Ah, the elusive verification badge. Who knew one tiny blue tick could hold so much power?
Over the years, social media pundits have come to recognise it as a stamp of approval, a sort of sign that a brand or public figure has “made it” (whatever “it” is). Consequently, brands of all sizes will vie for one of their very own, as it adds an instantly recognisable element of credibility to a business. It also helps brands appear more trustworthy to potential customers, distinguishes you from impersonators, and increases your brand visibility. The good news is that you don’t have to have hundreds of thousands of followers and a seven-figure bank account to get a verified badge (in fact, these elements aren’t enough on their own to get you one either).
While there’s a well-known application process for Instagram verification, on TikTok it’s a little different. The platform has its own dedicated team of staff for seeking out and identifying accounts that are deemed worthy of receiving the blue tick.
The rumours have it that there are 4 eligibility criteria points that an account must abide by in order to be considered:
- Authenticity
- Uniqueness
- Activity
- Follow the rules (adhering to TikTok’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service)
We’ve compiled our top 3 tips for getting a verification badge of your very own on the social video platform, setting you up for ultimate social success.
Refine and champion your niche
Your niche - that which sets you apart from other creators and helps define you - is your strongest asset. TikTok is an amazing platform for exploring different types of content and formats and this means that even when you’re operating within a specific niche, the opportunities to get creative with your content are limitless.
Once you’ve established your niche, don’t be afraid to lean into it. Make it clear in your bio, in your brand voice within captions, engage with relevant audiences and research your competitors. Carving out a space for yourself in the relevant “scene” on TikTok for your niche or industry can be a powerful way to grow a loyal and reliable following.
Go viral
Look, we know it’s easier said than done, but it’s true that you need to have content that pops off in order to be recognised as verification-worthy by the TikTok Gods.
Our advice for going viral? Put the hook of your TikTok in the first few seconds, catching peoples’ attention as they scroll and raising the number of people who linger on your content. Incorporate trending sounds where appropriate and don’t shy away from doing voice-over overlaid on music if it suits the type of content you’re posting.
While the platform has increased the maximum duration of TikToks to 10 minutes, we recommend keeping them short, sharp and sweet to maximise your chance at virality. Your aim is to get featured on the For You Page, as not only can it majorly grow your following but will also put you on TikTok’s radar.
Get verified elsewhere
Although easier said than done, verification on other social media platforms goes a long way in telling TikTok what kind of brand you are and that you’ve already earned credibility with its peers. If you’ve earned the badge on other platforms like Facebook or Twitter, it lets TikTok know that you’ve already passed another platform’s stringent tests, so you’re more likely to be a safe candidate for them to give the verification badge to. Most other platforms have an application process for their verification badge, so start to poke around in your account settings and see what you can get moving.
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