You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for a first-hand example of how to get verified on Instagram.
Most of the advice online right now, unfortunately, will not work. Take it from me, I just recently received my own blue checkmark on Instagram.
It’s been a long journey. I’ve been trying for months to get my blue checkmark on Instagram and finally, after much trial and error, I’ve done it!
Today, I’m going to show you how to get verified on Instagram by sharing what I learned along this process and exactly how I was able to obtain my own blue checkmark.
I’m even including my Instagram verification application, which you’re free to use as a template for your own application when the time is right!
In fact, feel free to share this document with all of your friends looking to obtain Instagram immortality if you’d like.
I’ll share more details on the Instagram verification application process throughout this article as well.
There are many folks on Instagram with amazing follower counts and content that are thoroughly confused as to why they can’t get their Instagram account verified.
Today, I’m going to discuss why many Instagram accounts with even +100K follower bases can’t get verified, as well as how to overcome those obstacles and get your account verified with that glorious blue checkmark.
Here’s what we’ll cover in my idiot-proof guide on how to get verified on Instagram:
- What is Instagram verification? Why get verified on Instagram?
- Am I qualified to get verified on Instagram with the blue checkmark?
- 7 Tips on how to get verified on Instagram for free if you’re not currently qualified.
- How to apply for Instagram verification + free example blue checkmark application!
- Becoming “Blue Checkmark Worthy.” How to get Instagram growth in 2021.
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What is Instagram Verification? Why Get Verified on Instagram?
Let’s start with the basics for those new to the Instagram verification process by answering a few common questions:
What is Instagram verification? And, why should I get verified on Instagram?
What does Instagram verification mean?
So, what is a verified badge on Instagram?
A verified badge is a blue checkmark that appears next to an Instagram account’s name in search (first image) and on the account profile page (second image).
The verification badge means Instagram has confirmed that an account is the authentic presence of the public figure, celebrity, or brand it represents. However, Instagram does not use the verified badge to endorse or recognize public figures or brands (according to Facebook).
The blue verification badge is a tool to help people find the real accounts of public figures and brands, and it means Instagram has verified that entity as a notable and authentic Instagram account.
However, while many public figures verify their account on Instagram, not all public figures have verified badges.
So, should you get your Instagram account verified? Is it worth the hassle?
Should I get verified on Instagram?
Is it worth it to get verified on Instagram? The short answer: Yes, absolutely.
There are many reasons to want to get verified on Instagram. Top among those reasons are as follows:
Why get verified on Instagram #1: Increased Trustworthiness
Remember, seeing is believing on Instagram.
Being verified on Instagram increases your brand’s credibility. Considering less than 1% of accounts are verified, having the blue badge and check by your profile name signifies your brand is both important and relevant.
Some users might be cautious when they see a giveaway on Instagram or a deal. It’s common to be skeptical that it could be a scam. However, if Instagrammers see a blue verification badge beside the account name, they are almost certain to consider the account as trustworthy.
Personally, I’ve seen at least 10% to 30% uplift in engagement on literally everything that comes from my Instagram account.
I’m seeing increased engagement on Instagram Ads, DM (direct message) replies, as well as all of my posts, such as Reels, Instagram stories, etc.
It’s not that the algorithm favors blue ticks, it’s that Instagram users have been trained to trust them more. It’s hard to put an actual value on an Instagram verification badge, but there are people every day paying thousands of dollars to scammers who say they can obtain a verification badge (which they can’t).
Why get verified on Instagram #2: Increased Brand Awareness
Instagram verification can also increase brand awareness and therefore your follower count.
Verified Instagram profiles appear towards the top of the search and suggested accounts. Many believe the algorithm favors content by verified accounts, resulting in higher engagement per post, but really it’s the checkmark itself that encourages engagement.
The blue check is super valuable because it could also bring business opportunities to your ecommerce company.
Even if an influencer or potential partner hasn’t heard of your brand, the blue checkmark indicates your company produces a valuable commodity and is a thought leader in the industry.
The verified badge is guaranteed to spark interest, communication, and collaboration with your business.
Why get verified on Instagram #3: Early Access to Exclusive Features
Another perk is that verified accounts receive early access to Instagram features that can help monetize accounts. For example, the swipe-up feature on Instagram stories. A brand needs at least 10,000 users to get access to the swipe-up tool. But verified accounts are the exception to this rule.
Take my account for example. I have about +45k Instagram followers as of July 2021. But since it’s an official Instagram account, I’m able to add the swipe-up feature to my Instagram stories.
The swipe-up feature on Instagram is great because now I can add links to my Instagram posts and the engagement makes this feature a great Instagram story hack.
So, now that we’ve covered whether or not you should get verified on Instagram, the real question is, are you qualified for a blue Instagram verification checkmark? And, is now the right time to apply for Instagram verification?
Whether or not you’ll qualify to get verified on Instagram is our next topic of discussion.
Am I Qualified to Be Verified on Instagram with the Blue Checkmark?
You should know by now that it’s in your best interest to get verified on Instagram. And it’s true that anyone can apply to be verified on Instagram.
However, Instagram is notoriously mysterious regarding who does and who does not get verified.
So, the next question to ask yourself is, “Can I get verified on Instagram?”
Or maybe you’ve already applied and been rejected. You’re not alone and many people have asked me, “Why am I not getting verified on Instagram?”
You need to know what the requirements to get verified on Instagram actually are. Because they actually are not what you think they are.
What Instagram is NOT looking for when evaluating Blue Checkmark worthiness
There are many misconceptions when it comes to what it requires to get verified on Instagram. Most people think it’s about having a rockstar Instagram account.
Well, it’s not.
It’s also not about being a social media superstar that publishes a lot of content. Instagram isn’t looking for “big deals” on Instagram when it comes to getting that blue checkmark.
Additionally, content writers who write a lot of content about what other people are doing is great. However, not for getting verified on Instagram, it isn’t. Instead, Instagram is looking for people who have content written about them in notable publications.
Being mentioned in articles is great too, but Instagram is not looking for articles where you’re on a list of 1 out of 10 people. They’re looking for articles where you’re either the primary expert witness or the subject matter of the entire story.
Lastly, paid or promotional content definitely does not count, so save your money.
So, if you’re trying to get verified because you wrote an article that was published in Forbes magazine, you’re almost certainly going to be disappointed.
However, here’s what Instagram is looking for when deciding who gets verified and who doesn’t.
What Instagram wants to see before granting a Blue Verification Checkmark
Instagram is interested in surfacing people who are a big deal outside of the Instagram bubble.
Do you have verification on other social channels? Have you and your business been the topic of discussion in large, hard to get into publications?
In your Instagram verification badge application, you need to show signs that you’re a public figure of further noteworthiness, outside of Instagram.
The noteworthiness of the publications you’re featured in are a big deal as well. Good publications to show off in your application would include TechCrunch, CNN, The Boston Globe (as seen below), etc.
Publications that you can pay to get into, like Forbes, Huffington Post, or CIO Magazine are not going to cut it because anyone can get published there.
For a real life example of what Instagram is looking to see in your Instagram verification application, don’t forget you have my actual application, right here.
Instagram’s (publicly stated) requirements for the blue checkmark verified badge
What about Instagram? What does the actual authority in this process have to say about blue checkmark eligibility?
According to Instagram, in addition to following Instagram’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines, your account also needs to be:
- Authentic: Represent a real person, registered business or entity.
- Unique: Represent the unique presence of the person or business. Only one account per person or business may be verified, with exceptions for language-specific accounts. We don’t verify general interest accounts (example: @puppymemes).
- Complete: Your account must be public and have a bio, profile photo and be active when you apply.
- Notable: Your account must represent a well-known, highly searched for person, brand or entity. We review accounts that are featured in multiple news sources, and we don’t consider paid or sponsored media content as sources for review.
So, can anyone get verified on Instagram? Definitely not considering only 1% out of over 1 billion monthly active users have one.
However, if you really want that blue badge, I have a formula for you to follow!
How Do You Get a Blue Checkmark on Instagram if You’re Not Currently Qualified?
First of all, you should know that you only have one real shot at this. So, put your best Eminem in 8 Mile face on before hitting send on your application. ?
Full disclosure, Instagram does say, “If your request is denied, you can submit a new request again in 30 days.”
So, technically you can try again. However, keep in mind that your odds of getting approved drop dramatically after one denial, and that knowledge comes from a trusted source.
Therefore, if you’re not confident in your approval odds after reading this, don’t do it, yet.
Instead, wait until you’re confident the time is right, and keep reading!
7 tips and tricks on how to get verified on Instagram with the blue checkmark:
- Make friends with someone at Facebook.
- Grow your Instagram following organically.
- Get verified on other social media platforms!
- Do NOT try to buy Instagram verification badges.
- Monitor imposter accounts.
- Be newsworthy.
- Use PR Agencies to get your brand into notable publications.
#1. How to get verified on Instagram: Make friends with someone at Facebook
There are over one hundred thousand global employees at Facebook. You need to network your way into Facebook and become friends and be helpful to them. Give them feedback or volunteer to do beta testing, write helpful articles on how to use their tools.
Be helpful to these people at Facebook!
It may take years, but at some point, they will ask you: “How can I help you?” And that’s when you should ask for their help submitting you as a candidate for a blue checkmark.
#2. How to get verified on Instagram: Grow your Instagram following organically
This one should be obvious, but I want to bring to your attention the full section on how to get explosive Instagram growth with new tools at the end of this article.
Additionally, even if you’re famous, it’s important that you remain active, engage with, and respond to your followers on Instagram.
Furthermore, people always ask me, “How many followers do I need to get verified on Instagram?”
The answer is different for every person. If you’re not a major public figure, then you’ll need to grow your following on Instagram as well as other platforms. However, if you’re already famous, your number of followers isn’t going to matter so much.
Either way, what’s important to keep in mind is that you cannot exclusively focus on growing your Instagram followers. You need to spread your genius and creativity around, so take a cross-channel marketing approach to this process.
For now, here are some of the best tips and tricks to increase your engagement on Instagram in 2021.
#3. How to get verified on Instagram: Get verified on other social media platforms!
The Instagram verification badge is harder to get than it is from other social media platforms.
Facebook is (surprisingly) a bit easier to obtain a verification badge from
However, the point is to show you’ve been recognized outside of Instagram.
#4. How to get verified on Instagram: Do NOT try to buy Instagram verification badges
If someone tries to tell you that they have the inside guy who can get you verified on Instagram, that person is not your friend.
Nobody is going to be able to sell you an Instagram verification badge, so this goes for any third-party that’s offering you a refund if it doesn’t get approved, or you receive a DM from someone trying to sell you their Instagram verification badge, you know which finger to present them with. ?
I don’t use this term lightly given recent history, but that’s all fake news and you should report accounts like the one below if you see them online.
Instead, buy an Instagram verification badge from me directly at this hotline number…yeah, that’s my poor attempt at a joke. There’s no hotline number, sorry.
Moving right along…
As far as being able to pay your way to Instagram blue checkmark land, use your best judgement. If it feels too good to be true, in this case, it definitely is.
In reality, how to get verified on Instagram has a very short answer: Be legitimately newsworthy, period.
#5. How to get verified on Instagram: Monitor imposter accounts
This is the default way to get verified on Instagram. Ironically, you’d be unlucky to have lots of Instagram accounts impersonating you because you could lose followers, prospects, and customers to a fake account.
However, it turns out that if your brand has lots of impersonators, you could be the lucky new winner of a brand new Instagram verification badge!
So, keep an eye out for imposter accounts because your Instagram handle could be a prime candidate for an Instagram verification badge.
Are you still unsure if you’ll be approved for that highly-coveted blue checkmark by Instagram?
Don’t beat yourself up over it. If you really want it, it’s just like anything else in life, which requires time and perseverance.
#6. How to get verified on Instagram: Be newsworthy
Your goal should be to obtain as many verification signals as you can.
Take my approved verification badge application that I submitted to Instagram, for example. You need to be a “big deal” outside of Instagram. So, get as many verification signals as possible from sources, such as:
- Other verified accounts (e.g. Twitter)
- Large following on other channels
- Media coverage from notable publications
For example, here are just some of the sources I included in my Instagram verification application:
#7. How to get verified on Instagram: Use PR Agencies to get your brand into notable publications
Should all else fail, there are a lot of PR agencies that can help you in your journey to Instagram blue checkmark stardom. Work with an agency or publicist, pitch journalists, and convince them to insert you or your brand into their stories.
If PR hasn’t been a priority for your brand thus far, you might have a more difficult time proving how “notable” you are. Especially because there’s no place to submit your proof: Instagram does its own research, so it’s up to you to make sure your news is above the fold and impossible to ignore.
If you have the budget and the ambition, hire a reputable digital agency that has access to Facebook’s Media Partner Support tools. Your publicist or agent will be able to submit requests to claim usernames, merge accounts, and get accounts verified through their industry-only portal.
Is verification guaranteed? Of course not. But a request from an industry professional through the Media Partner Support panel carries more weight and distinguishes you from the crowd.
How to Apply For Instagram Verification + Free Example Application!
Ready to apply for your Instagram verification badge? Let’s walk through the best way to apply for your blue Instagram verification badge.
For those of you who are very confident in your odds of approval for an Instagram blue checkmark, here’s how to get verified on Instagram for free.
How and when to apply for your Instagram verification badge
Instagram Verifcation Application Tip #1: Use my example Instagram verification application
Take a look at my Instagram verification application, here.
What you’ll learn from my application is that you should have multiple verification signals, such as:
- Other verified accounts, such as Twitter, Facebook, and even things like a Knowledge Graph Panel on Google Search.
- Large followings on platforms other than Instagram.
- If you’re a writer, show that you’re one of the most viewed writers on Medium or Quora.
- Media coverage is huge! If you’ve been the topic of discussion on the news, your chances increase tremendously.
Ultimately, you can’t only have one of the items on this list. The most disappointed Instagrammers, who have their verification application denied, are the ones that fail to realize they need to be noteworthy outside of Instagram.
Instagram Verifcation Application Tip #2: Do NOT apply through the app!
The worst way to ensure you get verified on Instagram is to apply through the app. Your application will go into a black hole, there’s no guarantee it ever gets a proper review, and it’s a waste of time.
FB employees have an internal portal where they can submit you to be verified on Facebook. They can’t guarantee that you’ll be approved, but they can guarantee that your application will be reviewed and taken seriously, and in an expedited manner.
Instagram Verifcation Application Tip #3: Apply when your name or brand was recently in the news:
Has your brand recently been featured in the news?
Do you have a sound bite or a profile in a major international publication?
Did a recent press release or white paper get picked up?
If you’ve recently experienced an abundance of attention, or you’re planning a big announcement, think about capitalizing on it and applying for that checkmark while your name is hot.
Next, let’s dive into how you can grow your presence on Instagram organically. The way Instagram wants you to grow!
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How to Get “Blue Checkmark Worthy” Instagram Growth
Since you’re reading this article on how to get verified on Instagram, I’ll assume you’re an aspiring blue checkmark recipient.
In which case, I know how important growing your presence and influence on Instagram is to you. So, here’s the #1 secret weapon for even the biggest of Influencers and Creators on Instagram in 2021.
Without question, the answer is Customers.ai.
In fact, Customers.ai’s new tools for Instagram, which just dropped in February 2021, are the world’s first-ever 100% Instagram-approved direct message automation and engagement tools.
As far as using a chatbot to get Instagram followers goes, Customers.ai is atop the leaderboard because there’s only one way to get the right type of followers: Increasing engagement on Instagram – organically.
Not only will Customers.ai’s Instagram tools get you more of the followers that you actually want, Customers.ai has Instagram tools that allow creators and influencers to:
- Reply to every direct message instantly: Auto-reply to every Instagram direct message immediately to save your team time, capture more leads, and serve customers fast answers.
- Drive Instagram traffic into sales funnels: Upgrade “Swipe Up” links or “Link in Bio” calls to action (CTAs) by sending links through any DM, automatically and turn Instagram traffic into website traffic!
- DM fans who mention you in Stories: Incentivize brand mentions and UGC (user generated content) by sending thanks and love with automatic DMs. You’ll increase your brand’s reach when fans @mention your brand on their Stories. Oh, by the way, Neil Patel made a video after falling in love with this new Instagram growth tool!
I’ve been an influencer in the digital marketing space for over a decade now and honestly, cannot believe what I’m seeing.
It’s crazy, we have accounts that are doing nearly 100,000 messages per week and they are growing by tens of thousands more followers than normal!
The results being produced by using Customers.ai have convinced me that Instagram is hands down the place to be for business in 2021 and the foreseeable future.
Want to start using Instagram Tools right away?
To get started with Instagram bot automation tools, check out InstaChamp (Customers.ai for Instagram) and all its features, here.
Then, here are 15 Instagram Auto-DM use cases for you to get started with!
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FAQs about How to Get Verified on Instagram
A1: Being verified on Instagram means that your account has been confirmed as authentic and belongs to a notable public figure, celebrity, brand, or entity. It is indicated by a blue checkmark badge next to your account name.
A2: Instagram typically verifies accounts that are in the public interest, such as celebrities, public figures, brands, and notable entities. However, meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee verification.
A3: While Instagram doesn’t disclose specific requirements, there are some general guidelines to increase your chances of verification. These include having a significant presence in the media, being well-known, having a large following, and ensuring your account complies with Instagram’s terms of service and community guidelines.
A4: Here are a few tips to improve your chances:
Build a strong online presence: Develop a recognizable brand or persona across multiple platforms.
Be newsworthy: Generate media coverage or articles mentioning your achievements.
Grow your followers: Focus on creating quality content and engaging with your audience to build a genuine and active following.
Complete your profile: Fill out all the necessary details and provide accurate information about yourself or your brand.
A5: To apply for verification on Instagram, follow these steps:
Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select “Settings.”
Tap on “Account” and then select “Request Verification.”
Fill out the verification form, providing your account username, full name, and a government-issued photo ID or official business documents as proof of identity.
Submit your request and wait for a response from Instagram.
A6: The verification process on Instagram can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. The time frame can vary depending on the volume of verification requests Instagram receives and the complexity of the review process.
A7: No, buying or paying for Instagram verification is against the platform’s policies. Verification is a process handled by Instagram, and it cannot be obtained through external means. Be wary of any services or individuals claiming to provide guaranteed verification for a fee, as they are likely engaging in fraudulent practices.
A8: Yes, if your verification request is denied, you can reapply after 30 days. Take that time to improve your online presence, strengthen your brand, and make sure you meet the necessary criteria. However, there is no guarantee that reapplying will lead to a successful verification.
A9: If your account is successfully verified, congratulations! Ensure you continue adhering to Instagram’s terms of service and community guidelines. Use the verification badge responsibly and leverage it to build trust and credibility with your audience.
A10: Instagram reserves the right to remove the verification badge if an account violates the platform’s guidelines or changes its username. It’s important to maintain a positive presence and comply with Instagram’s policies to retain your verification status.