How to Get Verified on Instagram (With Tips and Tricks!)
Getting verified on Instagram is an important step to proving that your account is the real deal. We’ll walk you through how to apply for Instagram verification and give you some tips and tricks on how to help you qualify.
Posted 1 year ago
Written by
Mackenzie TaylorPosted 1 year ago
Are you a business, brand, or content creator looking to get that deeply sought-after little blue checkmark on your Instagram page? Well, look no further. Getting verified on Instagram is an important step to proving that your account is the real deal and not a phony account. We’ll walk you through how to apply for Instagram verification and give you some tips and tricks on how to help you qualify.
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What does Instagram verification mean?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably laid eyes on the little blue check marks that appear on some Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts. Like gold, these verification badges are in high demand as they indicate that the account is genuine.
In Instagram’s words, getting verified means that the platform “has confirmed that an account is the authentic presence of the public figure, celebrity or brand it represents.” For example, the blue tick in TikTok’s Instagram bio tells us we’re looking at the official account, not an imposter.
Instagram verification is basically your badge of authentication on Instagram. It helps people know that go to your page that you are the real deal. It’s easy to see why that little blue checkmark is such a prized possession. They are pretty rare and come with some prestige and status when you have it—think: Instant Celebrity Status.
Not only can being verified improve your SEO strategy on your Instagram account, but it can also lead to higher engagement levels. Let’s take a look at the necessary info you need to obtain your blue tick status.
Who can be verified on Instagram?
Anyone! Yes, seriously. Anyone can request to be verified on Instagram. However, Instagram is incredibly picky about who actually gets verified. And unfortunately, they don’t always state the reasons they don’t want to verify someone. Annoying? Absolutely.
Adding to the complexity, having a blue checkmark on Facebook or Twitter (even if it’s linked to your Instagram) does not necessarily ensure that you’ll receive one on Instagram. Each platform has its own set of guidelines and differs from platform to platform.
So how do you go about getting the verification? Instagram has stated that “only some public figures, celebrities, and brands have verified badges on Instagram.” This means that they tend to only give badges to those who are likely to be impersonated. Now, how do you be eligible?
Well, you’ll need to follow Instagram’s Terms of Services, Community Guidelines, and meet each of these criteria:
- Authentic: Your account must represent a real person, registered, business, or brand.
- Unique: Only one account per person or business can get Instagram verified.
- Public: Your account has to be a public account. No private accounts will be verified.
- Complete: You must have a complete bio, profile picture, and at least one post.
- Notable: This one can be dicey but Instagram wants to make sure that your name is well-known and searched for.
Do you meet all of the above? Perfect. It’s now time to try your luck and get verified on Instagram. Additionally, there’s no specific follower count required to be eligible for a verification badge. So whether you have a large following or a smaller one, as long as you meet the criteria and adhere to Instagram’s terms of use, you can get the ball rolling.
How to apply to get verified on Instagram
It’s honestly super simple to apply for verification!
- Go to your profile and tap the icon in the top right corner
- Tap Settings
- Tap Account
- Tap Request Verification
- Fill in the application form:
- Your legal name
- Your “known as” name
- Select your category or industry
- You will need to submit a photo of your official government ID. For individuals, you can submit a driver’s license or passport. For businesses, a utility bill, an official business document, or tax filing.
- Submit the form
Once you submit your application, Instagram’s team will review and you’ll receive a response in your notifications tab. And just in case you think Instagram will email you or ask you for money regarding your verification, they would never do that. The only place you’ll be informed of whether or not your verification has been approved is in the notification tab.
You can expect to hear back from Instagram within a relatively short period of time, generally under 30 days. The notification will simply indicate whether your application has been approved or denied. If you’re successful (Whoop! Whoop!), you can add the verification badge to your profile right away.
Tips to get verified on Instagram
While applying for verification is simple, actually getting approved is another story entirely. To help you maximize your chances of being approved, here are some best practices and tips to help you move forward.
Be highly searched for
One of the best ways to get that blue check is by being highly searched for! Instagram needs to know if people care enough about you to go to the search bar and type in your name.
This can be accomplished by actively promoting yourself and your brand through various means, such as press releases or product launches. As Instagram does its own research, having your name pop up in the news cycle can greatly improve your chances of getting verified.
Also, it’s best to remember that quantity is not as important as quality in terms of followers, as having an inactive audience will hinder your visibility and engagement.
Defining your niche rather than trying to appeal to everyone is the best road to travel. Planning Instagram content around one specific area will boost recognition as users are more likely to chase your content. Higher engagement will help establish you as an influencer in the eyes of Instagram.
Don’t apply before you’re ready
Just because you have a badge, doesn’t mean you will automatically become a successful Instagram influencer. So, just because you can technically apply for verification whenever you want, it doesn’t mean that you should. Before you apply, make sure that do everything you can to prove your account is worthy of a verification badge.
- Build your Instagram followers
- Write the perfect Instagram bio.
- Use a professional picture or an easily identifiable company logo.
Give Instagram every reason to take your application seriously. Remember: Real people are behind the verification process so you just need to convince them!
Be active on IG
Stay active and use Instagram to its fullest potential. Post new, unique content regularly, use Instagram Stories to help engage with your audience, use Reels and any other feature that will help you reach new followers.
In addition to applying Instagram Reels strategies, it’s a good idea to stock up on photos that appeal to your target audience. As Instagram is a visual medium, it makes sense to post content that resonates with your audience. Tools such as Flick can provide valuable insight into your online presence and engagement metrics.
Speaking of engagement, don’t forget to respond to comments, like posts, and explore relevant Instagram hashtags. Instagram Stories has interactive features like ask me a question that spark online conversations. You can then share these convos with your followers to drive more engagement and debate.
Engaging with users reassures Instagram that you’re a go-getter that welcomes online conversation, as this plays an essential role in getting verified. Remember, nobody said this was going to be easy!
Steer clear of purchasing an Instagram verification badge
The steps to securing a verification badge can be challenging, but they’re not impossible (especially if you follow this handy guide!). Nonetheless, many influencers might be tempted to take a shortcut. But in the Instagram verification game, there are no shortcuts.
Instagram scammers can appear genuine in what they offer. That’s why it’s so important you stay on guard against these scams. We’ve all seen the users in comments who can sell you their blue tick for a small price. These are all shortcuts that eventually lead nowhere.
Purchasing a blue tick violates Instagram’s terms of use and community guidelines, which can result in an account ban. In these situations it’s best to remember that Instagram will never request payment or contact you directly.
The problem is the more followers you have, the more likely you are to be targeted. So it’s best to stay alert and grow your account organically. Focus on creating engaging and unique content, and ignore the comments that are too good to be true!
Schedule your posts for maximum engagement
As audience engagement and verification go hand-in-hand, scheduling your posts will help secure maximum exposure. After all, there’s no point in crafting the perfect piece of content if no one is awake to see it.
Tools such as Flick’s Instagram Post Scheduler automatically posts your updates for you, ensuring you never miss out on a golden opportunity. Flick also informs you of the best times to post as well as in-depth analysis on your content. This gives you an idea of the content that’s making the most impact (you can then use this info to make better content).
As the Instagram verification process looks for engagement, posting at the right time ensures you receive peak exposure. Additionally, Instagram is more likely to recommend recent posts on their explore tab, so knowing the best time to post doubles down on exposure.
Take a look at the best times to post below:
It’s also worth sticking to a consistent posting schedule as this promotes loyalty among your followers. Thankfully, your Post Scheduler can help with this process. So before setting up a reminder, check out our article on the best time to post on Instagram for more information.
Boost visibility with popular hashtags
Hashtags are a powerful tool for increasing engagement and your chances of getting verified. In fact, a March 2022 report found that Instagram posts containing three to four hashtags had an average impression rate of 3.41 percent. That means for every Instagram post, you should aim for three to four hashtags to boost your impressions.
In a nutshell, when you use relevant and popular hashtags, your posts are more likely to be seen by a wider audience. This increased visibility demonstrates to Instagram that your account is legitimate and valuable, all essential components for getting verified.
Additionally, hashtags can increase engagement on your posts, especially by combining general hashtags such as #music with specific, branded hashtags. Think of it as the best of both worlds. Moving forward, choose relevant hashtags for your brand and avoid spam hashtags. These are normally to blame for why your Instagram hashtags are not working.
Remember to research your hashtag strategy using Flick, and don’t forget to use hashtags on Instagram Stories, Reels, and IGTV videos. Finding out what hashtags are trending will also give you a leg up in securing engagement.
Personalize your posts
Adopting a specific brand voice and visual style is the perfect way to differentiate your account from impersonators. Showing off your personality with unique content will land you firmly on Instagram’s radar. Keep in mind Instagram will only verify accounts that are authentic and engaging.
Additionally, Instagram stays away from accounts with robotic and generic content. If there are other accounts online doing the same thing, why would users specifically seek out your profile?
That’s why you need to post content that only you can provide. Whether it’s a selection of hashtags unique to you added to every post or behind-the-scenes content that only you and your brand can generate. Personalized content adds a one-of-a-kind touch and reassures Instagram of your authenticity.
Delete any cross-platform links in your bio
Not everybody knows this, but Instagram exhibits a few jealous tendencies. Unfortunately for us, it’s not in a cool, Miley Cyrus Flowers way, it’s much pettier than that. For instance, verified accounts aren’t allowed to encourage users to follow other social media profiles in their Instagram profiles.
So even if you have a large following on Facebook or YouTube, encouraging users to follow these profiles in your Instagram bio will decrease your chances of becoming verified. However, it’s fine to include links to your website, landing pages, and other campaigns.
What are the next steps if you don’t get verified
Even though it may seem like it, failing to get a blue checkmark is not the end of the world for your brand. Verification is a huge milestone that takes time and effort and it’s unlikely to happen overnight. With that in mind, let’s run through the steps you can take to improve your chances:
- Wait and apply again: If your Instagram verification request is a no-go, don’t worry, you can apply again in 30 days. So use this time to review the steps above and improve on the things that may be lacking. It’s important not to stagnate during this period. You could also perform competitive analysis to gain valuable insight into your competitors.
- Double-check the verification requirements: In Instagram’s eyes, authenticity is critical. Using your 30 days, comb through your content and boost your authenticity and uniqueness. Engage with your audience and find any imposter accounts that may harm your chances of success.
- Use other resources: Even though Instagram’s blue checkmark is the Holy Grail of authenticity, there are other ways to showcase your brand’s credibility. Linking to other websites and showcasing behind-the-scenes footage will gain trust among your followers, regardless of whether you have the blue tick or not!
How to stay verified on Instagram
Yes, you can lose a badge if you’re not careful. How do you keep it? Three simple rules:
- Keep your account public
- You must keep your account unlocked and public to stay verified.
- Play by the rules
If you go against Instagram’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines, it will get your account disabled, deleted, or your verification badge ripped away. Eeek.
How long does it take to get verified on Instagram?
While there is no official timeline, most users who submit a request are often verified within 30 days. For some, it takes a few hours, while for others it takes weeks or months.
Either way, be sure to stay active on Instagram and keep checking in on your notifications tab to see where your application is at.
Now, it’s your turn
Now that you know how to get verified on Instagram, it’s time to start making sure that people are searching for you, enjoy your content, and give Instagram a reason to give you that little blue checkmark! Learn how to be more engaging on Instagram Stories and how to use hashtags in the most effective way to reach more people.
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