How to Get Verified on Instagram
Always wondered how to get a fancy blue checkmark next to your Instagram username? Well you’re in luck because, in this guide, we explain how exactly how to get verified on Instagram.
Ahh, the elusive little blue check mark. In the social media world, it basically means that “you’ve made it.” That’s because it’s quite a feat to get officially verified by Instagram. The company has publicly shared a handful of values that your account needs to embody to even be considered. Yet, there are supposedly several, more specific requirements that Instagram has kept under wraps. However, it’s not as simple as just checking off these boxes. In fact, you can meet all of the specifications and still not be awarded your blue check mark. In the words of Instagram itself, “even if your account is eligible for verification, submitting a request doesn’t guarantee that your account will be verified.”
When you send a verification request to Instagram, they ultimately decide whether or not your account is notable enough to be awarded a check mark. Instagram doesn’t want to put their stamp of approval on an account that doesn’t possess a significant amount of public interest. That’s arguably why a clipart check mark has come to mean so much to us as Instagram users (and most likely why you clicked on this article!). Getting verified on Instagram is particularly noteworthy because of its scarcity. Despite being linked, it’s possible to be verified on Facebook but not on Instagram! That’s because Instagram takes verification quite seriously and evaluates requests on strict guidelines. While all of this may seem aggravating, it can actually be used to your advantage. Not convinced yet? Keep reading to learn about the advantages of enduring the arduous process and how to actually have it come out in your favor.
Why You Want to Be Verified
If you haven’t figured it out yet, that little blue check mark is a rare asset to possess and, because of how scarce verification is, it has acquired a significant amount of value. By default, accounts that are verified immediately come across as more credible. While this may not be of much value to you as you go through the process of getting verified, it means everything once you secure your blue check mark. That’s because users are more likely to engage with accounts that they trust. While Instagram’s strict standards are irritating at first, it ultimately means that your verification will actually mean something to the people that engage with your account.
There is also an element of influence at play here. Many Instagram users typically associate the blue check mark with celebrities, public figures, and influencers. It’s very common for users to feel particularly persuaded by these individuals, simply because of their fame. While it may not play out the same way as it does with someone who’s famous, consumers are still conditioned to think that the most popular and famous accounts get verified. For this reason, a simple blue check mark can significantly increase how strongly your messaging resonates with your audience.
How to Do It
Okay, now that we’ve talked about the “why” of getting verified, let’s discuss the “how.” As a caveat, following these tips to a tee may not end in getting verified, but it will set up your account in a way that gives it the best chance.
Step 1: Grow Your Account
This is the most foundational step of the entire process; if your account doesn’t meet the minimum standards, then your chances of getting verified will be slim to none. With that being said, you also don’t need a million followers to get your check mark. At this point, your best bet is to spend time growing your audience to increase your overall following and engagement. Some of the most effective methods of doing so include audience outreach, uploading regular and consistent posts, and utilizing hashtags.
Step 2: Audit Your Feed
Instagram clearly states that all accounts must be in accordance with their Terms of Service and their Community Guidelines before they can even be considered for verification. Take the time to go through your feed and delete any content that falls outside of these specifications. This can include images that you don’t have direct permission to use, anything that encourages spam, and, of course, inappropriate or illegal content. Be especially aware as you audit your feed; the terms stated above are grounds for account suspension and/ or deactivation. If you don’t proceed wisely, a simple oversight could result in removal instead of verification.
Step 3: Prime Your Profile
Now that your feed meets the foundational requirements that Instagram requires, it’s time to clearly convey why your account deserves to be verified. Your feed should be aesthetically pleasing, engaging, and updated actively – Instagram isn’t looking to verify an unprofessional and dormant account, no matter how high the follower count is. In addition, this is the point where you need to evaluate how effectively your feed conveys Instagram’s key values: authenticity, uniqueness, completeness, and notability. A strong brand image and regular engagement with consumers will convey that your account represents a credible brand. In addition, ensure that your content is as brand-specific and applicable as possible to maintain a degree of uniqueness. Having a complete account essentially means that your account is identifiable, public, and has posted content before. Notability is the foggiest value of all because it’s difficult to quantify how well-known a company is to the average person. Your best bet at communicating this value is to invest a lot of energy into growing your audience, ensuring that you have a large following that relates and regularly engages with your brand.
Step 4: Submit Your Request
The moment of truth: it’s time to finally make your desires known to Instagram. The actual process of sending in your request is fairly straightforward: simply navigate to your account settings and select “Request Verification.” You will have the opportunity to provide a point of contact for your brand as well as a government ID for verification. Hit submit and the wait begins.
Step 5: Patience (and Persistence) is a Virtue
Instagram will send you an email with a decision. This can take a bit of time so you will have to be patient (aggressively emailing Instagram customer service is NOT the answer, here!). If you get the magical approval email, congratulations, you’re officially verified on Instagram! If not, which is the most common outcome, you will receive an invitation to re-apply in 30 days. If this is the case, and we cannot stress this enough, continue to re-apply! Instagram has been observed to reward persistent requests, especially if the account is a credible brand. While it might take a while to get through to Instagram, we promise that that beloved blue check mark is worth it!
