For those looking to up their business’ cred with Instagram verification— we have good news. Instagram is now offering details about what it takes to get that blue badge and allowing users to request to get verified on Instagram themselves. Here are the criteria for applying, how to do it yourself, and some insight into why getting verified is worth your time.
Why is it important to get verified on Instagram
Most importantly, if you are a brand — being verified on Instagram helps you enhance your credibility. It also protects you from being impersonated by others on social media. Although verified accounts do not get special treatment on social media (Instagram has been clear that their algorithm doesn’t privilege verification), verified Instagram accounts do have access to new features before the wider public.
This means that you can be more creative and try new things ahead of others. It also makes it a lot easier for you to stand out and extend the reach of the content you publish.
Criteria for Instagram verification
According to Instagram’s policy, in order to be eligible to apply for the blue checkmark, your Instagram account must meet the following criteria:
Authentic: You must be able to prove that the account represents a registered business or entity. For personal accounts, it must be demonstrable that it belongs to a real person.
Unique: There can only be one verified account per person or entity. They allow exceptions for language-specific accounts, but general interest (e.g., fan or meme accounts) need not apply.
Public: Private accounts are not eligible for verification.
Complete: You need to have a profile photo, bio, and at least one post in the feed. Including “add me” links to any other social media platforms will also disqualify you.
Notable: You can prove this applies to you by using high search numbers or being featured in a variety of news sources. Basically, you need to be able to back up your claim of being a well-known figure or brand.
Honest: If you provide misleading or false information during the process of verification, Instagram will remove your verified badge and might even go one step further by deleting your account. So don’t try to lie your way to verification. The only way to get it is to include accurate, relevant, and truthful information.
Steps to apply for verification
If you think you meet all these criteria, you can easily apply for verification by following these simple steps:
- Go to your profile and tap the menu in the upper right corner.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Account, then tap Request Verification.
- After you’ve filled out the form, tap Send we will review your request.
Tips for getting verified
If you’ve tried and haven’t been approved, you need not give up hope. The criteria provided are quite general, and there are no clear rules on who gets verified. If you don’t get approved, continue working on your profile, post authentic content, and be unique. We also recommend increasing your visibility on other social media platforms to show that you are present.
Instagram is one of the more challenging platforms to get verification on, so it might help your cause to seek the stamp of approval on other platforms like Twitter or TikTok first. Once you have bolstered your online presence, you can re-submit your request for verification at a later stage.
Looking for some support from an expert?
At GANDT, we can assist you with the process of verification in addition to helping you build a community, grow a following, and therefore increase the likelihood of being verified. Our team is prepared to create a comprehensive social media strategy across all platforms, explicitly tailored to your needs and goals.
Feel free to get in touch, and to stay up to date on current social media trends and growth marketing hacks, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter for the latest digital marketing news.
