Aiming to join Instagram‘s elite club of verified accounts? That coveted blue check mark is more than just a status symbol – it‘s a powerful trust signal that can skyrocket your credibility, visibility and growth on the platform.
But with only 3.26% of Instagram‘s 1 billion+ accounts verified as of 2023 (source: Statista), snagging that badge isn‘t easy. You can‘t buy or hack your way in – you have to earn it.
In this ultimate guide, we‘ll walk you through the 10 key steps to getting verified on Instagram in 2024 and beyond. We‘ll dive deep into IG‘s verification criteria, share expert tips for boosting your odds, and explore some alternative trust-building tactics.
Step 1: Understand What Instagram Verification Really Means
First, let‘s clarify what verification is and isn‘t. That blue check mark simply means Instagram has confirmed the account represents the real, authentic presence of the public figure, celebrity or global brand it claims to be. It‘s meant to prevent impersonation and help users find the legit accounts they‘re looking for.
Importantly, verification is NOT an endorsement or "seal of approval" from Instagram. It doesn‘t mean they think you‘re cool, important or morally upright. Plenty of verified accounts post low-quality content or get into PR scandals.
Bottom line: verification is identity verification, NOT quality verification. However, because it‘s so rare and hard to get, most people perceive it as a major credibility indicator.
Step 2: Meet Instagram‘s Core Verification Criteria
So what does it actually take to get verified? Instagram is very clear that they‘ll only consider accounts that meet all of these core criteria:
- Authentic: The account must represent a real person, registered business or brand.
- Unique: It must be the unique presence of that entity, with only one account per person/brand verified (except for special language-specific accounts).
- Complete: The profile must be public, with a bio, profile photo and at least one post.
- Notable: The account must represent a well-known, often-searched-for person, brand or entity. Instagram looks at press coverage and other indicators of public interest to evaluate notability.
Let‘s break these down further:
Authenticity
For individuals, you must provide official government-issued photo ID that shows your name and date of birth, like a driver‘s license or passport. Businesses must provide official documents like tax filings, articles of incorporation, or a utility bill showing the company name and address.
In other words, you can‘t get verified as a meme page, fan account, fictional character, or anyone/thing you‘re not. You must be a real, registered entity.
Uniqueness
Instagram will only verify one account per individual or business, with rare exceptions for language-specific accounts (like a global celeb with separate English and Spanish profiles).
If you‘ve created multiple accounts for yourself/your brand in the past, you‘ll need to either delete them or clearly label them as "unofficial" fan pages in the bio. Only the main, official account can be verified.
Completeness
This one‘s pretty straightforward. Your profile must be fully set up and active, not a bare-bones placeholder. That means you need:
- A public (not private) account
- A clear, recognizable profile photo (logo for brands)
- A concise bio describing who you are/what you do
- At least one post on your feed
Of course, the more active and robust your account is, the better for verification. We recommend filling your grid with at least 9-12 high-quality, on-brand posts before applying. Show IG you‘re the real deal!
Notability
Here‘s the toughest criterion to crack. Instagram must deem your account "notable" and "in the public interest." What does that mean? In short, you need significant press coverage and search interest off of Instagram itself.
Instagram looks at mentions of your name/brand across major media outlets (think TV, radio, podcasts, newspapers, magazines, and legit online publications). They‘re more likely to verify accounts that are widely recognized in their field and frequently searched for.
According to marketing expert Sam Holzman, you don‘t need a huge follower count to prove notability. "Instagram has verified accounts with as few as 1,000 followers, as long as they have strong engagement and press mentions. It‘s about quality, not just quantity."
So how do you become notable enough for verification? We‘ll dig into some actionable tips in a minute. But first…
Step 3: Optimize Your On-Platform Presence
Before worrying about off-platform signals, make sure your Instagram presence is fully optimized and radiating credibility:
Polish Your Profile
Go beyond the basic verification requirements and make your profile a gleaming beacon of trust:
- Use a high-res, professional headshot or logo that‘s recognizable across platforms
- Clearly state your full name or brand name in your bio and username
- Craft a compelling bio that captures your unique value prop and showcases social proof (awards, impressive stats, etc.)
- Include a trackable link to your official website or a social landing page
Post Consistently & Strategically
Aim to post at least once per day, mixing in different formats like static images, videos, carousels, Stories and Reels. But don‘t just post for posting‘s sake – make sure every piece of content is:
- High-quality, professional and visually engaging
- Aligned with your unique visual identity and aesthetic
- Genuinely interesting, entertaining or valuable to your target audience
- Sparking conversation and encouraging engagement (more on this next)
Stuck for post ideas? Check what‘s working for leaders in your niche and put your own spin on it.
Engage Like Crazy
One of the most important (but often overlooked) factors for Instagram verification is sky-high engagement rates. Instagram wants to see that your followers are actively interacting with your content, not just passively scrolling by.
Shoot for an engagement rate of at least 5-10% (meaning 5-10% of your followers are liking, commenting on or sharing each post). For reference, the average IG engagement rate across all industries is just 1.94% – so you need to be way above average.
How do you boost engagement? Post content that‘s genuinely interesting to your audience and compels them to respond. Ask questions, run polls, encourage debate. Respond to every comment (thoughtfully, not just emojis). DM new followers to welcome them.
In short, treat your followers like friends, not just numbers. Foster real relationships and conversations. That‘s how you build a hyper-engaged community that catches IG‘s eye.
Step 4: Ramp Up Your Off-Platform Signals
Now for the heavy lifting. To demonstrate the "notability" Instagram requires, you need to build significant credibility signals outside of the app:
Get Press Mentions
One of the best ways to prove your public importance is through earned media coverage. When respected publications are talking about you, Instagram takes notice.
Aim to get featured in a mix of major mainstream outlets (think Forbes, NBC, etc.) and niche publications in your industry. Both help show that you‘re newsworthy to a broad and targeted audience.
How to get press? There‘s no magic shortcut. Focus on doing newsworthy things: launching innovative products/services, publishing original research, taking a stand on important issues, partnering with other notable names, giving back to your community. Then learn to craft an irresistible pitch and build relationships with relevant journalists.
You can also boost your press potential by newsjacking, offering expert commentary on trending stories in your niche. Sign up for HARO to get quoted in stories.
Build Strong Website Authority
Your official website is a key trust signal for Instagram. Make sure it‘s professional, fully fleshed out and optimized for relevant keywords you want to rank for.
Aim to drive as much high-quality traffic to your site as possible, both from Instagram (via your bio link and post CTAs) and external sources (organic search, press mentions, guest blogging, etc.). The more people searching for and clicking to your site, the more notable you‘ll appear.
Off-page SEO is also crucial. Focus on earning backlinks from reputable sites in your niche (through content partnerships, guest posts, directory listings, etc.). The more high-authority sites linking to you, the stronger your own site‘s authority (and notability) will be in Instagram‘s eyes.
Cross-Promote on Other Platforms
Show Instagram you have a robust presence across the social web, not just on their app. If you‘re already verified on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, etc. – flaunt it! Link to those accounts from your IG bio.
Even if you‘re not verified elsewhere, you can still leverage those platforms to grow your authority and prove your notability. Post content consistently, engage with your audience, and drive traffic back to your Instagram and website.
The more legit followers and engagement you have across platforms, the more notable you‘ll seem as a brand or personality. Just make sure all your profiles tell a cohesive brand story and are clearly connected/associated, so it‘s obvious they represent the same entity.
Secure Your Wikipedia Page
A dedicated Wikipedia page is a huge credibility indicator for verification. It shows you‘re notable enough to have a factual, unbiased article written about you in the world‘s biggest online encyclopedia.
However, you can‘t create your own Wikipedia page. It has to be written by an objective third party, and there‘s a high bar for inclusion (multiple reputable sources must be cited).
Focus on the PR tips above to get more press coverage, then reach out to relevant Wikipedia editors in your niche and suggest your brand as a topic. If you‘re sufficiently notable, you may score a page.
Once you have a Wiki page, make sure to link to it prominently from your website and social bios. It‘s a powerful trust signal that can help sway Instagram‘s decision.
Step 5: Apply (and Re-Apply) At Strategic Times
With a strong on- and off-platform presence established, you‘re finally ready to submit your verification request. But don‘t just apply willy nilly – timing is key.
Remember, Instagram is looking for accounts that are notably in the public interest. So aim to time your application with a major spike in press coverage and search traffic.
For example, if you‘re launching a buzzy new product, time your verification request to the week of the launch when you‘re getting a ton of media mentions and Google searches. If you‘re a musician dropping a new album, apply during release week when you‘re topping the charts. You get the idea.
Of course, not everyone will have a massive launch or newsworthy event to tie their application to. In that case, keep an eye on your Google Analytics and press mentions, and apply when you see notable spikes in traffic and coverage.
Another pro tip? If your first application gets rejected, wait at least 30 days before re-applying. But don‘t just re-submit the same exact application – level it up! Spend that month implementing the tips above to build even more notability and trust. Show IG how much more buzz you‘ve created since last time.
Step 6: Don‘t Fall for Scams
As you work towards verification, you may encounter some shady "offers" and rumors. Let‘s bust the biggest myths right now:
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You can‘t buy verification. If someone claims they can guarantee you a check mark for a fee, they‘re scamming you. The only way to get verified is through Instagram‘s free, official application.
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Verification isn‘t tied to ad spend. Paying for Instagram ads doesn‘t increase your chances. Again, it‘s not about how much you pay IG, but how notable and trustworthy you are.
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There‘s no set follower count "requirement." Instagram cares more about engagement rate and off-platform signals. Plenty of accounts with < 10K followers are verified because they‘re notable in their niche.
Don‘t waste time or money on sketchy shortcuts. Put in the legwork to build real credibility, and you‘ll earn that badge the right way.
Step 7: Consider Alternative Trust Signals
Didn‘t get verified on the first (or second, or third) try? Don‘t sweat it. Verification isn‘t the only way to convey trust on Instagram. You can boost your perceived credibility with:
- Consistent, high-quality content that oozes expertise
- Tons of super-relevant, authoritative followers (think influencers and experts in your niche)
- Frequent shoutouts from other trusted brands/accounts
- Glowing user-generated content (e.g. reposting positive reviews and customer photos)
- Niche-relevant awards, accolades and association memberships
- Links to trusted third-party sites where you‘re featured or profiled
The more natural trust signals you can layer on (in your bio, posts, Stories, ads), the more credible you‘ll appear to potential followers – even without the blue check.
The Takeaway
So, can anyone get verified on Instagram? Technically, yes – but it takes serious work to meet the steep criteria. You can‘t just buy or hack your way in. You need to build a truly notable, authentic, trustworthy presence both on and off the platform.
The good news? Even if you don‘t score the blue check right away, implementing the tips above will still skyrocket your credibility and growth on Instagram. You‘ll be building a hyper-engaged community and a rock-solid reputation, which is way more valuable in the long run than any badge.
Verification or no, keep putting in the work to be the best, most authoritative brand you can be. That‘s what will make you stand out and succeed on Instagram in 2024 and beyond.
