Quickly measure your follower-to-following balance to analyze your social media health and credibility. A healthy ratio can signal authenticity to potential followers and partners.
Your Follow Ratio is:
The Follow Ratio is a simple comparison of how many people follow you versus how many people you follow. It's a quick indicator of your profile's perceived authority and authenticity.
Formula: Follow Ratio = Number of Followers / Number You Follow
Example 1 (Healthy): 5,000 Followers / 500 Following = Ratio of 10
Example 2 (Low): 300 Followers / 1,500 Following = Ratio of 0.2
A 'good' follow ratio depends on your account type. For personal accounts, a ratio of 1 or higher (following as many or fewer people than follow you) is healthy. For brands, influencers, and creators, a much higher ratio (e.g., 10 or more) is desirable as it signals authority and credibility.
While not a direct ranking factor in most algorithms, a very low follow ratio (following far more people than follow you) can be perceived as spammy or low-quality, potentially harming user trust. A healthy ratio suggests a more authentic and authoritative account, which can indirectly lead to better engagement.
The importance varies. It's a very prominent metric on platforms like Instagram and Twitter, where the follower/following counts are highly visible on profiles. On platforms like YouTube (subscribers vs. subscriptions) or Facebook, it is less visible and therefore less of a focus for establishing credibility.