Instagram Verified badge is an elusive social media status indicator that can’t be bought, making it highly wanted and extremely valuable.
This badge is commonly spotted next to the handles of celebrities or well-known international corporations such as Nike and Lululemon.
Because these badges are given out on a case-by-case basis by Instagram moderators, it’s impossible to buy one or deceive an algorithm into believing you’re deserving of verification.
The Instagram page dedicated to verified badges supports the widely held belief that anyone without the surname Kardashian cannot be verified:
In search and on the profile, a verified badge displays next to the name of an Instagram account. It indicates Instagram has verified that the public figure, celebrity, or worldwide brand it represents is using this account.
So, given these statistics, how likely is it that our own account, which has less than 400 followers, will be verified?
We (@stockroom shopify and @janelee16) awoke to a shiny blue star of verification next to our Instagram names on Tuesday, November 29, 2016.
Our account had 311 followers and 8 posts at the time of verification. What’s more astonishing is that the account has been idle for almost 5 months, with the most recent post being dated July 2016.
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Hundreds of articles have been created online in an attempt to demystify the verification process by providing step-by-step directions on how to verify your account. All of these recommendations emphasise the three areas of relevance that Instagram looks for—having a large following, being active, and representing a celebrity—all of which were false for us, but we were still verified.
Hundreds of articles have been written online in an attempt to debunk the verification process by providing step-by-step instructions on how to do so. All of these suggestions emphasised the three areas of relevance that Instagram looks for—having a large following, being active, and representing a celebrity—all of which we didn’t have, but we were still verified.
The four important factors that we found as causes for our verification are listed below. Based on our personal experience, we feel that if you follow these three procedures, you will have a far better chance of getting confirmed without being a celebrity.
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1. Don’t try to become famous on Instagram first.
This is true regardless of whether you’re seeking to get verified on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube. Tinder, it appears, now has verified users as well! Whatever platform you want to use, you’ll need to focus on expanding your presence elsewhere. We believe Jane’s YouTube videos were the reason we were verified on Instagram, despite the fact that they barely received 1,000-15,000 views apiece.
There’s a good explanation behind this. This is where people will recognise you if you create your brand on Instagram and amass thousands of followers over time. You can easily be located on that platform, and it’s unlikely that you’ll be confused for someone with a similar name. As a result, Instagram’s verification of your account isn’t a high priority. After all, Instagram even acknowledges that verification is a part of their user experience improvement process:
Verification is a good technique for Instagram to help people find you if you don’t have thousands of followers and your account isn’t the main place your business lives.
2. Make a name for yourself on many platforms.
What are parallel platforms, and how do they work? People on various sites have unspoken associations that foster the same type of users with similar demographics and content styles, which social media marketers will notice.
Because Twitter is so closely linked to news and politics, you’re more likely to come across verified accounts from journalists, media pundits, and others involved in breaking news stories. Ken Bone, who became verified on Twitter after his performance at the 2016 presidential debate went viral, is a wonderful illustration of this.
Instagram and YouTube, as well as Musically and Vine, have parallels. It was in Instagram’s best interest to verify our accounts once Jane’s videos reached a certain number of views on YouTube (remember—it was only 10k average views, not something unachievable by the average person), because users who spend time on YouTube are likely to search for the Instagram accounts of the personalities they watch.
3. Put yourself in a position where you could be impersonated.
This tip comes from from Instagram’s own instructions on how to become verified. They emphasise that verification is carried out not simply to improve the user experience, but also to prevent persons from impersonating others:
A verified badge means Instagram knows you’re who you say you are and wants to assist users believe that they’re following the genuine @shopify stockroom and not some imposter who might end up spamming you with illegal stuff you didn’t want.
Your Instagram page should still include your name, email address, and a link to your website so that Instagram can verify your identity, but you don’t have to be the first profile that comes up when people search for your name on the platform. In fact, having a low profile and so being vulnerable to impersonation in order to be authenticated may be advantageous.
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4. Submit a verification request
The final step is to submit an Instagram verification request. This can be done through the mobile app.
Simply go to Settings > Account > Request Verification and fill in the required fields:
Your whole name
What you are often referred to as (i.e. your brand name)
Your account type (which can range from Blogger/Influencer to Business/Brand) or “Category”
A photograph of your government-issued identification.
Please keep in mind that this only submits your account for review and does not guarantee that it will be authorised. However, by following the methods outlined above, you can improve your odds.
Getting your Instagram account verified
Our collaboration with Shopify is an essential consideration in our tale. The @Shopify account is verified on Instagram, and its YouTube channel has a following of over 70k people. This isn’t something we can dismiss as a factor in the vetting process.
However, it’s unclear that this was the sole reason for Jane and The Stockroom’s accounts being verified. It was most likely a result of a number of variables, including a small bit of luck as well as a great deal of hard work and forethought.
The most important takeaway from this experience is that verification is not reserved for celebrities and other big names. It is possible to get verified with only a moderate following, and our experience is a great example of the lesser-known factors that can help get you verified on Instagram.
