Having a verified Instagram account is very important especially if you are a public figure or your popularity is just growing and you want people to know the real account that belongs to you. This will go a long way to reduce misconceptions about you and keep impersonators on a low level against your real account.
Some business accounts in Instagram use verification as a way of showing originality or endorsement or symbol of truth. Whatever you assume it to be, a verified Instagram account always stand out in the might of other. If your business has got some serious competitors in Instagram, having the verified badge next to your profile page can convince your clients that you are real and ready for business.
Here are simple steps on how to apply for Instagram account verification:
Login to your Instagram account
Move to your profile section and click on the ‘Settings’ button. It is a hamburger icon located at the top of the right side.
Under the ‘Settings’ list, click on the ‘Account’ and then click on the ‘Request Verification’ in the ‘Account’ list.
The moment you click on the ‘Request Verification’ an application form will be shown to you. Carefully fill in the application form with full details about your Instagram account.
When filling the application form you are expected to provide your Legal Name (Your Name in Official Documents), Your working name or A.K.A. name (Also Known As) name if you have any, choose the category or industry your Instagram account represents e.g.: News/media, sports, entertainment, and lots more.,
The next thing is to upload a photo of any of your official government-issued means of identification such as driver’s license, or passport, etc. if your account represents a business instead, you will be required to upload your utility bill, CAC, or tax documents, etc.
Once you have finished with the above-mentioned details, hit the “Send” button to submit your application to the Instagram team.
After your submission your account will be reviewed for possible approval, if everything is okay you will an approval message on your Instagram account and if something is wrong or your account doesn’t mean the requirement you will still get a disapproval message from Instagram in your Instagram account. The response message of approval or disapproval will be accessed through your notification tab. It usually takes a few days or a week to receive a response.
For an application that has been approved, you will get a response like this “Your account was verified. You will now see a blue verified badge next to your username. To keep your verified status, you need to have a public account, a profile picture and at least one post. You can add extra security to your account by turning on two-factor authentication.”
For an application that was not approved, you will a response like this “Your account was not verified because it does not meet the criteria for verification. You can submit another request in 30 days.”
INSTEGRAM
HOW TO ENSURE YOU GET YOUR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT VERIFICATION APPLICATION APPROVED AT FIRST TIME
You can get your Instagram account verified immediately at your first time of application if everything was done properly to merit such favour.
A lot of applications get disapproved while lots also get approved. Your well-equipped knowledge will help you overcome the hurdles of repeating applications. Instagram team has some set of expectations from any Instagram account applying for account verification and those expectations are what will guarantee your speedy approval if met properly.
Here are what the Instagram team expects from your account:
Comply with Rules
Instagram has rules and regulations, policies and term/conditions your account comply with the rules in those pages. Perhaps, it will be good to take your time and go through all those pages located at the Instagram footer. You will be able to know the rules and make sure your account is violating anyone.
Avoid Shortcut
The idea of looking for somewhere else to get a verification badge for your Instagram account should not be in your list. There are many platforms that can promise to get your Instagram account verified and that goes with service fee.
Involving in any of such deal is seen as a shortcut and you should not get involved in it otherwise your account may be penalized in the process.
Look Out for Impersonating Accounts
Fast way to get verification approval is to provide evidence of accounts impersonating you in Instagram platform. The real reason for Instagram account verification is to differentiate real account from fake ones. If you are a public figure or someone with unique personality whom people try to make fake or related social media accounts with your name or details, your verification will definitely have a speedy approval since that is the major thing Instagram team is looking out for in any verification process.
More Real Followers
Though it is not actually stated, as a rule, the Instagram team may consider the activeness of the account in the social media platform and evaluate it based on the number of real followers in the account. This simply means the number of Instagram users following you.
Note that your Instagram account followers must be real and get as a result of your activities on the account. Followers built by spamming, buying followers, and other illegal means may warrant closing your account all-together by the Instagram team as a penalty.
Do not Link Platform to Your Account
Some accounts usually link to their YouTube channel or Twitter page, if you want your verification approval to be approved remove any link to another platform account except your business website page if your account is for business.
Though you may be allowed if your account in Facebook is already verified and you linked it to Instagram through the Facebook platform.
Be among the Search Terms
One way to get speedy verification approval is to give Instagram reasons why your account must have the verified badge on it. Are you among the topics trending on Instagram?, do users search for you?, if some users usually search for your name in the Instagram search form, it will be a good reason why your account needs verified badge on it so that those searching can know real account from a fake one, It means you stand a better chance of approval.
Make News and Apply that time
If your name is always making news headlines and discussed as trends on Instagram that will be the best time to apply for Instagram account verification.
The reason is that your account will become a focal point of many Instagram users and if it is not verified some news platforms may pick information from impersonating account thinking it is your account. The Instagram team put such factor into consideration.
Collaborate with a publicist or an agency
Working with some notable figures or organization is a way of proving your worth. It can go a long way to help your verification approval. If your page is followed by public figures, companies, or organizations, it is a sign you are a notable figure too. The Instagram team may put it as a consideration to give you verified account badge.
Do not lie
Providing a fake impression about your account and trying to trick the Instagram team to approve your account will not work rather it may lead to penalty depending on the depth of the lie. Try to be as frank as possible and don’t assume yourself to be a celebrity when you are not. Do not present fake or forged document during the application, and make sure your account represents everything legitimate according to Instagram rules and regulations.
Complete your profile and bio
Before submitting your application make sure your account detail is complete. The Instagram team should not be the one to ask you to upload a profile picture in your account or inform you to write a complete bio or any other input required from you in your account. The team can give a disapproval response as an answer to your incomplete account profile details.
Try Again if you get disapproved
Assuming you followed all the protocol listed above and still get a disapproval notification from the Instagram team, there is no cause for alarm. You can still apply again in 30days time. However, before your next application, take time to know and understand why the first verification approval was not approved and work to correct it before dropping your next application.
WAYS YOU CAN STAY VERIFIED
Assuming you succeed in getting the approval the first time, that does not imply you are free to do whatever you like with the account. As a matter of fact, getting Instagram account verification approval is just the starting point of your journey in handling a public figure account. In other words, at this point, your account is the focal point of users and eve the Instagram team. Your verification can be revoked if something unexpected is taking place in the account after verification.
Here are tips to stay verified once your verification is accepted and approved:
Maintain a public account
After verification, you must ensure the account is always in public mode. Some people can put their account in a private mode which helps to keep some information away from other Instagram users. As a public figure, you are not expected to do so. When you applied and got the verification approval your account was in public mode, hence it should remain so as long as you are still using it.
Obey Instagram rules
There are many Instagram rules that you must be keeping especially the area of doing illegal things on the platform, misinformation, spamming, and lots more. The rules and regulations must be kept if you will remain verified.
You can read the following pages on the footer of your Instagram profile page: Terms, Privacy, and About
Spend your time to read the rules and ensure you stick to the rules.
