Influencer Marketing in Asia: An Interview with Aaron Brooks
Aaron Brooks
April 21, 2017
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A blue tick on Instagram tells users that your brand’s account is bona fide, trustworthy, and worth following. Their rarity gives an Instagram account a certain prestige that may translate into engagement.
The purpose of the coveted blue tick is to show that your profile has been verified by Instagram and is official, i.e. it’s not somebody impersonating your brand (which happens all too often with high-profile public figures, companies, and influencers etc).
Users know that any Instagram account that’s verified is not a fan account, a tribute account or plain fake.
According to Hootsuite, the Instagram algorithm doesn’t favour blue tick accounts, and having a blue tick on Twitter and/or Facebook doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be granted one on Instagram.
Instagram stresses that only people and brands who are likely to be impersonated will be given a blue tick. To get verified, you must first and foremost stick to the platform’s Terms of Service and Community Guidelines.
Then, you’ll need to make sure you meet the following criteria, as advised by Hootsuite:
The number of followers you have doesn’t have a bearing on whether or not you’ll be verified.
Once you’ve made sure that your account meets all the Instagram criteria guidelines, you can request verification in the Instagram app.
Log into your account and follow the steps below:
Even if your account meets all the verification criteria, it may still be refused a blue check mark. If you’re turned down, you’ll have to wait 30 days before you apply again.
It’s difficult to get verified on Instagram, but not impossible. To increase your chances, follow these helpful tips from Sprout Social:
To ensure you’re making the most of your account, take a look at our complete guide to Instagram. Increase engagement by using effective captions (see our Instagram captions guide), and post at the times likely to lead to maximum exposure, by following our best time to post on Instagram advice.
If you come across accounts offering blue ticks either for free or in exchange for cash, avoid them like the plague. You cannot buy, sell or transfer a verification badge.
Don’t be tempted to buy Instagram followers either. It won’t result in increased engagement, which will indicate that your followers aren’t genuine. It’s far better to put in the work to attract real followers who are interested in your brand, because when it comes to getting verified, a highly engaged following is always a bonus.
Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that Meta will be rolling out a new paid-for verification option for Facebook and Instagram accounts costing $11.99 a month (or $14.99 on iOS). It’ll be rolled out in Australia and New Zealand, before being offered to the rest of the world.
Called Meta Verified, the new feature aims to ‘increase authenticity and security’ across the platforms. However, you won’t be able to just buy your way to a blue tick, because the same criteria will apply. Those who already hold verified accounts will keep their status.
Instagram is always watching and if you’re seeking verification, your brand needs to behave impeccably. Avoid the following:
Instagram doesn’t issue any guidelines on the number of followers you need to qualify for verification, but Shopify says that one study discovered accounts with as few as 1,000 followers can have blue ticks. However, in general, the more followers an account has, the more likely it is to be verified.
It can be really hard to get verified on Instagram. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, Instagram’s official statement regarding who gets verified reads: “To request a verified badge, you must be a public figure, celebrity or brand and meet certain account and eligibility criteria.”
You also need to have an account that’s highly likely to be impersonated. So, if you’re Joe Bloggs with 500 followers and you aren’t going to appear on Love Island any time soon, it’s unlikely that you’ll be verified.
However, if you put in the work and build up your brand enough to be Instagram famous, you’re in with a chance. Basically, you need to look like the kind of brand that others will be rushing to impersonate.
Don’t even think about trying to get verified using false or misleading information. You’ll be found out and that elusive blue tick will be even further out of reach.
Want to know what your chances of Instagram verification are? Try Influencer Marketing’s fun tool.
There’s no official figure on the number of followers you need to get verified on Instagram, but one study cited by Shopify showed that verified accounts tend to have more than 1,000 followers.
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll be verified on Instagram if you have fake followers. Influencer Marketing Hub explains that Instagram will probably suss you out, and it will make your account look off because you will have very little engagement.
The only thing worse than being refused verification, is getting it and then having it taken away. This can happen. Instagram reserves the right to withdraw the blue tick and will do so if you commit any of the following social media crimes:
When applying for Instagram verification, you need to provide proof of identity or business authenticity. For individuals, this typically includes a government-issued photo ID such as a passport, driver’s license, or national identification card.
For businesses, documents like tax filings, recent utility bills, or articles of incorporation can be submitted. These documents help Instagram verify that you are a genuine person or legitimate business.
The duration of the Instagram verification process can vary. After submitting your verification request, it typically takes a few days to a few weeks for Instagram to review your application.
During this period, Instagram assesses your account based on authenticity, uniqueness, completeness, and notability. There is no exact timeline, and in some cases, it might take longer depending on the volume of requests and the completeness of the provided information.
Several common reasons can lead to the denial of an Instagram verification request. One major reason is not meeting the notability criteria; your account must represent a well-known, highly searched-for person, brand, or entity.
Additionally, incomplete profiles lacking a profile picture, bio, and posts can be denied. Accounts that provide false or misleading information during the verification process are also likely to be rejected. Lastly, if your account has a history of violating Instagram’s community guidelines or terms of service, it could be a significant reason for denial.
It’s not the end of the world if you don’t get a blue tick as you can show authenticity in other ways. Shopify suggests linking your Instagram account to your website, Facebook, YouTube etc. You could also try adding more video content of you and your team behind the scenes. Opening the door to your brand and showing people what it’s really about is a good way to inspire trust.
To increase your reach, check out our tips on how to amplify your content. If you’re serious about building up your social profile, get started with Vamp to turbo charge your business/brand on social media. Our pricing is transparent and there’s a plan to suit all budgets.
