If you are leveraging TikTok to build your personal brand or business, it is essential to understand how to get verified on TikTok. With over 1.5 billion monthly active users, TikTok offers a massive potential audience to connect with.
Verified TikTok accounts enjoy brand protection and increased credibility. The blue check verification badge serves as a seal of approval from TikTok, making you stand out among users.
To provide you with expert insights on the best ways to get verified, we have interviewed Marissa Mast, a Social Media Consultant. Keep reading for her tips on how to get verified on TikTok.
What is TikTok verification?
Similar to other social platforms, TikTok verification involves receiving a blue checkmark on your account. This checkmark indicates that TikTok has confirmed the authenticity of the account representing the business or individual it claims to be.
Verification badges appear next to the account’s name on profile pages, feeds, comments, and search results.
TikTok verification is typically reserved for celebrities, brands, non-profits, and public figures who are often targeted for impersonation. However, you do not need to be extremely famous to get verified on TikTok, as accounts of all sizes have earned the verification badge.
Read on to discover the essential tips for getting verified on TikTok.
5 requirements to get verified on TikTok
According to TikTok, there are five criteria that must be met before your verification request is considered:
1. Be active: You must have logged into TikTok within the last six months and engaged actively to enhance your chances of getting verified.
2. Authenticity: Your account must represent a real business, person, or organization. Your username should match or resemble your business name and email domain. Typically, TikTok only verifies one account per business unless there are exceptional circumstances.
3. Complete profile: Your TikTok account must include a name, bio text, and profile photo. The account must be public and have at least one published post.
4. Notability: Your business or brand must have been featured in multiple pieces from established news sources to verify its notability. Press releases and paid media placements do not count.
5. Security: To prevent fraud and hacking attempts, your account must have 2-factor authentication and a verified email address.
How to get verified on TikTok [on mobile and desktop]
Previously, TikTok had a secret verification system where staff manually verified accounts with high-quality and popular videos. Now, users can request verification themselves, although this feature is still being rolled out globally and may not be available to all users.
Here’s how to request TikTok verification on mobile:
– Tap Profile in the bottom right corner of the TikTok app
– Tap the Menu button at the top right
– Go to Settings and privacy
– Tap Account
– Select Verification and follow the steps in the app to request verification
Note: If you have a Business Account, you can only apply for business verification. If you have a Personal Account, you can apply for personal and institutional verifications. Government, Politician, and Political Party Accounts (GPPPA) can only apply for institutional verification.
For those unable to request verification through the mobile app, you can submit a request via the online form on desktop. Make sure to upload at least four examples of media coverage and proof of verification on other platforms.
After submitting your application, TikTok may take up to 30 days to review it. If your request is denied, you will receive feedback explaining the reason. You can reapply for verification 30 days after receiving the feedback.
Marissa Mast advises not to get discouraged if your initial verification request is denied. By continuing to create high-quality content and engaging with your audience, you can try again in 30 days.
Why is TikTok verification important?
Verification on TikTok offers several benefits, including enhancing credibility, protecting your brand, and making you stand out in the competitive social media landscape.
These points will be further explained below.
Protection against impersonation
Verified accounts are less susceptible to impersonation, as the blue checkmark distinguishes your account from fake or parody ones. It also facilitates easier reporting of fake accounts to protect your audience.
Access to new features
Verified accounts may receive early access to new TikTok features before they are publicly available. This enables you to stay ahead of the curve in utilizing new features for your content creation and gain a competitive edge.
Boosts trustworthiness
Having a verified account establishes additional credibility for users. Whether you are selling products, seeking partnerships, or monetizing your TikTok, followers and collaborators can trust the legitimacy of your account.
Exposure and engagement
Verified accounts stand out in comments, search results, and feeds, increasing visibility. Additionally, verified accounts often receive higher priority in TikTok’s algorithms, leading to increased content engagement and exposure through trending hashtags.
Potential audience growth
While verification does not guarantee landing on the For You page (FYP), the blue checkmark enhances credibility and boosts visibility. This leads to more user interaction, profile visits, and potentially higher follower counts.
8 tips to get verified on TikTok according to a social media expert
1. Focus on quality content
Creating high-quality content that resonates with your target audience is crucial for building a strong following on TikTok. By establishing a niche or unique style, you can attract and retain an engaged audience.
Many successful content creators have gained notability and verification by building their brand solely on TikTok. For inspiration, explore various TikTok content ideas to kickstart your content strategy.
2. Get on the For You page
Appearing on TikTok’s For You page can significantly boost your follower count and viewership, putting you on TikTok’s radar. High activity and engagement metrics play a vital role in verifying accounts, making viral content a strategic advantage.
While there is no guaranteed formula for virality on TikTok, adopting strategic approaches such as creating shareable content, encouraging comments, and leveraging trending challenges can increase the likelihood of your content going viral.
3. Post consistently
Consistent posting is essential for growing a brand on TikTok and keeping users engaged. Although there is no specific follower requirement for verification, TikTok values creators who consistently produce new content to keep users returning to the platform.
TikTok recommends posting 1-4 times a day, which can be challenging. Utilize scheduling tools like Hootsuite to batch-create content and schedule posts in advance.
4. Get verified on other platforms
Seek verification on other social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, to enhance your chances of getting verified on TikTok. Each platform has its criteria for verification, and being verified on one platform increases credibility across all platforms.
While TikTok verification cannot be purchased, having verification on other platforms showcases your credibility and may positively influence your TikTok verification request.
5. Have a TikTok Creator Manager/advertising contact
Having a relationship with TikTok’s creator partnerships team or account manager, especially if you run ad campaigns on the platform, can potentially expedite your verification request. Building a rapport with TikTok representatives may aid in the verification process.
6. Get media coverage
Include media coverage in your TikTok verification application to demonstrate the notability of your account. Featuring articles from established news outlets about you or your brand can strengthen your verification request.
For instance, if your brand has been mentioned in Forbes or other reputable publications, including these in your verification application can enhance your credibility.
7. Build a presence outside of social media
Showcasing activities beyond social media, such as public speaking engagements, businesses, or podcasts, can establish your notability and enhance your verification application. Demonstrating a strong presence outside of TikTok contributes to your account’s credibility.
Include references to your ventures outside of social media in your verification application to showcase a multi-faceted presence.
8. Respect the guidelines
Maintain good standing by adhering to TikTok’s community guidelines and avoiding any content that violates the platform’s terms of service. A history of guideline violations or flagged posts can deter TikTok from approving your verification request.
Frequently asked questions about TikTok verification
– How many followers do you need to get verified on TikTok?
There is no specific follower count required for verification on TikTok. TikTok does not consider the total number of likes or followers when verifying accounts.
– How much does it cost to get verified on TikTok?
Verification on TikTok is free of charge. It is not possible to buy verification, and any websites or apps claiming to offer verification for money are scams.
– Can TikTok remove your verification?
Yes, TikTok reserves the right to remove verification at any time for reasons such as violating community guidelines, misrepresentation of criteria, account transfer, username change, or account type change.
– Can you request to remove your TikTok verification?
No, it is not possible to request TikTok to remove your verification once it has been granted.
– How long does it take to get verified on TikTok?
Verification requests on TikTok may take up to 30 days to be reviewed and approved.
By growing your TikTok presence alongside other social media channels using Hootsuite, you can schedule and publish posts, engage with your audience, and measure performance from a single dashboard. Try Hootsuite free today to enhance your TikTok marketing efforts.
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