Today, Instagram is an ideal platform for businesses and social influencers to share with the world about their identities, ideas, products and services. That is because Instagram is the new Facebook, where people connect with their friends and families, as well as people and brands from around the world.

In the world of social media, having a huge number of following is a big deal to many. Having a lot of likes is just as important as having many followers — the more likes you get, the more exposure you get on Instagram, hence increase your chances of gaining more Instagram followers and number of sales.

If you have always dreamed of becoming a social influencer, or marketing your business on Instagram, then it is important that you post high quality pictures, videos, and stories that resonate to your target audience. That way not only will you receive hundreds (or thousands) of likes for your posts, but also gain more quality followers that will help you build a stronger presence on Instagram as a business, or social influencer. Maintaining a strong social presence is indeed important if you want to succeed in social media marketing.

Once you have done all that, what’s next? Well, you will want to keep up with the momentum and continue growing your profile. By doing this, you will be able to capture the attention of other companies or social influencers with whom you would like to collaborate.

Today, more and more businesses and social influencers are looking for ways to make their profiles look even more professional and trustworthy. For some, getting a blue badge (often seen on profiles of public figures, celebrities or global brands) is the way to go. What does the blue badge on an Instagram profile actually mean? On Instagram, a blue badge means that a profile is verified.

In this article, we will explain to you what a verified Instagram account is, why it is useful to have your Instagram account verified, and how to get your Instagram profile verified.

Why You Should Get Your Instagram Business Profile Verified

When a customer buys from an unfamiliar brand for the very first time, they will likely check on the brand first prior to making their purchases. Pre-vetting an online seller is highly important in order to lower the risk of getting scammed. This is necessary since online scams are becoming more rampant now, especially on ecommerce sites.

That said, you may want to get your Instagram business profile verified. Why? Because customers will trust you more. Successful businesses are built on trust and brand loyalty after all. Furthermore, a verified Instagram account also makes you look more professional.

As discussed earlier, a blue verified badge is what you usually see on Instagram accounts of famous individuals like public figures, celebrities or global brands. But you do not always need to be extremely famous to get verified. You can get verified even if you are a small brand, or an aspiring social influencer.

Once your Instagram profile is verified, a blue verified badge will appear next to your account name. When people see it, they will know that you are a real person and your Instagram account is legit.

So does the blue badge matter? Absolutely, especially if you want to take your business a step further. You see, a verified Instagram account is not a fan, tribute or fake account.     

Another reason why you should aim for the blue badge is that it will help customers avoid imposter accounts. Your social media goal should always be about gaining more likes and followers. You surely do not want anyone else to “steal” the spotlight that you deserve.

So what do you say? Are you ready to get your Instagram account verified? Keep reading and we will show you how it is done.

How to Get Verified on Instagram

The fact is, applying to get verified on Instagram is quick and easy. Trust us, it will not take much of your time. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Open the Instagram app and log into your account. Then go to your profile.

Step 2: Tap on the three-horizontal-line (menu) icon at the top right corner of your screen.

Step 3: Tap on Settings (gear icon) at the bottom of your screen.

Step 4: Scroll down until you see Request Verification. Tap on the option.

Step 5: Fill out your account name, full name, what you are known as, and the category which your account falls into. After that, upload your ID photo if you are a person, or a  legal business ID if you are a business owner with an Instagram for Business account.

Step 6: Send your application by hitting Send.

That’s it. That was not hard, wasn’t it?

Now all you have to do is wait for your application to be reviewed. You will be informed once your application has been approved. You will still get a notification even if your application has been denied.

In the meantime, be patient and wait until you get notified with regards to the matter. The process could take awhile.

What Does It Take to be Verified by Instagram

Attaining the blue verified badge is not as easy as you might think. If it is so easy, then everyone would already have one next to their accounts. To get the badge, you have to be a public figure, celebrity or global brand. And you must adhere to Instagram’s Terms of Service and Community Guidelines.

Instagram needs to deem you important enough for someone to try set up an account in order to imitate you. If you are not a famous person or brand, there is no reason for anybody to try and impersonate you. From Instagram’s point of view, there is no reason to verify you.

Your account also needs to be:

Authentic — You are a real person, registered business, or brand.

Unique — Only one account per person or business can be verified. However, exceptions are granted to language-specific Instagram accounts.

Complete — Your Instagram details (bio, profile picture, and at least one post) are all filled out. You are not allowed to include an “add me” link to send audience off to another social media platforms.

Public — No private account, obviously. If you want people to discover your Instagram account, you need to set your account to public, right?

Well-known — Likewise, in order to be verified by Instagram you need to be notable, a highly-searched person, business or brand. In other words, you need to get people to talk about you. Bear in mind that Instagram does not take paid content or sources into account.

Comply to all of these criteria and you will stand a high chance of getting your account verified. If you do not fit the bill, you can start building and strengthening your social presence now. Read on to learn how you can improve your chances of getting verified/

How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Verified on Instagram

It is important that you remember that getting verified is not as easy as applying to be verified on Instagram. Therefore, you must make sure that your account is “ready” before applying to be verified. Below are some ways on how to help you get verified on Instagram:

Promote Yourself

It is important that you know how to “sell” yourself. In this case, the Internet is your friend. Take advantage of the technology you have today and make full use of the Internet. Go and promote yourself on your website, on other websites and on social media.

Of course, you must already be on Instagram to even be bothered about getting verified on Instagram. Add your Instagram account link to your other social platforms and encourage your audience to follow you on Instagram. To encourage them, you could throw a contest on Instagram with a promise that they will stand a chance to win a prize from you.

Don’t forget to add your Instagram handle in your email signature or newsletter — it helps. Another thing you could do is to embed your Instagram account in your website. That way your readers will be able to view your Instagram account with just a click. You can also embed your Instagram content in your blog posts. A lot of travel blogs are already using this strategy.

You can promote yourself even when you are offline. Say, you are a food delivery company. You can always include your Instagram handle on your product packaging.

If you are already working with a verified brand, then let the whole world know about it, because eventually Instagram will know about it, too! You can mention the brand you are working with in one of your Instagram posts, or even mention them in your bio. This will definitely enhance your credibility.

In this case, it’s okay to show off.

Stay Consistent

Inspect your Instagram content and see if your posts are consistent. Consistency is important especially if you are trying to create a unique feel and look for your Instagram. One of the ways to maintain the consistency of your Instagram posts is by using the same filter.

By using the same filter for every post, your audience will be able to recognise your brand — and have that perception embedded in their minds.

Also, try using the same username for all your social channels. It makes it easier for people to find you. This is also part of brand consistency.

Create a Strong Bio Link to Your Website on Your Profile

To win the hearts of many, you need to create a strong bio for your Instagram. A strong bio is one with a strong and clear description of who you are and what you do, along with a call-to-action and a strong, relevant keyword. A strong bio also includes a link that will help you enhance your web presence.

Since Instagram allows you to add a link to your bio, make sure you add a link to your website on your profile. This will increase your web traffic and product sales.

As mentioned earlier, do not add any link to another social network.

Use the Right Profile Photo

Use only high-quality photos for your Instagram posts. And that rule applies to your profile photo, too. If you are a brand, use a photo that has your company’s logo. This makes your profile look more professional and trustworthy.

Be sure to check your image size. It is best that your Instagram profile photo is 320 x 320 pixels, as recommended by Instagram. It should also be centred.

Use Popular Hashtags to Enhance Your Visibility on Instagram

Hashtags are very important not only on Twitter, but also Instagram as they help other users discover your posts. If you want to reach a wider audience on Instagram, use popular hashtags. But make sure they are relevant to the content you are posting.

To find trending hashtags, you can use apps like Hashtagify and TagBlender. These are some of the popular hashtags on Instagram:

#love, #instagood, #followme, #photooftheday, #beautiful and #happy

Choose the Best Posting Times

What time you post your content really matters. You want to post your photos or videos when your target audience is mostly active. So how do you know when is the best time to post your content?

According to CoSchedule, the best times to post photos or videos on Instagram are:

• Monday and Thursday, at any time other than 3 to 4pm.

Avoid Bad Social Practices That May Get You Caught

You must avoid looking spammy, or sounding like a bot. Do you really think you can fool Instagram?

You should never buy Instagram followers. When your number of followers do not match the number of interactions, it is almost impossible for your account (with fake followers) to get unnoticed — in no time, Instagram will be able to spot the redundancy.

What is the point of buying fake followers, anyway? Fake followers — do they even exist? One thing for sure is that they are not interested in you and they are not going to even see any of your posts. In the end, what is the point of having them in the first place?

Submit Your Application Again

Don’t get demotivated if your application was denied the first time. You can always try again. But make sure you are better prepared the next time you re-submit your application.

Keep growing your Instagram profile and don’t stop enhancing it. Once you feel that your account is ready, apply to be verified on Instagram again. There’s no harm trying again.

Growing your Instagram account is going to take awhile, but once you have finally gained a much stronger social presence, you will have higher chances of getting your account verified.

So keep going!

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