Should You Verify Your Instagram Account?
Instagram verified badges help people more easily find the public figures, celebrities and brands they want to follow. Because we all want to look our best online, I often get questions about getting a verified badge.
A verified badge is a blue seal with a little checkmark that appears next to your username. So, having that checkmark means Instagram has confirmed that an account is the authentic presence of the public figure, celebrity or global brand it represents.
You can apply for Instagram verification with either a personal account or a business account.
Requesting Instagram Verified Badges
- Log in to your account
- Go to Settings > Account > Request Verification
- Enter your full name
- Provide the required form of identification (example: government-issued photo ID).
Submitting a request doesn’t guarantee that your account will be verified. Once your request is submitted, Instagram looks at a number of factors to determine if you qualify for a badge.
Verification criteria includes:
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Authentic: Your account must represent a real person, registered business or entity.
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Unique: Your account must be the unique presence of the person or business it represents. Only one account per person or business may be verified, with exceptions for language-specific accounts.
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Complete: Your account must be public and have a bio, profile photo and at least one post. Your profile can’t contain “add me” links to other social media services.
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Notable: Your account must represent a well-known, highly searched for person, brand or entity. Instagram reviews accounts that are featured in multiple news sources, and doesn’t consider paid or promotional content as sources for review.
Once your request for a verified badge is reviewed, you will receive a notification letting you know if your account has been verified or not. If your request is denied, you can submit a new request after 30 days. Caution, Instagram will never request payment for verification or reach out to ask you to confirm your verification.
Currently, only Instagram accounts that have a high likelihood of being impersonated have verified badges.
Increase the Chances – Work on your Digital Presence
Being featured in multiple media outlets increases the chance of getting Instagram verification. Services like PRNEWS.IO can help you get mentions that help with the Instagram verification process.
Don’t forget to mention your publications and save them in Highlights to make Instagram moderators easier to find them.
No Instagram Badge? No Problem.
If your account doesn’t have a verified badge, there are other ways to let people know you’re authentic.
Link from other official sources
Link to your Instagram account from other official sources, like your website, Facebook Page, YouTube and/or or Twitter. However, don’t link to your other social channels from your Instagram bio. (Instagram does not like that.)
Use your Instagram bio effectively
Have a complete and effective bio that offers a great description to show that your account is authentic and credible.
Go behind the scenes with Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories give you the chance to show the people behind your brand and to give followers a chance to see what’s happening with your brand.
Get followers involved
Encourage customers to tag your business in their posts. Getting shares from real people boosts the credibility of your posts.
Want more? I recently posted some great ideas for using Instagram for your brand.
