This is true
This might be the better route as you are giving them something first- a goodwill gesture, and they are more likely to follow back this way. This could just be like the manual follow/unfollow method and don't forget to target followers from similar niche-based/ content-based accounts.
You should try them to follow ,
However you can follow them and wait for follow back also you can buy followers from other sites to attract them.
You can easily understand if a page is bot or real. If it has so many following but less followers, if there is no profile picture the account probably fake.. Dont expect any engagement from that accounts bcs that comments are sending from the system. But if you think that the account is real you can follow them or DM them to make them follow you
Messaging to that accounts is very time consuming and I dont recommend it, you can follow them or bulk like their posts to make them realize you. After a while they will start following.
