Even with all the changes in the social media landscape over the last several years, Twitter remains a valuable tool for businesses that want to have a global platform and gain as much instant reach as possible. Millions of people use Twitter every day, and it provides a terrific social media platform to help you boost your brand recognition, interact with customers, and increase sales.
And when it comes to brands and businesses, Twitter verification carries a great deal of value. A verified Twitter account is a surefire way to let customers and potential customers know that:
- Your brand is legitimate.
- Your account information is accurate.
- Your presence and brand are well established.
All of these factors have the potential to increase confidence and trust in your business, which in turn should lead to the growth of your business.
Twitter verification—along with the blue check and verified badge that come with it—isn’t just for public figures or influential individuals anymore. Companies, brands, influencers, and public interest organizations can all become verified as well, and the verified badge opens up more Twitter marketing options and eligibility for other features.
So now you’re probably wondering, “How do I verify my Twitter account?”
Following Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter and the policy changes he enacted, verification is once again available to individuals and businesses who upgrade to the “Verification for Organizations” subscription service (previously called “Blue for Business” or “Twitter Blue”).
Once subscribed, Twitter staff reviews the account for a number of factors and grants verification if the account qualifies (more on this in the next section). There has also been talk of a $1,000/month subscription option for businesses and brands to acquire a gold check mark verification.
Requirements and criteria for Twitter verification
According to Twitter’s own FAQ on the subject, a number of criteria must be met in a Twitter profile in order to receive and/or retain the blue badge or blue checkmark that comes with a verified account. Those criteria include:
- An account that is complete, meaning it has a display name and profile picture
- Active use of Twitter within the 30-day period preceding the request
- A confirmed phone number in the account information
- An account that has existed for more than 90 days
- No history of impersonation or other deceptive practices
According to Twitter, additional business profile features and account information that will help you make it through the verification process include:
- A cover photo
- Your business bio
- Your confirmed business address
- Your confirmed business phone number
- Your business’ official website address
- Your Tweets set to public (not private)
According to Twitter’s FAQ, individuals and organizations risk losing their verification status (temporarily or permanently) if there are changes to the profile photo, display name, or username (handle). Violations of other Twitter rules and regulations can also result in loss of the blue check, so be sure that you and your social media team are up to date on the terms of use.
How to get verified on Twitter
As far as pursuing your brand’s verification badge through Twitter’s verification program, the steps are relatively straightforward.
- Verify your phone number. Twitter will send a verification code to the number you provide, which you will then enter into Twitter to confirm.
- Confirm your email address for the account. Twitter will send a confirmation email to the address you provided. You can then click a link in this confirmation email to verify your email address.
- Make any necessary updates to your business profile. If you need to add or edit any of the items listed in the section above, be sure to do it before applying for verification.
- Ensure that your Tweets are public. Double check your settings in the “Privacy and safety” section of your Twitter profile to make sure your account’s Tweets are all set to public.
Increase your odds of Twitter verification
In addition to these basic steps, there are a few best practices you can use to help your cause before and after you submit your verification request:
- Have a Wikipedia page for your organization. Twitter’s verification staff will review your organization for credibility, and a Wikipedia page can help establish and reinforce your brand or company’s legitimacy.
- Actively use Twitter for at least 6 months. Social media is all about engagement, and Twitter’s verification process takes activity into account. So before you apply for verification, take several months to get active on the platform if you haven’t been already.
- Gain more followers. As a smaller business or startup, you won’t be able to compete with the follower count of large, international corporations or celebrities. But it still helps to build as many genuine followers as you can.
- Get mentioned in the media. If other companies and outlets are talking about your business, it helps establish credibility and authenticity, which in turn helps the verification process.
What’s next after you submit your verification form?
Once your verification request is submitted, you’ll have to play the waiting game. Twitter says that the verification review process can take a week or longer, so don’t pause your social media marketing or other activity while you wait for a decision.
Twitter has discretion over whether to verify accounts or not, but obviously they are interested in trustworthy users (and subscribers, including businesses). In fact, staying active on Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media outlets is likely to be a help during this review period.
Even if your company doesn’t receive verification the first time you apply, do not despair. You are able to apply again after a 30-day period. And even if you are not verified on the first pass, the 30-day waiting period should give you time to implement additional recommendations from this article, which will only help your cause the next time you apply.
You may even want to wait longer than 30 days between receiving Twitter’s negative verdict and your next application. The more you are able to improve your profile, the better chance you’ll have of passing your next application. Keep honing your social media strategy, and specifically your strategy for Twitter, and you will be in a great position for verification.
More social media support
Now that you know how to verify your Twitter account, it’s time to get your social media marketing running on all cylinders.
Looking for assistance with your social media marketing, including Twitter verification and more? Look no further than the expert partners at UpCity, who have a wealth of digital marketing experience, from SEO and social media management to B2B marketing, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and more.
This post was originally published on Feb. 20, 2017. It has been updated to reflect current information.