Central to any brand’s success, credibility is something that should be proven every chance you get. On social media, this means getting your page ‘verified.’ Similar across all social media platforms, this is shown through a small blue checkmark next to your name, essentially letting users know that these accounts belong to whom they say they belong to. In other words, to keep copycats from scamming followers, it lets the platform know you are a prominent, well-known brand.
With 750 million monthly users according to Insider Intelligence, TikTok is one of those platforms where getting that coveted blue checkmark can pay big dividends for your brand. Unfortunately, getting that badge on the short-form video platform is not so straightforward. Fortunately, if you’re wondering how to get it, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s take a look!
Before we go into the tips, let’s talk about why verification is important to your brand.
Authority and credibility
Getting verified gives your brand authority. The blue checkmark has become universally recognizable across social networks, and consumers have learned to associate it with authority and credibility. Your brand’s verification tells consumers that your brand is legitimate. If your competition is verified, and you’re not, unfortunately most consumers will end up choosing to follow, engage and purchase from that brand instead of yours. Likewise, without the badge, users may not be able to differentiate your brand from other competing unverified brands.
So how can you become verified?
As it stands there is no set way for anyone or any brand to apply for verification. TikTok is not exactly forthcoming in its guidelines for being selected either. Some accounts are verified solely on how famous the person is- for example Tom Cruise has a verified account despite never posting. On the other hand, you also have influencers with over 1 million followers that for some reason have not been granted the blue badge. While we can’t know for sure what TikTok’s secret vetting process or algorithm is, we have been able to come up with some general tips and guidelines to follow, that can improve the chances for the TikTok gods to bestow that beautiful blue verified user badge on your brand’s page.
So without further ado, let’s get started.
Create, create create!
Consistency is key on TikTok. Before you can even start thinking about verification you have to earn it by proving your worth. Put together a TikTok content strategy with a lot of regularly scheduled content.
Consistent content creation also brings in steady follower growth. It’s very likely that TikTok looks at how many followers your profile generates a day in deciding whether to verify your profile.
Create daily TikToks, while paying attention to which content gets the most engagement. Adjust your strategy accordingly to create more videos like the ones getting the most attention. One helpful tip is to keep your finger on the pulse of Tiktok’s latest trends. Keep up with challenges, hashtags, and even songs and artists that are trending on the platform. Including these elements in your videos can help your page capitalize on their popularity.
Get featured on other media outlets
TikTok considers whether you or your brand have been featured in media coverage. Try getting featured on traditional media such as magazines, television and radio, or on online posts, and YouTube clips and podcasts with other well-known creators. Or even get your TikTok account featured in an online publication. These are all great ways to let TikTok know that your account is worth verifying. Other media outlets are always looking for quality content too. You just need to give them a reason to feature you.
Go viral
Probably the most surefire way of getting of TikTok’s radar is to go viral. Most successful TikTok accounts have at least one major viral video before being verified. One way is to get on the platform’s “For you” page, providing a major boost to your followers and viewers, and putting yourself on the map.
Obviously, there is no catch-all formula for going viral (otherwise everyone would be a TikTok star). A lot of it is about luck, or putting out the right content at the right time. Your best bet is to just remain consistent with producing quality content. There are however a few things you can keep in mind to help your case.
Capture your audience’s attention in the first few seconds. The average TikToker’s attention span is very short, so if their attention isn’t grabbed in the first couple of seconds they will most likely scroll away.
Your video should get your point across in as funny or poignant of a way as possible, in as short of time as possible. Viewers are more likely to watch the entirety of an 8-10 second long video than a one-minute long video.
Engage with your audience
Replying to your audience’s comments can help you engage with your followers, and ensure more people will see your video. Try to create a sense of community with each post.
Work with influencers
Influencers can bring clout to your name. Not only would it capture TikTok’s attention, but also help make your brand visible to a much wider audience. TikTok influencers love working with brands, so this strategy can be a great way to to grow quickly.
Look for influencers that look to cater to your same target demographic, or one that posts content that your target audience would like.
Get verified on other social media platforms
To verify users, TikTok often checks if they’re already verified on other social media accounts. Thus it may be wise to start the verification process on other platforms like Facebook, Instagram or Twitter first, before aiming for TikTok.
Check our guides for getting verified on these other platforms. If your already verified elsewhere, you have a much better chance of getting verified on TikTok.
Follow TikiTok’s rules
TikTok is far more likely to verify someone who respects its guidelines and doesn’t try to thwart its rules. Stay away from content that may violate community guidelines
Final thoughts
So there we have it. While there is no official application process for getting verified on TikTok, or any official guidelines posted by the site, if you follow the tips posted in this article you can at least better your chances for eventually getting your brand verified. Remember with TikTok, patience is key, and the process is oftentimes more important than the final result. Even if you don’t get that blude badge, by sticking to these core principles you can at least continue to grow your brand’s visibility and engagement among your audience.