TikTok‘s explosive growth to over 1 billion monthly active users has creators striving to unlock its most prestigious symbol: a blue verification badge. But TikTok‘s verification process remains opaque. Just 16% of applicants succeed, according to analytics firm Oberlo.
So how do you defy the odds to join the elite ranks of verified creators? This extensive guide explores everything needed to authentically get TikTok’s coveted blue checkmark in 2023.
Why Get Verified on TikTok?
Before covering how to get verified on TikTok, it helps to grasp why it matters in the first place with tangible benefits like:
1. Exclusive Opportunities
Once verified, new revenue channels open up:
- Access TikTok Creator Fund monetization
- Get invited to brand collaborations
- Host sponsored content deals and more
Valuable exposure opportunities also expand through official TikTok LIVE events, media interviews, private betas and beyond.
2. Increased Visibility
The TikTok algorithm favors verified accounts, unlocking special promotion opportunities, including:
- Appear on curated For You feeds
- Get featured more in Hashtag Challenges
- Participate in marketing campaigns
- See an uptick in impressions, traffic and fans
Verified creators also access professional analytics tools for deeper audience insights.
3. Influencer Authority
Nothing cements expertise and trust like the iconic blue verification badge. Followers perceive verified TikTokers as more authoritative, influential and elite.
Plus your content gets taken more seriously overall – great for converting views into actions like website traffic, sales and signups.
With these stellar benefits, getting verified is a coveted milestone for creators. Keep reading to learn the step-by-step playbook for making it happen in 2023.
A Breakdown of TikTok Verification Requirements
TikTok remains vague about the exact criteria that trigger getting verified. But based on those achieving success, these core factors seem decisive:
1. Authentic Identity
Submitting valid legal documentation that definitively proves the real person or brand behind the TikTok account is essential. TikTok needs to confirm your bona fide identity before even considering verification.
2. Account Activity
You must demonstrate regular, high-quality content contributions that engage audiences while adhering to platform community guidelines.
TikTok evaluates the consistency, creativity and integrity of your uploads to assess good standing.
3. Minimum Followers
There is no stated threshold, but statistically most accounts have 10,000+ followers before clearing verification hurdles. A sizable, invested fanbase signals existing influence worthy of amplification.
4. Established Reputation
For personal accounts, markers like celebrity status, industry awards, media features and professional achievements help applications stand out.
Brands fare better having strong mainstream name recognition, website traffic, previous campaigns, press mentions and marketplace authority.
Essentially TikTok selects accounts adding unique value through connections, engagement and community building.
While tricky to qualify, the blue badge conveys instant influence making verification well worth the effort.
Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Request TikTok Verification
Once your TikTok account looks primed for verification, here is how to submit the application:
Step 1: Tap Your Profile
Access your account page by tapping the profile icon on the bottom right corner of the app homepage.
Step 2: Select “Settings”
Choose the Gear icon to navigate to TikTok’s settings menu.
Step 3: Click “Manage Account”
Under Account Settings, click Manage Account to expand options.
Step 4: Tap “Verification”
Choose Verification among available settings.
Step 5: Complete Request Form
Follow prompts by providing info like:
- Profile/Cover images
- Account handle
- Associated websites
- Background on who you are
Double check entries are accurate before submitting.
Step 6: Wait for Review
TikTok‘s evaluation process is extensive, typically taking weeks to months. Avoid repeatedly contacting them. Patience is key.
Once assessed, you will get an approval confirmation on-platform showcasing your new verification badge. Celebrate your major influencer milestone!
Expert Tips to Boost Verification Odds
Beyond technical qualifications, plenty of small optimizations can positively sway application success:
Highlight Media Coverage
Being featured, interviewed or published by major outlets like The New York Times or AdWeek makes your influencer status undeniable.
Promote Trending Music
Align with popular songs and sounds to fuel viral viewership and sharing of your content. These surges signal relevancy.
Collaborate with Verified Users
Getting co-signs from creators with a blue check bolsters your credibility via influencer endorsements.
Cross-Promote Other Channels
Linking your active and sizeable Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and other social profiles conveys expansive impact.
Spotlight Awards & Achievements
Flaunt press accolades, chart victories, noteworthy campaigns and other accomplishments in your TikTok bio.
Essentially, exhibit any evidence reinforcing the authenticity, creativity and authority of your presence on TikTok specifically.
While a stats-driven platform, the human touch still matters when vying for exclusive verification. Optimizing these soft factors lends a competitive edge for clearing the towering bar.
What Doesn‘t Work for Getting Verified on TikTok
Equally as crucial as proven verification boosters are techniques that fail or backfire entirely:
Buying Followers or Likes
Inorganic inflation using bots or services sabotages authenticity. TikTok‘s analysis detects and bans fraud.
Featuring Controversial Content
Posting rule-breaking or risky content gets accounts suspended, destroying verification chances.
Paying for Verification
No legitimacy comes from purchasing an unofficial verification badge from shady vendors.
Making Empty Threats
Intimidating TikTok or over-emailing them won‘t motivate faster approvals. More patience and less pressure is key.
While initially demoralizing, rejected applications are an opportunity for constructive growth. Analyze what enhancements your profile needs, then continue patiently showcasing your value. Stay determined through even multiple declines – every creator has a unique path to eventually earning the blue badge.
Verification Unlocks Greater Monetization of TikTok
Beyond recognition, TikTok verification delivers exclusive access to lucrative monetization like:
TikTok Creator Fund
This program pays creators for high-performing videos. But you must have 100K+ video views in the last 30 days minimum to qualify. Verification fast tracks consideration.
Brand Sponsorships
Sought after by labels, studios and Fortune 500 companies, sponsorship collaborations represent big paydays for influencers. Verification earns attention from the top players.
Affiliate Links & Promo Codes
The credibility of verification lets you convert audiences into buyers. Affiliate partnerships with merchandise, events or other products generate rich commissions.
So while great for vanity, verification’s income unlocking powers scale careers to new heights.
The Risks of Buying a Verification Badge
Given TikTok verification‘s immense benefits, some may consider purchasing a blue badge instead of the lengthy application routine. But counterfeit checkmarks bring huge risks like:
-
Account Bans: Using third-party tools violates policies, prompting permanent suspension.
-
Reputation Damage: Getting exposed for fake emblems destroys credibility.
-
Financial Loss: No recourse exists for reclaiming payments sent to scammers.
-
Viruses & Malware: Downloaded verification software often contains malicious payloads.
-
Lack of Features: Users don‘t actually gain anything beyond a visual badge.
No sustainable success stems from inauthentic shortcuts, especially under TikTok‘s watchful moderation. While delays frustrate, legitimate verification remains the exclusive path towards cementing your influencer authority.
FAQs: Your Top TikTok Verification Questions Answered
Still seeking solutions around getting officially verified by TikTok? These responses cover the most frequently asked questions:
How many followers do you need to get verified on TikTok?
There are no stated thresholds, but most verified accounts have at least 10,000 highly engaged followers. Strong fanbase size indicates influence, raising eligibility odds.
How long does TikTok verification take?
Wait times range widely from just weeks to over a year in some cases. Budget months not days – TikTok conducts rigorous evaluations impossible to expedite so patience is vital.
Can someone with 1000 followers get verified on TikTok?
Statistically speaking, accounts with 1000 or fewer followers have extremely slim verification chances. But if content generates outsized impact and attention, it may compensate for lower subscriber counts in isolated cases.
Does TikTok verification make you money?
Directly no, but verified status unlocks money-making perks like entering the Creator Fund, securing brand sponsorships, adding promo links and more. So blue badges tangentially boost monetization potential.
Getting TikTok to officially verify your identity is a marathon, not a sprint. But for tenacious creators able to achieve influencer ascendancy in their niche, the grind delivers rewards well worth the sweat.