How to Get Verified on Social Media

Being awarded the blue checkmark of verification on social media is a right of passage for many businesses and public figures, whether emerging influencers or those with celebrity status. The blue checkmark on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram shows people that you or your business is important and established, and that the account is authentic and not just a fan page or imposter. When a business is verified on social media, the blue checkmark indicates that that page can be contacted with customer service requests, and that any marketing content or promotions being posted by that page are legitimate. Though verification is coveted on social media, it’s not very easy to get, especially for individuals. Each social media platform has a slightly different stance on verification, but all adhere to the same principle in the sense that all of them treat it seriously. In this article, we will go over the verification process for Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

How to Get Verified on Facebook

Facebook has two different verification check marks that a business is eligible to receive. The blue checkmark is the traditional verified marker, and confirms the authenticity of pages, public figures, and brands. The gray checkmark confirms the location of a specific business. This one is not as difficult to receive, but is also very important to prove that your business exists where you say it does. If you are a franchise or part of a larger corporation, the main corporate account for your business would have the blue checkmark, and your franchise location may be awarded the gray. The only types of pages that Facebook will consider verification for are local businesses or organizations, companies, and public figures. In order to prove that you are a public figure by using your personal account, you will need a lot of followers, and the process of verification is not as easy as it may be for the page of a business or organization. It is also recommended that if you are an emerging public figure that you create a fan page for yourself, and attempt verification through the page. The first step before you consider verification is to make sure that your page looks professional and complete. Ensure that all information is updated and correct, and that you have filled out all of the “about” sections on your page profile. Also make sure that you are posting regularly, and that you are providing sufficient native content.

To verify a page on Facebook:

Go to the page’s settings à General à Page Verification. The option to verify the page will only exist if your page is eligible.
You will be asked if you want to instant verify by having Facebook call your business phone number, or if you want to do the longer form verification. If you choose to instant verify, you will receive a phone call with a code. Once your business phone has been verified, you may receive a gray checkmark, and possibly a blue one once other appropriate documentation has been approved by Facebook.

In order to verify a personal page on Facebook, you will need a ton of friends and followers. You will need to contact Facebook directly, and they will request that you send in documentation that proves you are who you say you are. This process can take anywhere from 48 hours to 45 days. If you are denied verification on your first attempt, you can still revamp your profile, and try the process again.

How to Get Verified on Twitter

On Twitter, the coveted blue checkmark means that the account is one of public interest and it is authentic. The process for verification on Twitter is similar to the process on Facebook. To get verified on Twitter you will need to ensure that your profile is complete. This means that you have a profile picture and a header picture, a biography, and you have entered your birthday in the general settings. You may then submit for verification if you feel that your account is of public interest. You must have the following in addition to a profile and header photo, bio, and birthday.

Verified phone number
Confirmed e-mail address
Website
Tweets set as public

To submit for verification, you will need to fill out a form and explain to Twitter why you think the account should be verified. You will also need to provide URL links of published work. Choose URLs that express the newsworthiness of the account, or the relevancy in the field of public interest. If the account is personal as opposed to a company or brand, you may be required to submit a government-issued ID to prove the authenticity of the account. If Twitter denies you a verified account, you may resubmit your request after 30 days.

How to Get Verified on Instagram

Though there are a select number of verified accounts on Instagram, it is currently not possible to request a verified badge. The blue checkmarks on Instagram have been awarded by Instagram to certain celebrities or brands. If you are a brand or influencer, it can be a great boost to your social networks to be verified. Regardless of verified status or not, it’s important that you ensure that all of your social media accounts are professional, consistent, and complete. For help with any of your social media marketing needs, contact us at Miss Ink. With over 10 years of experience in social media marketing, we can help your brand achieve marketing success online. We look forward to hearing from you. [button size=”medium” align=”none” link=”https://miss-ink.com/free-social-media-consult/” linkTarget=”_blank” color=”pink”]Request a Free Social Media Consult[/button] References: Request to verify an account | Twitter Help Center. (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2017, from https://support.twitter.com/articles/20174631 Instagram Help Center. (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2017, from https://help.instagram.com/854227311295302 Gotter, A., Says, N. M., Says, A. G., Says, M. C., Says, S., Says, K., . . . Says, A. B. (2017, July 07). How to Verify Your Facebook Page, Step by Step. Retrieved July 17, 2017, from https://adespresso.com/academy/blog/verify-facebook-page-step-step/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue%3A 2017-07-07 Social Media Today Newsletter %5Bissue%3A11059%5D&utm_term=Social Media Today