How to Get Become Verified on Instagram

[Originally posted on the Dash Hudson blog.]

The almighty social marketing platform is opening its guarded kingdom of blue checkmarks: getting verified on Instagram is now something you can initiate directly from the app. Here’s everything you need to know about the process.

That elusive, coveted checkmark next to your name on your Instagram profile. One that marketers have sought, often in vain, as a badge of legitimacy for their brand on Instagram. It’s been a hot ticket since the social platform began giving them out a few years back, but it hasn’t exactly been generous with their attribution.

Until just a few short weeks ago, the verification process was by no means an open enrollment format. In fact, there was no way for accounts — business or regular — to even start an application for it. The badge was reserved for those that Instagram itself recognized as deserving — high profile users with a risk of being impersonated (like celebrities), notable companies and figureheads, and popular Instagrammers with large audiences.

Applying for a blue checkmark was downright not an option. Straight up zero request forms and no direct way to reach the tech giant to inquire. The only way to be one of its lucky recipients was to be approached by the Facebook-owned company. It was a pain point for a lot of businesses that were seeking to proudly display their recognized authority.

Cut to: data breaches, social cyber bullying, security concerns, and computer science accountability. If there’s one good thing that’s come out of all the digital untidiness of the past year is increased responsibility, and Instagram’s primary concern remains keeping its space a safe one. That’s why accounts have the option to disable comments and the company is now using AI to identify hate-filled discourse.

In its ongoing effort to keep things kosher, Instagram is removing the veil of mystery around the verification process, simultaneously fulfilling the dreams of many marketers by making the official blue checkmark badge available to any and all that are willing and able to apply for it. Getting verified on Instagram is now possible to do right through the app itself, and in a few simple steps that take all of two minutes (seriously, time it).

Here are the four measures to follow to get Insta to finally corroborate your validity. Not to mention the cachet that comes with the badge, real talk.

Step 1

Head to your Instagram profile, swipe right, and tap the settings wheel at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2

Scroll down to the ‘Account’ section and tap on ‘Request Verification’.

Step 3

Fill out all the required fields, which are essentially your name, what other monikers you are known under, and your type of business. You’ll also need to upload a picture of your government-issued ID so they can truly validate your person.

Step 4

The waiting game. Monitor your inbox for the approval (or denial). If you’ve been verified, your badge should appear as soon as the application goes through. If you’re denied, you’ll have to wait 30 days to resubmit.

Instagram is undoubtedly sticking to strict standards, stating: “We look at a number of factors when evaluating Instagram accounts to determine if they’re in the public interest and meet our verification criteria.” They state four requirements that applicants need to hit in order to receive the coveted badge.

Verified accounts have to be authentic (aka represent a real person or business), unique (be the only in existence representing your person or business), complete (contain a profile pic, bio, and be public), and finally, notable (well-known, highly searched for, featured in the the media, etc). If you think you fulfill these four factors, then you should be golden.

For quick reference, we made you a lil cheat card with the steps. Good luck!

Header image: @hellohoku

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