Getting verified may be a key tactic in your Twitter marketing strategy.

Twitter verification tells your Twitter followers your profile is authentic, trusted and the source of truth for your name, business or organization. In the past, the process required an application process to to get the small blue check to appear next to your name.

However, Twitter recently suspended its verification process after CEO Jack Dorsey called the system “broken.”

For figures of interest, Twitter verification is an important milestone to achieve. It demonstrates authority online and improves your chances of earning followers.

How Does Twitter Verification Work?

Twitter takes verification seriously. Each application for a Twitter badge is manually reviewed by an administrator. In fact, any account that tries to use a badge as part of a profile or background photo is subject to suspension.

Importantly, only a handful of people are candidates for Twitter verification. The social site only verifies well-known brands and public figures. According to the Twitter Help Center, verified accounts are usually involved with:

  • Journalism
  • Politics
  • Government
  • Music
  • Acting
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Media
  • Fashion

Tips for Getting Twitter Verified

When Twitter Verification first emerged, it was very difficult to get. Now, while you’ll still need to be a “figure of interest,” applying for verification is much simpler. The easiest way to get your blue check is to follow these steps:

  • Complete your profile: You’ll never get Twitter verification with a half-baked profile. Make sure that your profile photo, bio, and header image are all high-quality. Remember, your bio should clearly outline who you are and what you do. Keep things concise, simple and descriptive.
  • Confirm your information: Twitter needs to know that you are who you say you are. Link your business email to your Twitter account and confirm your address by clicking on the URL in the email sent to you. Add your phone number too. When you do this, you’ll get a text message with a confirmation code you use to verify your account.
  • Set your account to Public: For Twitter verification, you’ll need a public profile. From the Settings and Privacy page go to Privacy and Safety. Uncheck the box that says: Protect Your Tweets. When you’re verified, you’ll need to leave your profile public as changing it causes you to lose your badge.
  • Complete the submission form: Access the Twitter verification submission form here. Make sure that you’re logged into the right account when you access the form.
  • Be active on Twitter: The administrators responsible for verifying accounts will want to check that you’re an active user. Make sure that you’re constantly updating your feed with valuable posts. If you haven’t tweeted in a while, the admins will have no reason to consider your request.

If you go through these steps and don’t get verified, don’t panic. Twitter lets you try again in 30 days.

Twitter Verification Pros

There are plenty of benefits to getting Twitter verification. The blue check helps people to find you online and gives you an air of credibility. Additionally, this seal of approval ensures you stand out in a growing crowd of competitors.

Verification is the validation that encourages users to trust both your brand and your content. This leads to:

  • More traffic/leads
  • Increased chance of conversion
  • Improved online relationships
  • Word of mouth marketing and referrals