How to Actually Get a Blue Tick on Instagram [2022].

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it doesn't give anyone the right to impersonate others on social media. While celebrities are most likely to be misrepresented this way, the rest of us may also be at risk. For this reason, there is growing support for Instagram to expand its verification program beyond just its most important users. For some time, Instagram has resisted verifying non-celebrity and non-brand accounts. However, in late August 2018, Instagram theoretically opened the verification process to the rest of us.

Verification Application

Anyone can apply for verification. Starting the process is simple. Follow the steps below to apply for verification:

Step 1

Open the Instagram app and tap the profile in the bottom right corner

Step 2

Tap the three horizontal lines in the menu in the top right and tap 'Settings'.

Step 3

Scroll down and tap 'Account'.

Step 4

Scroll down further and tap 'Request Verification'

Step 5

Fill out the form and click 'Send' at the bottom You will need to provide Instagram with photos of your ID and other documents (bills, etc.) so they can review and verify them. You will also choose what type of account you have, from news to influencer; there are several options available, tap the one closest to yours. Then all you have to do is wait! The process can take up to 30 days, but if you're rejected, you can reapply. However, there's still a catch.

The Catch

The trick is that while everyone can apply, the standards don't really seem to have changed. Instagram still says that accounts must be notable, defining this as "an account that represents a well-known, highly searched person, brand, or entity" . We review accounts featured in multiple news sources and don't consider paid or promotional content as a source of review." So if you're famous on Instagram, you may be able to get verified... but if you have 16 followers and three of them are your siblings, you're probably still out of luck. There are other ways to get verified on Instagram, but none are guaranteed. But before we get into them, we need to ask an important question…

Do You Need to Be Verified on Instagram?

You might be wondering if you need to be verified. The blue checkmark doesn't get you into exclusive clubs, give you discounts on products, or make you more attractive to the opposite sex. What's the point? The only real benefit of being verified on Instagram is if you run a business and use the network for marketing. Then being a verified member adds a bit more credibility to your message than it would normally have. That said, by the time Instagram considers you for verification, you'd already need hundreds of thousands of followers, so you've already passed the point of needing verification. If you take your social media marketing seriously, verification can add some weight to your campaigns. It also helps in another way. After you've gained a lot of followers, you'll notice other accounts being created to impersonate you and spam your loyal followers. The blue checkmark gives your fans something to look for and ensure that it's you and not someone impersonating you.

Get Verified on Instagram

To get verified on Instagram, you can either buy a verified account from a source or do things the hard way. As mentioned above, nothing is guaranteed here, and the exact requirements for a verified account are a secret only Instagram knows for sure. The flip side is that all your work will benefit your Instagram marketing efforts whether you're verified or not. The hard way involves social media marketing activities. They are slow and methodical, but will gradually earn you authority in your niche and then in your followers.

Earning Instagram Verification the Hard Way: Don't Start with Instagram

When the endgame is verification on Instagram, you might want to start by ignoring the network entirely. If you can build a social presence that Instagram itself wants to be associated with, you can bypass the traditional verification methods. Sometimes doing this can get Instagram to offer you verification rather than you asking for it. A typical social media marketing campaign looks at your brand, what you offer, your target market, and then chooses the most likely social networks from there. Think about who your main customers are and which social networks they'll use the most. Create a profile on each one and make them as full and engaging as possible. Then start posting something genuinely useful once a day. A social media marketing campaign is usually divided into three or six month sections. Plan three months of posts and content, link your accounts to your company blog, and be patient.

Build an Online Presence

The idea here is to create truly useful content that your audience will benefit from. This is the content most likely to succeed on any social network and starts to build authority and visibility potential for your brand. Once you have a few months of content on other social networks, create an Instagram account and link everything together. Add your company information and links to your website on your Instagram account. Try to be a leader in what you post, not a follower. The more quality content you put there, the more likely you are to be seen as someone who brings other people to Instagram. This is the key to getting verified. As you get noticed on other networks, the analytics tools on Instagram may flag you as someone of interest to their network. This is what you should work on. As you build your reputation, connect with other influencers and make yourself useful online. You'll start to become someone people want to connect with. Doing this can greatly increase your chances of getting verified status. Getting verified on Instagram is not guaranteed, but it's also not impossible. Although it's usually not easy, it can add some weight to the perception of your business. If you have time and patience, it's definitely worth a try!