As an influencer, it’s always good to build trust with your audience and come across as legitimate and trustworthy. One of the ways to achieve this is to get verified on Instagram.
But the elusive blue tick can be hard to get. That’s why we’ve created this guide. We’ll be covering exactly what you need to do to get Instagram verified. We’ll also explain how you can give yourself the best chance of being approved.
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What does it mean to be Instagram verified?
According to Instagram, verification is a way of showing that an account is “the authentic presence of the public figure, celebrity, or global brand it represents.” Getting verified shows that your content is authentic and unique. It also shows your account isn’t, for instance, a fan account.
When you get verified, a blue tick will appear next to your account name, which shows you’re the original creator of the account. It’ll help new and existing followers identify you. It’ll also distance you from any negative publicity that might be created by imposter accounts.
In reality, being Instagram verified doesn’t really afford you any extra perks as an influencer. But it does help to legitimize your “brand” and protect you against the negative impact of other accounts that might copy you or repurpose your content.
Instagram wants to ensure that they only verify influencers who are the real deal. Because of this, it can be quite difficult to get verified. If you’re someone like Kylie Jenner, you should be okay. For the average influencer, it might be a bit harder, but it’s certainly not impossible.
The requirements to get Instagram verified
If you want to be Instagram verified, the first thing you need to do is check that your account meets all of the requirements. First, you must meet the Instagram Terms of Use and Community Guidelines.
Other than that, Instagram requires your account to be:
- Authentic: Instagram requires all verified accounts to represent a real person, brand, or business.
- Unique: Your account must be unique and represent your brand or personal presence. If your business has more than one Instagram account, only one account can be verified. Instagram won’t verify what they regard as “general interest” accounts, such as accounts that share memes or curate content.
- Complete: All accounts must be complete in order to be verified. This means that your account must be public. It must have a completed bio, a profile photo, and at least one photo. Also, you can’t include “add me” links to your other social profiles in your bio.
- Notable: This is the trickiest requirement to meet. In order to be verified on Instagram, your account must be notable. This means that it must represent a well-known or highly searched for person or brand. Getting featured online in news articles helps, but promotional content isn’t considered when evaluating this.
If you want to find out more about the requirements, here’s a link to what Instagram says.
How do you apply for a verified badge on Instagram?
If you believe you meet all the requirements to get verified on Instagram, then all you need to do is apply. The application is fairly simple. Just follow the steps below:
Step #1: Go to your Instagram profile
Log into the account you want to get verified on. Go to your profile by clicking on your profile picture at the bottom right of the screen.
Step #2: Go to settings
Tap on the three lines in the top right corner of your screen. Then, click on “Settings.”
Step #3: Request verification
On the settings page, tap on “Account.” Then select “Request verification.”
Step #4: Fill in the details
If you’re eligible to request verification, you’ll be prompted to input: (1) your profile name, (2) your full legal name, (3) who you’re known as, such as a nickname people recognize you as, and (4) your account’s category.
You’ll also need to upload a picture of a government-issued photo ID. Instagram will use it to confirm your identity. Then, hit “Send.”
What happens after you apply for Instagram verification?
Once you’ve requested verification, Instagram will review your request. The review process can take up to 30 days.
Instagram will take your profile and your internet presence into account in order to establish whether or not you’re eligible for verification.
Once a decision has been made, you’ll receive a message in your Instagram notifications. If you don’t get verified, you can apply again after 30 days of the message.
Tips for getting verified on Instagram
There are no hacks or tricks that will help you get Instagram verified. But there are many ways you can improve your chances.
Here are some general tips that should help you make your account more eligible for verification.
Post regularly
According to the Instagram guidelines, accounts must have at least one post in order to get verified. However, your chances of getting verified on Instagram will be much higher if you post regularly.
The more posts you have, the easier it’ll be for the verification team to see who you are and what you’re all about. If you’re struggling to come up with ideas, check out this list of 24 cool things to post on Instagram to boost your chances.
Build your following
Although there’s no official follower count required, it’ll be easier to establish credibility if you have more followers. It shows you’re more “notable,” which is an official requirement for verification.
As an influencer, your followers will build gradually over time. But the more time you dedicate to your profile, the quicker your follower count will grow.
So be sure to post content regularly and interact with your existing followers. For more tips and insights, check out these 20 ways to grow your Instagram audience organically.
Don’t link to other social channels in your bio
You may be trying to grow all of your social channels at once. But if you want to get Instagram verified, you shouldn’t include links to other social channels in your bio.
Although this might help you to attract followers and subscribers on other platforms, Instagram won’t verify you if you include any “add me links” in your bio.
It’s also worth noting that once you’re verified, your verification can be removed if you no longer meet the requirements. So don’t link out to other social channels after you’ve been verified either.
Be honest
Verification on Instagram is all about authenticity, so you should try to be as honest as possible when applying for verification.
Make sure that you choose the right category for your account. Double-check that all the information you provide is accurate.
When it comes to providing your ID document, ensure that the document is clear and real. Instagram takes their verification process very seriously. If you try to cheat the system, you’ll lose your verification, and possibly your account.
Be newsworthy
A great way to give yourself the best chance of getting verified on Instagram is to make yourself newsworthy.
This means getting your account or your work featured on multiple news sources. This can be online news, like credible blogs or high profile sites that publish press releases.
If you’re struggling to get your account featured in the news, try focusing on local news sources.
Once you’ve landed some features in the news, be sure to make them visible. You can, for example, link to them on your website. This way, Instagram’s verification team will easily find the information they’re looking for during their review.
Have a public account
According to the Instagram guidelines, you can’t get verified on Instagram if your account isn’t public. So if you currently have your account set to private, you’ll need to change it before you apply for verification.
You can do this in your settings page. Click Settings > Privacy, then use the toggle to turn your privacy off.
Don’t use a service to apply
Instagram verification is so sought after and elusive that a number of “third party services” have sprung up. They claim to be able to get you verified on Instagram. Instagram doesn’t condone the use of these services. These services might be out to scam you, so avoid them at all costs.
The easiest way to get verified is to follow the steps above.
Only apply to be verified on one account
If you have more than one account on Instagram, you must choose one for official verification.
So choose the account you’d most like to be verified, and only apply for verification from that account. This will give you the best chance of being accepted.
Don’t give up
If you do get rejected for verification the first time, all is not lost. Keep growing your account and online presence. Then try to apply for verification again. Remember, you can resubmit for verification every 30 days.
If you do get rejected, follow the tips in this article to improve your chances for next time.
Don’t lose your badge once you get one
If you’re lucky enough to get the coveted verification tick, handle it with care.
Instagram has been known to remove verification ticks. So keep up with following good Instagram practices, like posting relevant, quality content regularly. And whatever you do, do not break any of Instagram’s terms or rules.
What do you do if you can’t get verified on Instagram?
Unfortunately, not everyone can get verified on Instagram, but there are a lot of other ways to prove your authenticity. You can build your web presence by linking to your Instagram from your website or other social media profiles.
If you want to build an authentic presence, it’s all about community. When building your community, be sure to post quality content at optimal times. You should also try to stay engaged by interacting and responding to any questions and comments.
The more interaction your followers have with you, the more they’ll trust you. As your following grows, keep trying to get verified and you may just get approved!
Final thoughts on getting Instagram verified
Although Instagram verification can be hard to get, it’s certainly possible to get verified. The truth is, there are no quick hacks that will help you get Instagram verified.
All you have to do is follow the rules, grow your following, and build a good reputation as an influencer. The tips above should help you do just that.
Good luck!
