Introduction
Instagram is not just a platform for photos; it's a space where businesses grow. Encouraging your customers to follow you on Instagram through your Loyalty Program can elevate your brand's visibility and establish a more intimate connection with your audience.
When customers follow your Instagram account through Rivo, they earn loyalty points while helping you build a stronger social media presence. This creates a win-win situation where customers are rewarded for their engagement, and you gain valuable followers who are already invested in your brand. Instagram followers earned through your loyalty program are often more engaged and likely to interact with your content, share your posts, and become brand advocates.
💡 Find more Social Ways to Earn here →
Setting up the "Follow on Instagram" way to earn
Let's walk through setting up the "Follow on Instagram" way to earn in the Rivo Loyalty Program. This feature allows customers to earn points by following your Instagram account, and can only be completed once per customer.
Steps:
From the dashboard, navigate to Programs > Points.
Click on Add Another Way to Earn.
Select Follow on Instagram from the dropdown.
Enter your Instagram Username (without the @ symbol - just the username itself, e.g., "yourbrand" not "@yourbrand").
💡 Pro Tip: If you've already connected your Instagram account in your store settings, Rivo will automatically suggest your username to save you time.
Define the number of points (or store credits) you'd like to award for this action. Consider making it valuable enough to motivate customers while balancing your loyalty program economics.
Optional: Upload a custom icon to match your brand aesthetic, or use the default Instagram icon.
Optional: Add a custom description to explain the earning opportunity to your customers.
Ensure the earning rule status is set to Active so customers can see and complete this action.
Click Save to confirm your settings.
⚠️ Important: Make sure your Instagram username is correct and publicly accessible. Customers won't be able to complete the action if the link doesn't work.
How it works for customers
Once you've set up the Instagram follow earning opportunity, here's what your customers will experience:
Customer Journey:
Discovery: Customers will see the "Follow on Instagram" earning opportunity in your loyalty widget, account page, or ways to earn section.
Action: When they click the "Follow on Instagram" button, a new tab or popup window will open directing them to your Instagram profile.
Completion: After clicking the button, points are automatically awarded to their account (there's a brief 2-3 second processing delay).
Confirmation: The earning opportunity will show as completed in their account, and they'll see their updated points balance.
One-time only: Each customer can only earn points for following your Instagram once - the button will no longer be available after completion.
✅ Customer-Friendly: The process is designed to be quick and seamless, encouraging participation without creating friction in the user experience.
Troubleshooting common issues
If you or your customers are experiencing issues with the Instagram follow feature, here are the most common problems and solutions:
Instagram link not working:
Double-check that your username is entered correctly without the @ symbol
Ensure your Instagram account is public or business account (private accounts may cause issues)
Verify the username doesn't contain special characters or spaces
Test the link yourself by visiting instagram.com/yourusername
Customers can't see the earning opportunity:
Confirm the earning rule status is set to "Active" in your dashboard
Check that you've assigned an appropriate points value
Ensure your loyalty widget is properly installed and displaying
"Already completed" or button not working:
This is normal behavior - customers can only earn points once for following your Instagram
If a customer believes they haven't completed it before, check their points history in your dashboard
The system prevents duplicate earnings to maintain program integrity
Points not appearing immediately:
There's a normal 2-3 second processing delay after clicking the button
Points should appear in the customer's account within a few seconds
If points don't appear after 30 seconds, there may be a technical issue - contact support
Too many requests error:
This security feature prevents spam - customers should wait a few seconds between attempts
The system allows one request every 5 seconds per customer
This is normal and protects your program from abuse
Best practices for merchants
Maximize the effectiveness of your Instagram follow earning opportunity with these proven strategies:
Setup optimization:
Set a points value that feels rewarding but sustainable for your program (typically 10-50 points)
Use a custom icon that matches your brand colors and style
Write a compelling description that explains the value customers get from following you
Ensure your Instagram username is easy to remember and matches your brand name
Promotion strategies:
Feature the Instagram follow opportunity prominently in your loyalty widget
Mention it in welcome emails to new loyalty program members
Include it in your "ways to earn" marketing materials
Cross-promote on other social media platforms
Instagram content strategy:
Post engaging content regularly to keep new followers interested
Share behind-the-scenes content, product launches, and customer stories
Use Instagram Stories to showcase loyalty program benefits
Engage with followers who came through your loyalty program
Integration with other social actions:
Combine with other social earning opportunities (Facebook, TikTok, Twitter)
Create a "social media challenge" where customers earn bonus points for multiple follows
Use consistent branding across all social platforms
Frequently asked questions
Will the app verify if a customer has fully completed the social media action before awarding points?
Due to restrictions imposed by social media platforms, we cannot directly verify if customers actually follow your Instagram account. Most platforms limit third-party apps from accessing specific user data for privacy reasons. However, Rivo operates on a trust-based system that has proven effective across thousands of loyalty programs. We seamlessly direct customers to your social profiles, and our data shows that the vast majority do complete the actions as intended. The system includes built-in safeguards to prevent abuse while maintaining a smooth user experience.
Can customers earn points multiple times for following my Instagram?
No, each customer can only earn points once for following your Instagram account. This prevents abuse and ensures fair distribution of rewards. Once a customer completes the action, it will show as "completed" in their account and the earning opportunity will no longer be available to them. This one-time limitation is tracked automatically by the system.
What happens if I change my Instagram username after setting up the earning rule?
If you change your Instagram username, you'll need to update it in your Rivo dashboard under Programs > Points. Edit the existing Instagram follow earning rule and enter your new username. The change will apply immediately for all future customer interactions. Existing customers who haven't completed the action yet will be directed to your new Instagram profile.
Why do customers need to wait between attempts?
The system includes a brief rate limit (5 seconds between attempts) as a security measure to prevent spam and abuse. This protects your loyalty program from automated attacks while ensuring legitimate customers can still complete the action smoothly. If customers encounter this limitation, they simply need to wait a few seconds before trying again.
Can I track which customers followed my Instagram through the loyalty program?
While you can see which customers earned points for the Instagram follow action in your Rivo dashboard (under customer profiles and points history), you cannot directly correlate this with actual Instagram followers due to platform privacy restrictions. However, you can monitor your Instagram follower growth and engagement metrics to gauge the overall effectiveness of the program.
What if my Instagram account is private?
We recommend using a public or business Instagram account for the best customer experience. Private accounts may create confusion for customers who click the follow button but then need to request access. Business accounts also provide better analytics and promotional tools that complement your loyalty program efforts.
How quickly do points appear in customer accounts?
Points are typically awarded within 2-3 seconds after customers click the "Follow on Instagram" button. There's a brief processing delay to ensure the system properly records the action and prevents duplicate entries. If points don't appear within 30 seconds, customers should contact support or try refreshing their account page.
Technical limitations and trust-based approach
Understanding the technical aspects of social media integrations helps set proper expectations for your loyalty program:
Why verification isn't possible:
Instagram and other social platforms restrict third-party access to user follow data for privacy protection
API limitations prevent real-time verification of social media actions
This is an industry-wide limitation affecting all loyalty and marketing platforms
How the trust-based system works:
Points are awarded when customers click the action button, creating immediate gratification
The system opens your Instagram profile in a new tab, making it easy for customers to follow
Built-in fraud prevention measures prevent abuse while maintaining user experience
Data from thousands of programs shows high completion rates with this approach
Security features:
One-time earning limitation prevents customers from gaming the system
Rate limiting prevents automated abuse and spam attempts
Customer action tracking maintains program integrity
Audit trails help you monitor program performance and identify issues
🔒 Trust & Security: While we can't verify completion, the combination of user experience design, fraud prevention, and customer goodwill creates an effective system that benefits both merchants and customers.