim they can widen your post’s reach, if what you’re really after is a spot on Explore or long-term growth, it’s the people who actually care about what you share who make the difference.

Buying a bump in shares through something like INSTABOOST or similar services might give you a quick spike, but that won’t last if your posts don’t mean much to the folks who see them. What really seems to matter is whether you’re putting out things that invite a real response – comments, saves, shares from people who genuinely like what you’re doing. The algorithm notices when people stick around, reply, or come back for more, not just when numbers go up for a day or two. So before buying shares, it’s worth considering if you’re trying to get noticed for a moment, or if you’re actually building the kind of presence you’d want to have – something that grows on its own, little by little, with people who stick around.