Verified Instagram accounts get a lot of attention. The blue badge has become a status symbol, granted to celebrities and influencers. If you want to reach this same status level, you may be wondering how many followers you need to get verified on Instagram.
Let’s find out.
How Many Followers Do You Need on Instagram to Get Verified?
Many Instagram users assume that they need to reach a certain number of followers in order to get verified. Instagram does not have a specific follower number requirement for verification.
However, one of the primary requirements for getting approved for verification is having a notable account. In other words, the account must represent someone who is highly searched for or well-known.
While you may not need to meet a certain number of followers, you do need to have an account that Instagram deems as “notable.”
What Does Instagram Verification Mean?
Instagram verification is the process of getting a blue badge (checkmark) next to your username. It lets other users know that the account really belongs to you.
Verification badges have become commonplace on social media. Twitter, Facebook and even Tinder have their own variations of verification.
The purpose of getting verified is to ensure that users and followers know that they’re following the right brand or person.
It’s common for people to create accounts impersonating influencers, celebrities and brands. A simple verification badge clears things up and lets users know that the account is genuine.
Verification badges also help these accounts stand out and look credible.
Contrary to popular belief, accounts with verification badges do not get special treatment. But because these accounts tend to belong to notable people, they likely post engaging, high-quality content that attracts likes and comments naturally.
What are the Requirements For Becoming Verified?
All users are free to apply for a verification badge, but most users will be rejected. Your account must meet certain requirements in order to get approved.
The exact requirements and process for getting approval are unclear, but Instagram does offer some guidelines to help users determine whether they’re eligible.
Along with Adhering to the Platform’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines, Your Account Will Need To Be:
- Authentic: Your account must be yours, whether it’s your personal account or you’re representing your business or brand.
- Complete: Your profile should have a photo and bio, and you must be active on the platform.
- Public: Private accounts will not be considered for verification.
- Unique: Your account must be the only one representing your business or yourself. General interest accounts are also not eligible for verification – only businesses and individuals.
- Notable: Your account must represent a person or entity that’s highly searched for, publicly known or featured in authentic news sources. Sponsored and paid media sources do not count.
So, the number of followers isn’t the most important thing Instagram considers for verification. Rather, it’s all about your notoriety.
Also, keep in mind that even if you’re already verified on Facebook, you will still need to go through the verification process on Instagram.
The Advantages of Verification on Instagram
If you are a notable person and meet the requirements for getting verified, there are quite a few advantages of going through the process.
- Verification protects your brand and reputation from impersonators.
- Being verified increases your trustworthiness.
- The blue badge makes your brand appear exclusive and an industry leader.
- Verification can help you grow your following.
- Blue badges will make it easy to find your brand or account on Instagram.
- Brands prefer to connect with verified influencers.
- When a user searches for your Instagram handle, your verified account will always be the first result.
- You get early access to special features
How To Get Verified on Instagram
Requesting verification on Instagram is easy. Here’s how it works:
Step #1: Open the Instagram app.
Step #2: Tap the hamburger menu.
Step #3: Click Settings and Privacy.
Step #3: Tap Account type and tools.
Step #5: Choose Request Verification.
Step #4: Fill out the required fields: Confirm authenticity (you’ll need to submit a document verifying your identity) and confirm your notability.
Step #5: Submit your information.
Once you submit your information, Instagram will review your application. Keep in mind that even if your account is eligible for verification, there’s no guarantee that your application will be approved.
If your application is denied, you will need to wait 30 days to reapply.
6 Tips For Getting Verified
Verification badges are a hot commodity, but they’re not as easy to get for the average person or brand as they should be. Instagram has clear requirements and eligibility requirements that you must meet.
However, you can take steps to move closer toward verification:
1. Build Up Your Following
Your follower count may not be the ultimate deciding factor in verification, but it will help you gain credibility. We’ll be covering credibility further in point four, but followers can help you become notable.
Real followers – not ghost followers – often means:
- Mentions on other platforms or blogs
- Becoming noteworthy
After all, users who have a lot of followers are noteworthy and work to get their name out there.
You can build a following by:
- Posting on a regular basis
- Posting your Instagram on your YouTube or other platforms (Important: read point 6)
- Engage with others through comments
2. Complete Your Profile
When was the last time you edited your profile and looked to see if you filled out all of the information? A complete profile is a basic tactic that can help you do a few things:
- Get verified
- Increase authenticity
- Boost credibility
Instagram will only verify public accounts with a bio and photo. You can fill this information in because if your profile is blank, you’ll sabotage your chance of verification.
Be sure to add any newsworthy information about yourself into your bio, such as a recent book you authored or if you were named in a top publication.
3. Be Active
If you haven’t used your account for months and go inactive, you’ll miss your chance to be verified. You should be active and post routinely to help increase your chances of being verified.
Instagram is vague and states, “Meet minimum activity requirements.”
What does that mean? No one knows for sure. However, you can and should create a content calendar and be sure to post on your account a few times a week. Regular posts will increase your odds of growing your followers and will ensure that you don’t get denied for verification because you’ve been inactive.
4. Gain Some Credibility
Credibility is earned over time and will help you stand out. C.T. Fletcher may not have been known outside of the world of powerlifting, but he built up his credibility in a few ways:
- Posting stories and training videos often
- Sharing posts of him and other top fitness experts
One trick that works for a lot of people trying to get verified is to request verification when their name is in the news. If you happen to be in the news or speaking at a major event, the experience can help you gain credibility.
You can gain credibility with your Instagram community by being bold and honest.
Post often, use Instagram stories, be transparent with who you are or what your business offers and remain consistent.
If Instagram doesn’t believe that you’re credible, they can deny your verification because of it. You can and should spend time gaining credibility off of Instagram, too. You can do this by being on webinars and podcasts, starting a YouTube channel and doing everything you can to gain cred.
5. Personalize Your Posts
How many Instagram accounts do you follow? Chances are, you engage with accounts that personalize their posts to their audience. People want to follow people and brands that are “real.”
You should personalize your posts by:
- Educating others
- Speaking on recent events
- Showing different sides of yourself
If you make your posts more personal, it will help you build up a following.
6. Remove Cross-Platform Links
You’ve likely seen profiles where the person asks you to “add them to Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and so on.” While cross-promotion may sound like a great idea and allow you to gain followers on all accounts, it’s a big “no-no” when trying to get verified.
Instagram doesn’t like it when you add these types of links to your profile or ask for people to follow you.
In fact, many people lose their chance at verification because they have these self-promotion links in their profile.
Instagram verification is a “badge of honor” for a lot of creators. You want the checkmark next to your name because it makes you more credible and shows that you’re an important person in your industry.
Work to become credible, gain followers naturally and don’t worry about how many followers you need to get verified. Natural, organic account growth and being a noteworthy person will happen if you put a lot of time and effort into it.
