How to Get Verified on Instagram in 2019

If you haven’t seen the little blue checkmark next to someone’s username on Instagram, then you haven’t looked closely enough. It’s a symbol that indicates that the Instagram account has been verified. But what does it mean?

The checkmark instantly gives the account authority, and anyone who lands on that feed will know it is accredited, which effortlessly boosts credibility.

So, doesn’t it sound like a great marketing strategy for any business?

Until August 2018, Instagram had pretty much dominated the scene of the who’s and who are not verified on Instagram. And a user couldn’t simply just request a verification either. These coveted checkmarks were reserved for top celebrities and business accounts.

But not anymore. So, here’s a step by step guide to lead you through the process!

How to Get Verified on Instagram

Applying for Verification

Open your Instagram app and navigate to your own profile, by clicking on the icon with your profile picture (or the silhouette of a head and shoulders on the bottom right corner).

From your profile, navigate to your account settings by clicking on the hamburger icon on the top right corner. Click the ‘settings’ gear at the bottom of the screen.

Scroll down on the ‘settings’ menu, under the Account heading and tap on ‘Request Verification’ to open it.

Fill in the application for Instagram verification. To complete this, submit the following details:

Instagram Username (this will be the account you log into to verify)
Your Full Name (insert your full name as seen on your legal identification. If this is for a business enter the name of the primary shareholder)
Known As (if this is for a company, enter the company name)
Account Category (select the closest match)
A picture of valid photo identification (this should be a government-issued ID like a passport, driver’s license, or national identification card. Alternatively, you can provide official business documents such as tax papers, recent utility bills, or an article of incorporation)

After completing the application, click Send to submit it.

The Next Steps

Once your application for verification is submitted, Instagram will review it and let you know whether your application was approved or denied. You have to be patient here, as Instagram doesn’t have an official timeline covering how long this process takes.

Also, be sure to note the disclaimer: submitting a request for verification does not guarantee that your account will be verified.

Qualifications You Need to Get Verified on Instagram

Instagram publicly states a number of primary qualifications each account must meet if it wants to be verified on Instagram.

Therefore, to increase your chances of being approved, make sure your account is:

Authentic: it represents a real person, registered business, or entity.
Unique: has a unique presence of the person or business it represents. Therefore not more than one account can be verified per person or company. Also, general interest or repost accounts are not verified by Instagram.
Public & Complete: is public and contains a bio, profile photo, and posts. Having a complete, optimized, and effective bio is essential for Instagram.
Notable: represents a well-known, highly searched for brand or entity (Instagram deems paid or promotional content invalid). This is the most difficult criteria to meet; most accounts end up being denied at this stage for verification.

Don’t know if you’re doing it right? Click Here to learn more about social media marketing tools that BluRhyn takes care of for your business. We will help you fulfil the criteria you need to reach a step closer to getting verified on Instagram.

How Getting Verified on Instagram Benefits You

For many people, getting verified is a matter of popularity. However, it also gives an amazing lift to your business. Here are 3 reasons why.

You Can Shame the Fakers

One of the potential benefits about getting the blue checkmark on Instagram is that anyone searching for you or your brand will immediately see that you’re the real one, making sure you don’t lose any potential followers to fan accounts, parody accounts, or imitators.

You Become Newsworthy

Verification on Instagram proves that you’ve appeared in independent news sources and you or your organization are so notable that people want to copy you. While only Instagram moderators may have this opinion, it still shows your present and future followers that you’re considered a publicly-known figure or brand.

Your Instagram SEO Gets a Boost

For your account to rank at the top of the Instagram search results for terms related to your account name, the little blue checkmark means an automatic win. This is because verified accounts always rank above unverified ones for the same Instagram search.

The Bottom Line

Now you know why you should immediately work up your Instagram handle to get it verified.

Although there’s no guarantee that you’ll be approved, following these steps gives you the best chances.