How To Get Your Business Verified on TikTok: 6 Tips for a Successful Application
As one of the most popular social media platforms, TikTok gives you access to millions of potential new customers every day. This short-form video platform allows you to connect to your target audience in a fun, entertaining way. And because of its ever-growing popularity, every brand wants to figure out how to get verified on TikTok.
From authority to exposure, there are several ways verification can benefit your brand. Here, we’ll explore how to get verified on TikTok and answer some questions about the process.
What Does Getting Verified on TikTok Mean?
Being verified on TikTok means that your account has an official verified badge. On TikTok, this badge appears as a blue circle with a checkmark following your handle. When you’re verified, it means someone from TikTok has looked into your account and verified that it’s actually owned by your brand.
Why Get Verified on TikTok?
Getting verified lets your followers know your posts are coming from your actual brand. Like other social media platforms, TikTok has its share of parody and fan accounts. Fans of your brand, for example, could create an identical account using your logo. Unless you’re verified, there’s no way for your followers to determine which account is actually yours without digging into the content.
Getting verified on TikTok also offers a number of other benefits, including:
Authenticity
Parody accounts may be funny, but if your actual account isn’t verified, they can damage your brand. When another TikTok user makes an account pretending to be your brand, they can post misleading content. If you’re not verified, TikTok users may be hesitant to follow you since they can’t tell whether or not your account is legit. Being verified helps your followers identify you as an authentic account.
Authority
Being verified gives you the opportunity to establish yourself as an authority in your field, too. Content is one of the most effective ways to build brand authority. Like on any other platform — including blogs! — high-quality content on TikTok encourages others to share and tag or backlink you, making you appear more credible. By becoming verified, your followers and other TikTok users know the content is coming from you — and will be more likely to engage with and share it.
Exposure
Verified brands on TikTok get more exposure than unverified accounts. Social media algorithms are more likely to highlight verified accounts in searches and feeds. Even if you’re creating innovative and entertaining videos, you may not be getting the same organic reach you could achieve with a verified account.
Trustworthiness
Users see verified accounts as more trustworthy. Since they’re confident they’re engaging with your brand, they’re more likely to engage with your account. With a verified badge, users can easily recognize you as a trusted source.
How To Request Verification on TikTok
So how do you get verified on TikTok? Follow these steps:
- Open your account and tap the Profile icon at the bottom
- Then open the Menu
- Go to Settings and Privacy
- Tap the Manage Account icon, then tap Verification
Once you tap the Verification button, follow the steps to request a verification. When you’re getting started on TikTok, you should set up a business profile to access analytics and other resources. If you are registered as a business user, you can only apply for the Business Verification.
6 Tips for Getting Verified on TikTok
Even if you are a business, you risk being turned down for verification if you don’t have a lot of followers, or if you’re not regularly posting new content. Follow these tips to increase your chances of being verified and take full advantage of your TikTok marketing efforts.
1. Focus on Niche Content Creation
Posting niche content helps you appeal to your target audience rather than creating content for a broad user base. You also get the ability to test different types of content to see what your viewers like best on TikTok.
When you’ve identified your niche, make a content calendar and consistently post videos. You’ll want to take the best time to post to TikTok into consideration before you get started so you reach the most people possible. And remember: you’re not limited to educational or promotional content, either. Jump on trending hashtags and TikTok challenges to meet your audience where they are. Add music and trending sounds to your videos to make them more engaging and familiar.
2. Get Featured in the Media
Even if you’re not on TikTok, your marketing strategy should include media relations. Network with local journalists and other media personalities in your area so you can pitch them story ideas. If any media outlets pick up your story, have them tag you in the story or list your TikTok platform in the publication. Backlinks and tags from media sources and other legitimate accounts can help prove your authenticity when you apply for verification.
You’re not limited to traditional media outlets such as magazines and news channels. You could also partner with YouTubers or podcasters and have them tag your brand in promotions for their show. And you don’t need to do something outrageous to get media coverage — something as simple as serving as an expert in a feature story can boost your chances of coverage.
3. Create a Viral Video
The verification process involves a degree of triage. If a video production you’ve posted goes viral, TikTok is more likely to prioritize your application and get you verified more quickly.
While there’s no way to predict for sure which videos will go viral, you can improve your chances by following trends and using the right blend of niche and high-use hashtags. These hashtags will help you reel in a broader range of users than you would if you stuck to your niche. Pair them with related niche hashtags to capture those users who would be interested in your content. When adding high-use hashtags, avoid overly generic terms such as #ForYou or #fyp. These terms aren’t specific enough to help the algorithm match your videos to relevant users.
Trends and hashtags are tools to help you go viral, but you probably won’t unless your content is engaging and entertaining. Figure out how to hook your audience in the first few seconds of your video and keep it short. Look at your analytics to see which videos get the most engagement. Use these topics to brainstorm ideas for going viral.
4. Get Verified on Other Platforms
If your other social media accounts are verified, you are more likely to be verified on TikTok. Start with your most successful platform and request verification. Each platform has its own set of criteria for verifying accounts, and some platforms make it harder to get a verified badge than others. However, if you’re using the platform’s guidelines enough to build a large following, you should be able to get verified.
5. Work With Other Influencers
Influencers have the social media expertise to elevate your business to the next level on TikTok. Partnering with the right one can expose your brand to more potential customers than you could likely capture on your own.
Look for influencers in your industry and reach out for a possible collaboration. Their collaboration rates will vary depending on the influencer’s following, niche, and more. Keep each influencer’s overall presence in mind before approaching them.
6. Follow Community Guidelines
TikTok has a goal of being safe and welcoming. By following the rules and making sure your content always adheres to community guidelines, you can maintain a positive presence on the app.
If you’re posting a video that clearly violates these guidelines, TikTok may suspend or even permanently ban (i.e. close) your account. Skirting the rules can also negatively impact your business, because TikTok makes your account less discoverable.
TikTok Verification FAQ
Learn more of the ins and outs of TikTok verification with these frequently asked questions.
Can You Request To Remove Your Verification?
There are plenty of reasons you may want to remove your verification. Maybe you’ve decided to shutter your business. Or maybe you want to focus on other social media platforms, and your TikTok account may go dim.
Currently, TikTok doesn’t let users request to remove verification. TikTok might remove the verification badge if you’ve violated community guidelines. If you want to remove your badge without breaking the rules, you can simply change your username.
How Much Does it Cost To Get Verified?
Nothing! TikTok verification is free.
Why Might TikTok Remove Verification?
Other than repeatedly violating company guidelines or terms and conditions, TikTok might remove your verification if and when:
- You transfer your account to someone else who is no longer authentically representing your brand.
- You change your username.
- You shift from a business account to a personal account or vice versa.
If you’re using TikTok to build your brand and create a following, you probably won’t want to change your username. But if you plan on rebranding, you will have to get re-verified.
How Many Followers Do You Need to Get Verified?
TikTok doesn’t have a follower requirement for verification. However, they will consider whether or not you’re active and that you’re requesting verification for an actual business. Make sure your profile is complete before you submit your request.
Do You Get Paid if You’re Verified?
TikTok doesn’t pay verified users. Individual users (i.e. people, not brands) with more than 10,000 followers and more than 100,000 organic video views can join the TikTok Maker Fund.
Need Help Making TikTok Videos at Scale?
As an official creative partner with TikTok, we know what it takes to succeed on the platform. You don’t have to spend your time and money trying to make viral videos yourself. Instead, connect with our network of makers to create memorable video marketing content.
At QuickFrame, we offer fast, affordable, data-driven video creation services to help you meet all of your content needs.
Contact us today to learn more about TikTok video production.
How to Get Verified on TikTok: Final Thoughts
TikTok is a great platform for connecting with potential customers who need your products or services. Through verification, you can build a trusting relationship with followers and drive authenticity for your business.
Getting verified is free, and you can request to be verified using a simple series of steps. Once you have been verified, use authentic and relevant content to boost your authority and encourage a rapport with your followers.
Verification also helps you end up in more relevant searches within the platform. With this badge, you can land in the feeds of users who may not have heard of you before. Becoming verified is quick and easy, so request your TikTok verification and watch your follower count grow.
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