What is Instagram Verification and How Does it Help Branding?

Instagram is more than a photo and video sharing app. Instagram verification is a blue tick that shows on an account’s display which means Instagram confirms its authenticity.  Instagram has made a way for influencer marketing by using product placement and endorsements from influencers. Being Instagram verified opens the door for more brand awareness and brand engagement.
These accounts are for public figures, international brands, and celebrities to prevent impersonation. This badge allows social media users to easily identify the brand as the official profile of the individual or business.
If your brand is at risk of being impersonated, and you need to ensure valid information is being disbursed from your account then you need to IG verified. There are advantages to getting Instagram verified, some of which are listed below:

Early Access to Special FeaturesVerified profiles can get access to new features before they are available to the general. When Instagram launched the “swipe up” feature that allows users to link websites from their Instagram stories, verified profiles received priority access. This feature is highly sought-after by profiles that are not verified. Essentially, if brands are IG verified you will gain access first so you can debut and perfect them before anyone else can, creating stellar content. Unverified users could be in awe of features they don’t have access to and spend more time reviewing your content to see more special features exclusive to verified accounts.

Higher Trustworthiness and Evaluates the Exclusivity of Your Brand

For brands, getting verified allows you to stand out from (and sometimes blend in with) the crowd. When your account is legitimate, new followers will be more inclined to gravitate to your page and you build trust. Additionally, no one can imitate you. Imposters can attempt to imitate you but it would be evident to the public that profiles other than yours are fake. When you are Instagram verified, it is evident that you are one behind the screen (or trusted members of your team) and that all other profiles are imposters. Some Instagram users might be on alert when they see a giveaway or deal, convinced it could be a scam. When users see a checkmark beside the account, they consider the account as credible trustworthy. Verification therefore protects you and your followers from exploitation.
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It is an effective strategy to protect your brand from impostors- One of the main factors IG takes into consideration when verification is requested is the probability that someone would attempt to impersonate the account. When your account has been verified on Instagram, the not only appears next to your username but next to your comments as well. This allows users to be certain that you are who you say you are, wherever on the platform which increases trustworthiness between your brand and your followers.

The check also helps users to easily find your brand on social media- Verified accounts also show up more often in searches, which can increase engagement. Instagram engagements help verified brands to add value to your interaction. When users can engage with a verified account it gives them a sense of being unique.
Being Instagram verified and having this blue symbol on your Instagram business profile can make a massive difference in your efforts to build brand awareness and increase your followers. For example, if there is a crisis surrounding your brand you want users to trust and update or clarification you may post.
In many ways, the blue verification checkmark you see besides the brand’s name is a status symbol, Instagram only wants to verify people whom they consider important enough for somebody to want to impersonate them. 

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