How to Get Verified on Instagram

Instagram Verification is a highly sought-after achievement, represented by the blue checkmark next to your account name. This verification boosts your credibility and helps followers identify genuine accounts, which is crucial for influencers, brands, and public figures. As Instagram evolves, understanding the verification process is essential for anyone looking to establish a legitimate presence on the platform. Below, we outline the requirements for getting the blue badge, discuss its benefits, and provide tips for increasing your chances of getting verified. Whether you’re just starting on Instagram, or already well-known and want to legitimize your account, navigating the verification process can significantly impact your online success.

What is Instagram Verification? 

Instagram Verification is a process that verifies the authenticity of a user’s account on the popular social media platform. This verification is indicated by a blue checkmark next to the account’s name, indicating that it is an official and authenticated account.

The purpose of Instagram Verification is to make sure users are following and engaging with legitimate accounts, particularly those of public figures, celebrities, and brands. This helps to prevent impersonation and protects the integrity of the platform.

The Benefits of Getting Instagram Verified

If you’re a well-known brand, celebrity, influencer, or other notable figure, getting verified on Instagram can be useful for maintaining your presence on the platform. It offers several significant benefits that can enhance your credibility and grow your account. 

These include:

• Authenticity Confirmation: Instagram verification confirms your account’s authenticity with a blue checkmark, helping users identify legitimate accounts and reducing impersonation risks.
• Increased Visibility and Credibility: Verified accounts gain higher visibility in search results and appear more credible, leading to increased engagement from followers.
• Access to Exclusive Features: Subscribing to Meta Verified offers additional benefits, including dedicated account support and enhanced security measures against impersonation.
• Enhanced Security: Verification encourages the use of security tools like two-factor authentication, improving account protection against unauthorized access.
• Networking Opportunities: A verified badge can facilitate connections with other verified accounts, brands, and influencers, leading to potential collaborations and increased exposure.
• Protection Against Impersonation: Verification strengthens your case when reporting impersonation accounts, expediting the removal of fake accounts.
• Professional Image: For businesses and public figures, verification enhances credibility, signaling a serious commitment to authenticity and professionalism.

Requirements for Instagram Verification

Before adding a blue tick next to someone’s profile, there are a few requirements that a user must meet. Along following Instagram’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines, your account must also be:

• Authentic: Owned by a real person, business, or entity. 
• Solely-owned: Only one account per person can be verified, except for language-specific accounts. Instagram also does not verify accounts of general interest.
• Public: Private accounts will not be considered. 
• Finished: Complete and active account including a bio and profile photo. 
• Well-Known: A recognizable, highly searched person, brand, or entity. 

How to Apply for Instagram Verification

If you meet the criteria, you can apply for a verified badge on Instagram. You can do so through the iOS app, Android app, or Instagram Lite app. With each option, you must access your profile and head into Settings. There you will find an option to request verification.

• Submit a Request: Go to your profile, tap the menu icon, and navigate to Settings > Account > Request Verification.
• Provide Information: Fill out the form with your account name, your full name, and a form of identification (e.g., government-issued ID, business documents).
• Review Period: Instagram will review your application and notify you within 30 days. If denied, you can reapply after 30 days.

Applying for Instagram verification does not guarantee that you will be awarded an Instagram blue check. If you apply multiple times before receiving verification, your application will be canceled. Remember, it’s a completely free process. If someone prompts you to pay for Instagram verification, note that this is a scam.

How to Not Lose Your Instagram Blue Check

If you’ve been awarded a blue checkmark, remember that Instagram can take away your verification at any point. They may take away your badge or disable your account if you do any of the following:

• Sell, transfer, or advertise your Instagram verification.
• Use your profile to endorse or advertise anything that violates the Terms of Use or Community Guidelines.
• Try to receive verification through a third-party site.
• Switch your account from public to private multiple times.
• Use false or misleading information.

Instagram is picky about who they verify, and if they find any suspicious activity on your account, it’s very unlikely they will award you a verification badge ever again.

Tips to Get the Instagram Blue Check

If you’ve been wanting to receive the blue tick and feel ready to apply, review your profile and make sure you meet the requirements. Try the following tips to increase your chances of being recognized as a noteworthy account:

Optimize Your Profile

Make sure there are no gaps in your profile. This includes having a profile picture that represents your business, brand, or self. A brand logo is the safest option and shows authenticity right away. Include a strong description of who you or your business is, as well as a website, tagline, contact details, or any other essential information you feel necessary. Don’t leave anything blank!

Stay Active

Activity on Instagram is a good indicator of a regular, authentic account. Account activity is another element of the verification process, so being a regular on the app is an important way to become reliable amongst the app. This goes beyond just posting. Stay engaged with your audience and build trust with your followers. Take advantage of social media analytics to see when your followers are more active, so you can reach a larger audience and make your content more visible.

Get Real Followers

When it comes to getting verified, real followers are also important. This means you should avoid buying followers. Focus on building a strong social media strategy, and following this to receive organic growth. Real followers will boost your profile whereas fake, bot, or inactive followers will only devalue your authenticity. It will also decrease your engagement, which is essential for building a healthy and notable account. Use tactics such as curated hashtags, posting mixed content, giveaways, and replying to comments and DMs.

Keep an Eye for Imposters

If you’re noticing frequent fake or unauthorized accounts pretending to be your brand, then don’t fret. This actually may be a good sign that you are a great candidate for Instagram verification since the purpose of verification is to distinguish the real from the fake. Report fake accounts if you feel they are becoming a problem for your own brand and frequently monitor to ensure accounts are not trying to disguise as you.

Position Yourself in Searches 

Since being highly searched is another indicator of a verifiable account, positioning yourself to be seen by more people is a great way to increase searches. Optimize your Instagram account using SEO strategies and become more visible on the app.

Meta Verified vs. Instagram Verification

Meta Verified is a paid subscription service that offers a verified badge along with additional features such as account support and impersonation protection. Unlike Instagram Verification, which is primarily based on you or your brand’s notability, Meta Verification is available to anyone who pays and meets the subscription criteria.

Meta Verified benefits included: 

• Verified Badge: Get the blue checkmark to signify authenticity.
• Account Support: Access to customer support for account-related issues.
• Impersonation Protection: Enhanced security features to prevent account impersonation.

You must meet certain criteria to subscribe to Meta Verified. This includes having a complete profile, being active, and adhering to Instagram’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines.

Anniston Ward , 07 August 2024