Want to be verified on Instagram? We've all seen it. That elusive blue checkmark on Instagram that indicates you or your brand has made it.

They are officially referred to as a verified badge! It is the blue check that is positioned next to a person's/brands Instagram profile. It means that this person or their brand has been confirmed as being their authentic self. You may be wondering why this is important for the marketing of your brand?

The Significance of a Verified Account

Being verified is about more than just bragging rights. A consumer needs to know who they are following when they decide to search for a person or brand on Instagram.

If your account has a blue checkmark, then they know that Instagram has deemed the account as legitimate. It also without stating as much, says it is worth following. From the perspective of the person or brand, being verified is vital in gaining Instagram social proof. After all, anyone can make an Instagram account and name it whatever they like.

You will gain a higher level of trustworthiness, as less than 1% of Instagram accounts are verified. Meaning consumers will have confidence in what you are posting. Additionally, you will gain more followers as your profile will appear at the top of searches and suggested accounts.

If you are not a celebrity or major brand, Instagram verification is still possible. You will, of course, earn it the hard way, but through your efforts, you will have built a strong brand or profile as a consequence.

How to Become Verified

When applying for verification, you need to ensure you meet the standards set by Instagram and community guidelines. Anyone can get this badge, you don't have to be famous, but your Instagram profile must be authentic, unique, complete, and notable. Let's break that down.

Authentic

This is merely being the real person or brand. Don't pretend to be someone or something you're not. Be consistent in what you're promoting and don't always try to reinvent what you're doing.

Unique

For Instagram to want to give you a verification badge (blue check), make sure what you're promoting on the platform is unique and worthwhile. You can only have one account, so make sure the Instagram account you're applying for is the central one.

Complete

The first step in this is simple enough. Make sure you have a profile picture, a complete Instagram bio, that you've posted at least once. Make sure that your profile doesn't contain any links to other social media platforms.

All verification requests are all reviewed manually, so make sure you have enough followers. This will capture the attention of Instagram. If your account has a lot of followers than the content you are producing is relevant to the platform.

There is no magic number for the number of followers you need to have, but the more, the merrier! Create content often, and pay attention to what kind of content garners interest.

Followers will naturally start to build if you're consistently publishing and adding to your story. Try to engage with as broad an audience as possible. Additionally, follow other verified accounts and look to engage. This helps show you're authentic, and may also result in acquiring followers.

Having friends in high places is extremely relevant for your Instagram account. If you're also on other social media platforms, consider establishing a strong presence on those as well. Sometimes a strong following on platforms like YouTube will help you drive an equal if not higher following on Instagram.

Notable

Your account must be highly searched and well-known. Instagram specially reviews accounts that have been featured in multiple news sources. So make sure you also have a presence outside of Instagram. Send out press releases, reach out to news organisations, and build from a local angle. Make sure that if someone Googled your name or brand, they would come up with something. And that what they find is positive!

Applying for Verification

Once you've done this, you should complete the verification process and apply for a badge. This is done in a few easy steps:

1. Log into the appropriate Instagram account.
2. Go to your profile and tap the menu icon in the top right corner.
3. Click the settings gear icon, account, and request verification.
4. Confirm your identity by entering your full name or company name. Select a category that is best suited for your account and hit apply.

Now What? Wait

Once you apply, your fate is in the hands of Instagram. Instagram doesn't give an estimation on how long it might take, but you can apply again after 30 days if you are denied. Once your request is granted, the badge will appear right away. Your badge can also be taken away, so ensure you're staying true to all the qualifications that verified your account in the first place!

Digital Stand is a performance-based social media agency that will help you grow your brand. We create content, advertise, assist in inbound marketing, and overall move your audience to action with your brand. You can contact us here or click the image below.