How To Get Verified On Instagram: A Complete Guide On Instagram Verification

If you want to gain more new followers, establish brand credibility, and increase your brand awareness, then today’s post is for you.

We’re talking about getting the famous blue check on Instagram. Let’s get verified!

In this post, we’re going to walk you through how to get verified on Instagram.

We’re sure you have seen the blue check on account profiles on Instagram. Whether they are celebrities,

public figures,

or well-known brands.

If you’re reading this post, that means you are probably wondering how you can get verified too. Or maybe what it means to begin with.

Well in this post, we are going to explain:

• What is Instagram verification?
• What does the actual process to apply look like?
• What are Instagram’s qualifications?
• What are the benefits your business can get from being verified?

So if you are ready to get started, let’s dive in!

What Is Instagram Verification?

So what is Instagram verification? What is it meant for?

Originally, Instagram verification was made to let users know which account profiles were the real deal.

This feature was made for public figures, celebrities, and well-known brands or accounts that are often impersonated by others.

For example, when we search Sunglass Hut on Instagram, there are a lot of results that pop up.

They all look very similar, and at first glance, you could easily mistake any of them for the real Sunglass Hut account.

But upon a closer look, you can see clearly that of all the results, only one of them has the blue checkmark. This indicates that this is the real account.

The blue check is a symbol given by Instagram to show everyone that this account is the legitimate person or brand.

And that you can trust it.

But nowadays, there are many more perks to being verified, which we will go over in a bit.

How To Apply To Get Verified On Instagram

Now that you understand what being verified on Instagram means, let’s get into the actual application process.

And this takes place within the Instagram app.

1. So, the first thing you need to do is go to your profile.

2. After that, tap the 3 lines in the top right-hand corner, which is also known as the hamburger icon.

3. Tap the very first option that says “Settings” and it should open up your full list of Instagram settings.

4. About halfway down the page you should see “Account” and click on that.

5. Then scroll down to find “Request verification.” This should bring up the application page.

On this page, there are several things you will need to fill out.

• Username

Notice that the first box, “Username” has already been filled out for you with your Instagram username plugged in.

• Full name

You want to put your full government name here because later they are going to verify it.

Whatever name it says on a government document is what you want to type in here.

• Known as

In this field, you can either write your brand name, company name, or you can even just write your full name again if that’s applicable.

• Category

Here, use the drop-down menu to find the name of your category that aligns the most with your industry.

In this case, you will click business/brand/organization.

• Photo ID

Lastly, it says to attach a photo ID. This can be your driver’s license, a business document, national ID card, anything that is government-issued.

Make sure to take a clear picture with bright lightning so they can read your name and see the document clearly.

After that, just hit send.

It’s important to note that just because you have applied to be verified on Instagram, that does not mean that you automatically will be.

It takes about a month for Instagram to review your application process.

And just like when you apply for jobs, your business has to be vetted by their qualifications.

If you are denied, you will receive a notification in your Instagram notification tab.

It will tell you that you didn’t meet the criteria or have the qualifications to be verified.

The good news is that you can re-apply every 30 days to get verified on Instagram.

If you are approved, you will receive a notification, and you will see a blue checkmark on your account.

What Are The Qualifications To Be Verified on Instagram?

So now that we know the process to apply, what do you need to do in order to qualify?

Instagram’s qualifications are judged based on four different criteria.

1. Authenticity

Your Instagram account must show that you are a real person, a real registered business, or a real entity.

It’s important for your account to show that you are indeed a real business or brand and not a fake or fan account.

2. Uniqueness

The second thing Instagram looks for is unique content.

They want to make sure that you are uploading and posting your own content to your account.

This is content that you own the rights to.

Instagram won’t verify accounts that repost content from other pages, so make sure to create your own personalized and unique content.

You can create or share:

• inspirational videos,
• pictures of your employees or of your product,
• informational graphics about a hot topic in your industry

For more content ideas, check out this post we published on what to post on Instagram.

3. Complete

The third thing Instagram looks for is a complete profile.

This means you must have a profile picture, biography, and at least one post on your account.

People make snap judgments about profiles and accounts within seconds.

So beyond this, you will want to make sure that your profile is complete and attractive.

The second part of this is that your account must be public. Instagram does not give verifications to private accounts.

To make your account public, go to your profile and tap the hamburger icon again.

Then click on “Settings” and scroll to where it says “Privacy.”

At the top, it should say private account. Make sure the toggle is off. Now your profile is public.

4. Notability

The last thing, and maybe the hardest to achieve, is notability.

Instagram doesn’t hand out checks to just any account. They are notorious for being the pickiest about who gets verified.

So, you need to show them that your account is highly searched for by other users and that you are important.

The way to do this is by being published or written about either in online news articles, blogs, or more.

This is probably the one factor that stumps businesses trying to get verified on Instagram.

Keep in mind that the article or press has to be unpaid and organic.

Unfortunately, if Instagram detects in any way that your business somehow paid for the press, they will deny you.

A tip for getting the press you need is to reach out to writers and bloggers that cover businesses or accounts similar to yours.

And then, ask them if they would be interested in writing about your profile.

You never know what could happen.

6 Benefits Of Being Verified On Instagram

Instagram’s blue check carries a lot of weight, especially for business owners.

Whether it’s for social status, to establish trustworthiness, to have a stronger social media presence, or something else…

…getting verified on Instagram is important to building a brand.

Every business wants the blue check added to their profile for many different reasons.

Let’s go over some of the most sought-after benefits from getting verified on Instagram.

1. Establish Trustworthiness

The first item on our list may be one of the most important for business owners.

Getting verified on Instagram establishes a higher level of trustworthiness.

It sends a message that your brand is real and that you can be trusted. This is a great way to boost your leads and sales.

In other words, the blue check on your profile tells all one billion Instagram users that your business account is trustworthy and dependable.

These are two things people look for in a business when making a purchasing decision.

More people would rather buy from your verified account versus another business that isn’t.

The more people that trust your brand and see that it is legitimate, the more conversions your business can generate.

2. Build Brand Credibility

Similar to trustworthiness, brand credibility is a huge plus when you get Instagram verified.

If Instagram trusts your brand enough for them to give you the most exclusive status symbol on the app…

…that must mean that your brand is legitimate and of high worth.

Only 3.26% of the Instagram population is verified.

And as we learned earlier, the Instagram verification process can be tricky and has strict qualifications for who can earn the blue check.

So if your business gets verified, that immediately tells your audience that you’re an established and credible business to buy products or services from.

Brand credibility helps consumers feel good and safe when they are buying from your business.

It’s no wonder that many small business owners are working hard to get their Instagram accounts verified.

3. Create Brand Awareness

Brand awareness is an important factor in building a brand and another benefit of getting verified.

With billions of people sharing pictures and videos with their friends, it’s important to stand out and drive attention towards your brand.

If you want your audience to start sharing your profile and recommending your business to their friends, getting verified can help.

As a verified account, when you comment on someone else’s post…

…your comment will appear at the top of the comment section with the blue check next to your name.

This can help leverage more attention to your profile.

Also, anytime you view someone’s story, your story view will appear at the very top also with your checkmark beside your name.

Thus, letting the user know you watched it.

And according to a recent study, on average, verified accounts have a 30% higher engagement rate.

That means having that check next to your account name will make people more likely to interact with your brand.

And, share it with their friends and family as well.

Being verified can make your account more visible when you interact with others.

This is because the Instagram algorithm favors verified accounts.

And this gives you more organic reach, visibility, and ultimately, helps you build brand awareness.

Being verified and interacting with other accounts can help boost profile clicks and leads for your company as well.

4. Convey Authority

When you receive a blue check, it makes your account a thought-leader and authority figure to your audience, competitors, and to your industry.

Your brand is one of the few that has this blue symbol of influence.

Because you are verified, consumers are going to want to hear what you have to say even more than before.

As a result, this is going to drive your profile traffic and increase your engagement. This can translate to increased leads and sales.

5. Early Access To Special Features

It’s not just about establishing yourself as a brand and making sure no one impersonates your brand…

…Instagram verification also has fun features that can help your business in the long run.

A great benefit of being verified is that you get to access new features of Instagram before anyone else does.

This gives you time to play with the new development so that by the time it’s released to the general public, you will already be a pro.

This can help your business look more professional and skilled in implementing your social media marketing strategy.

6. Security

The last benefit to being verified on Instagram is that if your account was to ever be hacked, you can accelerate the process of recovering it.

Being verified means your business is even more important and valuable.

That’s why Instagram will work harder and faster to get your account back, compared to when your account is not verified.

Wrapping Up

And that is everything you need to know about how to get verified on Instagram!

Do you need more help with your Instagram marketing strategy? Don’t fret, we have the perfect solutions for you.

We offer affordable Instagram marketing services for brands and businesses like yours, so if you want to learn more about it, contact us today!