After pausing its public verification process for nearly four years, Twitter has decided to reopen applications for business and personal accounts starting sometime in 2021. With that decision, the coveted blue checkmark that adorns the profile names of verified users will be made available to the masses once again. We anticipate many people will be wondering how to get verified on Twitter.
But do you need it? What are the benefits of the Twitter verification badge, and who’s eligible to receive one? If you’re an influencer, a high-profile business or a public figure, the short answer to the first question is “absolutely, yes.” The second answer is a bit more involved. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know and detail the application process to win your verified badge. In short, you’ll learn how to get verified on Twitter and why you should want to.
Who Is the Verification Program Designed For?
The platform assigns verified status to Twitter users that are in the public eye. The process confirms that a high-profile Twitter account is authentic. Public figures from a variety of sectors are the types of profiles Twitter targets for verification. Some of these include:
- Music and TV
- Film
- Media
- Journalism
- Fashion
- Government and Politics
- Religion
- Sports
- Business
These are the most common categories, but any Twitter account that’s of interest to the public can qualify. If you’re an influencer on Twitter, this includes you.
Why Is a Verified Account Useful?
Getting your account verified establishes credibility among other Twitter users. Not only does it confirm that your account is authentic, it tacitly asserts that yours is worth following. The bright blue verification badge lets people know that your account belongs to someone notable, which can help you add new followers.
Additionally, verified accounts gain the ability to set their notifications stream to only include likes, replies and retweets from other verified users. Accounts with followers in the tens or hundreds of thousands or more find the feature useful for weeding through the noise.
How to Get Verified on Twitter
There are two components to the verification process. One is under your control, and the other isn’t. The first is the application process. We’ll take you through that in a moment. But once Twitter has your application in hand, it’s up to them to decide whether your profile is “of public interest.”
And the calculus they use to reach their decision isn’t entirely clear. Public figures with hundreds of thousands of followers are sometimes denied, while lesser-known personalities are approved. It’s worth looking at this Twitter article all about the verification process.
Timing does seem to matter, which is why Twitter allows users to reapply in 30 days if their verified status is denied. Twitter has also published basic guidelines from which we can extrapolate strategies to increase the chances of approval.
The platform has said publicly that they’re looking for fully completed, active accounts with a confirmed email address and phone number. Additionally, the account can’t have violated any Twitter rules for the six months prior to application. From this, we can assume that the following behaviors are important for verification.
Fill Out Your Profile Completely
Twitter likes complete information, so make sure you fill out everything, and make it compelling. You’ll need a name, profile picture, cover photo, website and bio. Include your birthday and make sure your tweets are set to “public” as well.
Don’t get too creative — for verification purposes, Twitter would prefer you to use your real name on your profile and include photos that accurately represent you. Cloaking your identity behind a fictional name or obscure photos works against Twitter’s goal of identity verification.
Use your bio to sell the value you bring to the platform. You need to make it clear why the public cares about you and why verification is important. Succinctly include your most impressive credentials. If you have statistics to back up your claims, include them. And if you know any verified users, @-mention them in your bio.
Verify Your Information
Once your profile is complete, go through the processes involved for confirming your phone number and your email. These verifications are critical for the verification process, so you can’t skip this step.
Twitter Wants Active Accounts, So Be Active
Twitter’s only published requirement for active accounts is that they logged into their profile at least once in the previous six months. However, the bare minimum may not be enough to sway the judges. To increase your chances of success, use your account actively.
That means tweeting frequently, engaging with your @-mentions and direct messages, and generally keeping the conversation going. You want to be as active as you can because you’re trying to prove to Twitter that you add value to the public space.
Now Apply! (When You Can)
Once you’ve done your due diligence to prepare your account for inspection, all that’s left to do is apply. Twitter has promised to make applications available directly in the app or website sometime in 2021. As of April, the verification program is still closed, but we suspect it will open soon. When it does, you’ll find the “Request Verification” option inside your account settings. Until then, keep your account active and work to build followers.
Getting your Twitter account verified is important for any influencer looking to take their engagement to the next level, and soon it could be yours.
