Getting verified on Instagram is a great way to gain followers and build up your brand’s reputation, however, in order to get verified you are required to have a substantial buzz around you already. There are a lot of people and companies out there that promise verification for a substantial amount of money, however the majority of the time these are empty promises that will leave you short changed
You should NOT pay to get verified on Instagram – but you may want to pay a PR agency to increase your overall notability, since that is a major requirement.
Suggested resource: See the Sitetrail Instagram Verification Service.
A way around this would be via reputable PR channels that help you to create enough buzz around your brand so that verification becomes easier.
Can you buy your Instagram Verification?
In short, no and anyone promising you that they can provide you with verification in exchange for money is most likely a scam artist. Instagram verification can only be done via the app’s official channel, however there are ways in which you can improve your chances of receiving a favorable outcome.
Instagram states that they “verify accounts that are featured in multiple news sources… people can also now share information about their audience, the region they’re most popular in, and add up to five news articles to help our teams have more context when reviewing the applications.”
So, whilst it is not possible to directly buy a verification badge, you can go through channels to ensure that your newsworthy content makes it onto the right platforms to increase your chances of getting verified authentically.
Ultimately what you will be paying for is a PR service that will increase awareness and broaden your news coverage. Instagram does review the articles, so it is important that all articles submitted are published as no bias, credible news and not a paid promotional piece.
How can you avoid being scammed?
If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Whilst it might be tempting to fall for “guaranteed verification” promises, it is also the easiest way for you to lose a lot of money. Instagram is the only channel in which you can get an authentic verification for your page, they also continuously monitor verified pages so buying one illegally and then trying to reinvent it to showcase your brand is a good way to get yourself blacklisted from the app.
To avoid getting scammed, it is best to look at reviews from previous customers and go to a reputable PR specialist. You will be guided on the Instagram verification process and advised on the best possible measures to make sure that you fulfil all of Instagram’s requirements.
Is paying for PR worth it?
This depends entirely on your reasoning for wanting to get verified. The more public exposure and articles that are out there about you, the more likely it is that you will get verified. The cost of the PR package that you will need will depend on your preexisting reach and your ultimate goal. Naturally, the more exposure and coverage that you require, the greater the cost. If you feel like the rewards that come with a verified account can justify the amount that you are investing into your brand, then you already have the answer to this question.
What are the benefits of a verified Instagram account?
The little blue tick next to your Instagram name holds a considerable amount of power. It increases your brand’s credibility and stirs up curiosity amongst users. As more people interact and stumble upon your page, your organic following increases which helps to exponentially grow your brand. Verified profiles are automatically bumped up to the top of search and suggested accounts. The Instagram algorithm also works to favor verified accounts meaning that your posts will be more prominent on the feeds of your followers.
To get your social media accounts verified, the most important consideration is notability. This is a common requirement from almost all platforms including Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.
The system is usually fair and it increases trust among the public. Yet the guidelines are quite clear and there is no way of cheating it. In fact you risk getting scammed if you fall for promises like “guaranteed verification or your money back”, so let’s consider a realistic approach of where you need to go from here:
First you need to build out your PR. A Legitimate PR service like ours or any top agency, can get you authentic editorial news articles which are visible in Google News. This will build your notability. Be careful not to make the mistake of using unsuitable press releases and advertorials, as this will only reduce your chances of getting verified.
Secondly, you should check that all other requirements are met. For example, your profile should be authentic and not appear as if it impersonates someone else. It should be the profile of a real person or registered business entity.
Thirdly, once requirements are met, you can submit, or resubmit for verification. This is done either through an agency or directly from your mobile device. Usually in 4 to 7 days a decision is reached.
Our experience in helping more than five hundred influencers build valuable notability has led to a reliable and established method to secure media coverage and influence the narrative in the news.
Overall, it is worth noting that the PR that you build for your personal brand or business today, will be valuable both now and many years from now as it creates a permanent information trail on the web.
So if you want to get started right now with step one to increase notability, you are at the right place. Remember that some of your news will need to appear on strong and authoritative news sites. For this reason, we encourage you to take advantage of our gold PR package.
