In the world of social media, standing out can be a challenge. One of the ways that marketers, businesses, and individuals can do this is through verification. Getting verified on social media is one of the first steps in developing a successful social media marketing strategy.
Whether it’s your personal account, your business account, or both, getting that little blue tick on social media, next to your profile name is very important. Although getting verified on social media can be a challenge and might take some time, it is worth it as it provides instant social proof and can help you network and push your business to your industry’s forefront.
What is a verified social media account?
In recent years, we have seen more and more people and businesses with the desirable blue tick on social media platforms. The question: “What does a blue tick mean?” has become very common. So, for those of you who do not know, the blue tick indicates that the social media platform has verified that the account is authentic.
For businesses, verification can provide you with credibility and trustworthiness, and ultimately, a blue tick can help you organically expand your social media presence. Although social media verification may have initially started out as a feature for celebrities, it has become a differentiating factor for businesses.
A blue tick usually means a higher conversion rate, so when customers consider your business versus one without a blue tick, they will likely choose you as this can be a game-changer. Not only will it boost your brand awareness and visibility so more people will recognise who and what you are, but it will also help you build stronger, more genuine connections.
How to get verified on social media
The social media account verification process can take years and considerable effort, but once it happens, you may find that weight is immediately lifted because you have proven your worth in your field. The most important part of verification is figuring out what you want to be known for if you are not already known for something. There must be a story worth telling about you that people want to hear.
The verification process is different for each platform, but they tend to verify those who are icons in their field. This means that they have distinguished themselves from other experts in their field.
Even though it is not a requirement for verification, working on growing your platform consistently and getting higher engagement is always an extra point on your side when your account is being reviewed. In order to grow your presence and increase your chances of getting verified, follow these steps:
- Establish who and what you are in your field: For example, if you are a marketer, then invest in strategies that help you become a standout marketer on social media and explore other platforms relevant to your field.
- Get your story out there: Show the public who you are, why you are the type of business you are, and what type of story you want to convey. As a result, you will be able to reach thousands of people and be ahead of the competition. Remember that followers and likes are not everything.
- Start posting about your accomplishments: If you receive media coverage, let everyone know. This can help showcase your trustworthiness.
If you are unsure about how to do any of the above, you may benefit from hiring a social media verification agency to help you.
How to get verified on LinkedIn
Verification on LinkedIn is slightly different from other social media platforms. Verification on other social platforms is designed to show that you are really who you say you are, while verification on LinkedIn serves to prove that you really work for the company you say you work for. Because of this, LinkedIn’s verification process is very simple.
LinkedIn enables its users to obtain a blue tick through the LinkedIn Lookup app. To get this blue tick, you need to request a LinkedIn verification from within the LinkedIn Lookup app. LinkedIn will then send you a four-digit code to your email address. Enter the code into LinkedIn Lookup and you will then be verified.
Although there are many people who are not verified on LinkedIn with no problem, you can’t deny that verification can add a certain degree of legitimacy to your profile. Verification on LinkedIn is very useful when it comes to presenting a positive image to potential clients or new employees.
How to get verified on Twitter
Twitter was the first social media platform that started all of this, and it only verifies accounts of public interest. According to Twitter, such accounts generally include “accounts maintained by users in acting, fashion, music, journalism, business, media and other key areas of interest.” If your account does not meet this definition, you will not be able to verify it. To obtain verification, follow these simple steps:
- Open your Twitter profile and visit your Account Settings page.
- Select Request Verification and fill out the details pertaining to your personal data and your social accounts.
Remember that Twitter only verifies accounts that have the following:
- A bio.
- A website.
- A verified phone number.
- A confirmed email address.
- A profile photo and a header photo.
- Tweets set as public in the Tweet privacy settings.
Once all the above criteria are met, you can submit a formal verification request. Twitter will then review the information and usually approve verification within a week but, don’t forget, that Twitter sometimes can put their verification process on hold, so keep this in mind when you begin the Twitter verification process.
How to get verified on Facebook
Facebook verification is indicated by a blue tick also known as a verification badge which is placed next to your account name. When people notice the tick, it shows that you are an authentic entity. It separates your account from spam accounts that resemble yours. In the same way as Twitter, Facebook will investigate your account before you get your verification badge to see if it meets the criteria for verification. If you want to get verified on Facebook, here are four things that Facebook will look for:
- The authenticity of your account: They will make sure you are representing a real person, registered business, or entity.
- A complete setup: Your account must be public and have an about section, profile picture, and at least one post.
- Your account’s uniqueness: It must be the unique presence of the entity it represents. Generally, one account per entity may be verified, with exceptions for language-specific accounts.
- A noteworthy account: It needs to represent a well-known highly searched-for individual, brand, or entity.
After this, you must upload an official document to request verification of your Facebook page or profile. Once you send your request, Facebook usually verifies accounts within two weeks and if your request is denied, you can apply again within 30 days.
How to get verified on Instagram
In terms of verification, Instagram is one of the most selective platforms because they look at several factors when evaluating their accounts, to determine if they are in the public interest and meet Instagram’s verification criteria. Instagram is highly cautious and wants to make sure that people in the Instagram community can easily find the people and businesses that they want to follow. To request an Instagram verification:
- Make sure you are logged in to the account that you are requesting a verified badge for.
- Go to your profile and tap the three stacked lines located in the top right-hand corner.
- Tap Settings > Accounts > Request verification.
- Enter your full name and provide the required form of identification.
- After you have filled in the form, tap Send.
Once Instagram has reviewed your request, you will receive a notification letting you know if your account has been verified or not. The same as Facebook, if your request is denied you can submit a new request after 30 days.
Do I need to pay to get verified on these social media accounts?
No. You can not pay for a verification badge. You need to prove that real people are searching for your account to show that you qualify for the badge. However, be sure to apply directly through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and do not use third parties.
Why does getting verified on social media matter?
As previously mentioned, Twitter was one of the first social media platforms to introduce verification, and it took some time for it to become as important as it is today. Becoming a verified account can represent an important milestone in building brand credibility and growing your community because it immediately tells others that you are not an average account and one you should pay attention to.
However, since many social media networks are rethinking their verification methods, it is important to find other ways to build trust with your community, as this can go a long way and may even speed up your path to verification. Alternative ways you can build trust with your followers are through:
- User-generated content: Harnessing the power of user-generated content (UGC) on your social media platform is a reliable way to reflect authenticity in your posts. After all, 74% of consumers rely on social media to inform their purchase decisions. Browse posts that have tagged your business or search relevant hashtags to determine who is most interested in your business and reshare their content.
- Collaborate with prominent brands: You can also build community by collaborating with accounts that your social users trust and look to for purchasing decisions. Whether this comes through an Instagram shout out from a related business or a post from a well-known individual in your industry, if people discover your information from a trusted source, they are more likely to follow your account.
- Social media competitions: Social media competitions inspire social media users to follow your account or interact with your brand, providing that you can execute it proficiently. By doing this, you can encourage customers to share their experiences with your business on social media through their own UGC. Social media contests allow you to interact and grow your audience.
Ultimately, it goes beyond a simple blue tick to build and engage a community of followers but putting some of these strategies into practice will help you attain that verification, a coveted badge of approval on your social media platforms.
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