As a leading PR and social media marketing agency, we’re excited to read that Instagram has introduced several new functions for its globally popular photo sharing app. Of all the updates, the social media platform for the first time ever offers users and agencies representing public figures and brands an easier approval process to request and receive verification.
On Instagram, blue check marks are fairly rare, even among big brands and public figures. They are generally given to extremely famous celebrities (Hello, Kim Kardashian!) and popular public figures and politicians like President Barack Obama. Getting verified on the platform has long been a lengthy process for brands and agencies representing brands. While no one quite knows what goes on behind the scenes of achieving a blue verification check mark, most profiles have had the best success by working with a PR and social media marketing agency like Savory PR.
For some brands, the process can be so stringent that it can cost thousands of dollars to receive the official verified status. As a boutique PR and digital marketing agency, we work with media partners at major tech social media companies to achieve verification. It is much easier to get approved for journalists since their identification and employment is easily verifiable by checking out the news organization their profile claims they work for. It gets a lot trickier for other “public figures” or “brands” who are not journalists or A List celebrities like Beyonce or J.Lo.
To apply for verification on Instagram via our exclusive partners, we provide a unique audit and verification application service for a one-time fee. Our agency works with one-on-one clients to conduct a digital brand audit and provides brand recommendations that will increase the likelihood of establishing a noteworthy, authentic and credible digital public profile, which will ultimately assist in the likelihood of getting your application approved for Instagram verification. These digital brand recommendations often include changes to the kind of content clients are posting, social media biography optimization, website optimization and more.
It is important to note that Instagram is not interested in verifying Meme accounts, regardless of how many millions of followers a profile has. In addition, every verification application submitted through the Instagram app or through our partners requires state/country identification that match the Instagram profile name and uploaded Instagram photos. While no one except the insiders who work in the verification department at Facebook Inc./Instagram know 100% how the approval process works, our team of social media strategists have worked diligently over the last year in helping clients optimize their profiles and add credibility to their online brand (hello, positive press placement!) in an effort to achieve Instagram verification.
With the latest updates to Instagram, the process to apply is a bit easier and more transparent– but it is still important to work with a PR agency or social media consultant to optimize your Instagram account and online brand in an effort to establish true credibility. Currently, the option to request verification is live now in the iOS iPhone Instagram app.
If you’re unable to achieve Instagram verification on your own and curious about our digital brand audit services and verification application services, please email us at Samantha@Savory-PR.com.
DIGITAL BRAND AUDIT & VERIFICATION APPLICATION SERVICE
This social media marketing service includes one-on-one email consulting, a personalized brand audit and a verification application submission to our exclusive partners. It is important to note that verification approval is not 100% guaranteed. The cost of our Digital Brand Audit, Recommendations & Verification Application Fee is a one-time, non-refundable fee of $260. If your verification application has been approved, the verification approval fee is $2,600 due within 24 hours of verification. A transaction fee of up to an additional $100 may apply depending on the digital payment platform you choose when submitting payment. Terms and conditions may apply.
When a client chooses this audit and verification service, we will work with your brand or business to audit and optimize your Instagram account so that it better qualifies and meets all of the platform’s authenticity and approval requirements. We will work with you to make sure your Instagram account qualifies as an authentic, unique, complete and notable profile as defined by Instagram. Our digital brand audit service can help you spot the strengths and weaknesses of your marketing approach as well as messaging, visuals and systems as they relate to your brand. It will tell you if there is poor brand-marketing alignment. It will also tell you if you’re focusing too much on your brand’s weaknesses rather than its strengths. When you hire Savory PR to analyze and re-position your digital brand, we will provide innovative strategies and tactics that will positively impact your brand’s overall appeal to the public.
In addition, we will also work with you to put together your verification application and then submit it to our partners. From there, we will work with our contacts at Instagram to process your verification request. The verification application will either be approved or denied within 24 hours, and we will notify you via email. If your application is denied, we will work with you over a 5 business day period to further optimize your digital brand and then re-submit your verification application.