You’ve got your website up and running, killing it with engagement on your social media accounts, and your sales are doing pretty well, too.
So, what’s next?
The next best step to take for your business is likely tracking down the elusive verification badge on your social media channels. This can be tricky, though.
In particular, Instagram verification requirements have a bit of intentional wiggle room in them, and the platform is notoriously hard to get verified on. Read on to learn how you can boost your brand’s chances to get that blue check on Instagram.
What Is a Verified Instagram Account?
A verified account is the official account of a company, organization, or public figure. This could be anyone from the mayor of a city to an NBA superstar.
Not everyone can have a verified account, though. Even some companies have a hard time getting that elusive blue checkmark! There are several requirements that a profile needs to meet before their verification application will be approved.
Instagram Verification Requirements
Not only do you have to meet the following requirements for Instagram verification, but you have to have a brand that has a high likelihood of being impersonated. This is usually what trips people up when it comes to getting verified.
The other requirements include:
- Your profile must be public, not private
- Your brand must be a real company or personal brand
- Your bio must be filled out entirely and you must have posts
- Your account must be unique (meaning your brand doesn’t have other accounts)
Of course, Instagram verification requirements can change at any time!
Benefits of Instagram Verification
One of the major benefits of getting verified on Instagram is that it immediately gives your audience confidence that they’re on the right page for your company or your brand.
And when it comes to branding, it’s always important to make sure that you have the rights to any profiles with your brand name in the title. Getting the blue check doesn’t necessarily mean that no one will attempt to copy you on Instagram, but you will be able to fight to get impostor profiles taken down much more easily.
One bonus with verified accounts is the “swipe up” functionality on Stories. This feature lets accounts link to external websites. Generally, this is only available to accounts with over 10,000 followers, but verified accounts get to use this regardless of how many followers they have.
Finally, if you are planning on working with influencers on any upcoming product or service launches, you’ll likely need to be verified before most influencer agencies will work with you.
How to Request Instagram Verification
Requesting verification on Instagram is pretty straightforward!
Open up Instagram and click on the hamburger (That’s the technical term for the three lines that open a menu!) on your profile.
Next, click Settings, then Account. From there, you’ll see an option for Request Verification. Click here and fill out the form on the next page and submit it.
Following these steps is the only way to getting a blue check on Instagram right now, so if this is important to you, make sure you follow instructions!
Thoughts on Instagram Verification
If you’re ready to take your brand’s Instagram game to the next level, verification is a step in the right direction.
But don’t worry if you can’t get verified. Like we’ve mentioned, Instagram verification requirements can be finicky and can also change at any time. You can still build a blockbuster brand on social media without being verified!
Check out the rest of our blog to learn more social media tips and tricks to get your brand to the next level.
