How to Get Verified on Instagram
Getting verified on Instagram is the highest form of recognition for brands and social media creators. Obtaining the "blue tick" not only guarantees your genuineness but also provides you additional control over your online presence by assuring that your profile is the only one representing your brand.
Having your Instagram account verified isn't easy, and it's not something that everyone can accomplish. However, if you want to be recognized, this post will show you how to apply for and acquire the desired Instagram verification badge.
What does it mean to get your Instagram account verified?
According to Instagram, being verified implies that the platform has authenticated your profile as "the authentic presence of the public figure, celebrity, or global brand it represents."
If you see a blue tick in the bio of an Instagram account, it indicates that you're looking at the official account of that company or personality, not a false, unauthorized, or fan account.
Here's an example of a blue verified badge on Netflix's Instagram profile:
Verification badges on Instagram help brands and artists stand out, appear legitimate, and prevent being impersonated. Simultaneously, they assist Instagram users in locating the correct profile while looking for a specific business or personality.
However, you must complete specific requirements to acquire Instagram verification.
What are the conditions for applying for an Instagram verified badge?
On Instagram, anyone may request verification, but you must meet specific requirements to be qualified for the blue tick.
Although the specific steps and qualifications for receiving an Instagram verification badge are vague, the platform does provide some guidelines to assist you in determining if you're eligible.
Firstly, double-check that you're following Instagram's Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. Aside from that, your account should be:
Authentic: Your account must belong to a real person, business, brand, or entity.
Public: Verification is not available for private Instagram accounts.
Complete: You must have a bio and a photo on your profile, and you must be active on the network.
Unique: Your account must be the only one that represents you or your company. Multiple accounts for the same person or business will not be verified by Instagram, and only individuals or businesses, not general interest accounts, are eligible.
Notable: Your account must represent a well-known, frequently searched-for individual or company that has been highlighted in several, reliable news sources. Media sources that are paid or sponsored do not count.
Remember that you don't need a specific quantity of followers to earn a verification badge. If you match the aforementioned conditions, you can apply regardless of whether you have 100,000 or less than 10,000 followers. You'll also need to apply for an Instagram verification badge even if the Facebook Page that's connected to your Instagram account is already verified.
How to Request Instagram Verification
Log in to your account and select Settings from the top-right menu.
Click "Account" in Settings and then "Request Verification."
To begin the review process, fill in the required fields and then hit send.
Your account being eligible for verification doesn't guarantee it will be labeled as such, according to Instagram. Sadly, there is no indication as to when you will be contacted if you have been verified or not. If you are denied, you must wait 30 days before requesting verification again.
10 Tips to Getting Your Instagram Account Verified
If you're ready to apply for Instagram verification, there are a few things you can do to improve your chances of getting the blue badge.
And if it doesn't work out, or if you opt-out of the verification procedure, you can still succeed on Instagram by following these best practices.
1. Make your Instagram profile complete
Checking your profile is one of the ways Instagram validates your identity.
Add a well-written bio and a profile photo that portrays your business, brand, or self to ensure your page is 100 percent complete. For example, in the bio, you can include your brand's tagline and website, as well as your company's logo in the profile photo.
Having a thorough and authentic profile can also help you gain trust with your audience, which can lead to additional followers, engagement, and media attention.
2. Build your social profiles
Having a large following on other social media platforms can help your Instagram account appear more authentic.
Twitter, for example, has close connections to press announcements. Take advantage of this! When your name emerges in the news or the media, take advantage of the publicity to grow your social media profiles and followers.
How do you increase your Instagram and other social media following? Consider the following suggestions:
Build your brand's personality by using a consistent voice and theme: Many businesses take a shotgun approach to communicating with their customers. However, showing your distinct voice online makes it much easier to form significant bonds with others.
Post regularly and consistently: The more active you are on any social media platform, the more likely you are to persuade people to interact with your account.
Develop excellent material: Just as you'd publish great photos on Instagram to grow your following, you should be creating smart content for your other platforms as well. Find out what your followers want from you and cater to their needs.
3. Keep an eye out for fake profiles
While it may feel a little like crying wolf to state that your identity is in jeopardy, this tip comes directly from Instagram:
“Accounts representing well-known figures and brands are verified because they have a high likelihood of being impersonated.”
Your verified badge distinguishes you as the unique individual you are. It instills confidence in your followers by reassuring them that they aren't following a random imposter. People want to be sure they're following the actual person.
Notifying Instagram that you are at risk of being impersonated may prompt them to take action.
4. Keep your account active
This may seem self-evident, but if you don't actively use Instagram, you're unlikely to be verified. When administrators check to see if you're worth Instagram verification, they'll search for consistent activity. There's no use in starting the verification procedure if you're not using the platform.
It also works the other way around. If you're not using Instagram, what's the point of being verified? To increase your chances of receiving the blue Instagram verified badge, you can do the following:
Make a photo library: Instagram is all about aesthetics. Influencers gain followers because they understand how to appeal to the target audience. Discover what your fans like to see on your page and start snapping.
Utilize Insights: Go to your Instagram business page and use Insights to prepare content that will resonate with your followers. Remember to post at the peak hours of your followers' activity. To discover more about your social followers and customize your marketing, you can use third-party solutions.
Interact with your audience: Don't forget to answer comments, like posts, and look up hashtags that are relevant to your audience. Engagement is essential on any social platform.
5. Boost your earned media
Do you want Instagram to give you the stamp of approval? Prove to them that you're worth it.
See what turns up when you Google yourself. Nothing? Resolve it as there is nothing to verify if you don't have a well-known brand. Keep in mind that whoever gets a blue tick on their Instagram account isn't decided by an algorithm. Every request is manually reviewed, and they are likely to use search engines like Google to see what appears for outside credibility.
Finally, learning how to get verified on Instagram necessitates putting in the effort before submitting a request. It's difficult, which is why verification badges are so valuable.
6. Attempting to purchase an Instagram verification badge is not a good idea
To become verified on Instagram, you must apply through the app or one of Facebook's media partners. Don't try to get around the rules by paying your way in.
Attempting to buy a verification badge is not only futile and a waste of money, but it also puts you at risk of being fined for breaking Instagram's community guidelines.
For example, supplying any inaccurate or misleading information during the process will result in your account being deleted entirely from the platform. Rather, provide entertaining and valuable material to attract more genuine Instagram followers. While there's no proven link between having a large number of followers and being verified on Instagram, it's worth a shot.
Furthermore, there's a high chance that you'll become well-known and discussed in reliable news and media outlets the more followers you have.
7. Any cross-platform links in your bio should be removed
Verified accounts cannot urge users to add or follow other social media profiles in their bios, such as Facebook or YouTube, according to Instagram.
However, connections to your website, landing page, and other web pages can still be included in your bio. Consider the Instagram link in your bio as a new way to attract traffic to a variety of campaigns, profiles, and websites.
To improve your chances of getting verified on Instagram, don't include cross-platform links that promote your other social sites.
Instead, include links to your Instagram profile on your business' website, marketing emails, and other social media accounts. While it may appear hypocritical to prevent cross-platform linking on Instagram, connecting to your Instagram from other social accounts demonstrates legitimacy in your profile ownership.
8. Enhance your searchability
Being well-known and highly searched for is one of the most important conditions for getting verified on Instagram. This implies you'll need to step up your PR efforts and try to get your name out there naturally.
For instance, you might want to disseminate press releases for impending company announcements or product launches. Instagram conducts its research, so applying when your name has been in the news recently can greatly increase your chances of being verified.
Another thing you can do to speed up the verification process is to use branded hashtags in your postings.
This can help you show up in organic Instagram searches and on the Explore page. You're more likely to get verified if you're more searchable.
9. Make your posts unique
Getting verified on Instagram necessitates the creation and maintenance of a unique and authentic account. To distinguish your account from impersonators, we recommend personalizing your posts. You could, for example, create a distinct brand voice, visual style, feed aesthetic, content theme, or hashtag strategy that is difficult (or impossible) to duplicate.
Are there any more ways to personalize your posts? Share behind-the-scenes content to give your viewers a glimpse into your brand's inner workings! Who else but you would have this one-of-a-kind content?
Alternatively, employ user-generated content (UGC) or branded hashtags to encourage followers to tag you in posts to enhance brand exposure and engagement.
10. Hire a publicist or an agency to assist you
Look into hiring a professional PR or digital agency with access to Facebook's Media Partner Support tools if you'd rather hire someone to assist you with the process.
They'll be able to utilize the industry-only portal they have access to request verification of your account, claim usernames, and merge accounts on your behalf.
Take note that, unlike "buy" or "bot" solutions that supply you with faked likes, engagement, or verification in exchange for money, the method described above is a legit source of help with the process. While a digital agency cannot ensure that your IG verification will be successful, it can boost your chances.
Losing your Instagram verification badge or not being verified
Even if you are verified on Instagram, keep in mind that the blue tick can be removed. This is frequently the case if you violate Instagram's Terms of Use and Community Guidelines, or if Instagram discovers that you supplied misleading or inaccurate information in your verification application.
Obey the rules, stay active on the platform, create unique and engaging material, and keep your account public at all times to maintain your verified status. If you are not verified for whatever reason, you may reapply after 30 days. And if you're still having trouble getting verified or aren't qualified to apply, use the steps above to demonstrate your authenticity and establish credibility in front of your audience.
Know that getting verified is only the beginning. It takes time to build an audience, establish a reputation, and demonstrate authenticity. Regularly engaging with your fans and producing new and valuable material is a long-term approach. And by doing so, you'll ideally gain and maintain your verified status across all of your social media sites, not just Instagram.
Is it worthwhile to have your Instagram account verified?
Instagram verification takes a lot of thought and effort, so make sure you've got a strong cause before you start. Being verified has several advantages, ranging from improved brand reputation to a stronger social search presence.
IG verification sets you apart from the pack and makes it easier to connect with the people that mean the most to you. When used effectively, it increases your social media trustworthiness and conversion rates. All you have to do now is prove that you are deserving.
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