As a business, it’s imperative to have a verified account on all social media platforms. This shows your followers that you are an official business, and builds trust between you and your customers. TikTok is no different in this respect, though verification on TikTok is not as straightforward as on some other platforms. In order to get verified on TikTok, you will need to follow some specific guidelines and tactics.
In this article, we will discuss those guidelines and other strategies to teach you how to get verified on TikTok as a business.
What is TikTok Verification?
The TikTok verified badge is a white check mark inside a blue circle. It is displayed next to the user’s name on their profile page. When you see this badge, it means that TikTok has confirmed that this account authentically belongs to the business, individual, or other entity it represents.
Why Should You Get Your Business Verified on TikTok?
Verification on social media platforms helps build trust. Once you are verified on TikTik, a small blue checkmark will appear next to your username. When people see that little blue check next to your name, they will automatically think of you as an authentic and credible source. The checkmark is commonly referred to as the “TikTok Badge”.
In addition to building trust, verification also allows users to find your business more easily. Users value their time and appreciate being able to find information efficiently. If they are more likely to find your business easily, it means that potential customers will visit your profile more often and consider using your products or services.
How to Follow Guidelines
TikTok has a set of guidelines and terms and conditions that all users must follow, especially in order to be eligible for verification. Make sure you read through these carefully and that your account complies with all the requirements. You are promoting your business so some of these may seem obvious but let’s go over some of the guidelines and TikTok terms of service to ensure you are hitting all the right notes:
- Your profile also needs to be complete, with a profile photo, description, and link to your website
- Your account should have multi-factor authentication with a verified email. Doing this ensures the authenticity of the owner and protects it from malicious users
- Your email domain must represent your business during the approval process
- Never create content that endangers minors in any way
- Do not create content that involves dangerous acts or challenges
- Avoid posting sexual content or nudity
- Do not bully or harass other users
- Do not use hate speech or promote any kind of extremism
These are just a few of the TikTok terms of service and guidelines. To view the full TikTok terms of service visit www.tiktok.com/community-guidelines
Can You Apply for TikTok Verification?
It’s not as simple as just applying for a TikTok verification badge. In fact, you can’t even purchase verification for your business. Quality verification is a key component of TikTok’s exponential growth of its core, loyal users so they take it very seriously. There are many phoney copycat accounts that try to piggyback off the success of others and the blue Tiktok checkmark provides users with clarity regarding who is legit.
So if you can’t buy your way to getting the verification badge for your business, how do you achieve it. Keep in mind that TikTik is notorious for updating its algorithm and terms of service, so the first thing to do is check the help section of its website for any changes in its requirements. This will give you a general idea of what you need to do.
Verify Your Business on Other Social Media Platforms
Most social media platforms offer some form of visual verification for businesses or high-profile users. Tiktok will most certainly look at your businesses on other platforms, and if you are verified on those, it will increase your odds of getting certified. Get your business certified on as many platforms as possible and put links to your other pages on all platforms. Show as much verification as possible to your followers and customers across all platforms.
Produce Viral Content
TikTok and viral content go hand in hand. If you can create viral content, you’re well on your way to getting verified. But how do you create viral content? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer and frankly, sometimes it’s just luck. But there are some general tips you can follow:
- Make sure your videos are creative and original. This is easier said than done sometimes but your content should improve over time as you get more familiar with what works and what doesn’t.
- Focus on quality over quantity – it’s better to have a few great videos than a ton of average ones. While this is important, you should still continue to frequently engage and create.
- Collaborate with other TikTok users who have similar audiences. TikTok has editing features such as Stich and Duet which makes this super easy.
- Use trending songs and audio clips in your videos. In the app, click on the + symbol, then tap the add sound button and scroll through the playlist of songs and sounds.
- Stay up to date on the latest trends and hashtags.
Create Engaging Content
You might have a hit or two with content that goes viral but it’s important not to rest on your laurels. You also need to make sure that your content is consistently engaging. If users watch your videos and then quickly swipe through, TikTok’s algorithm will recognize that your content is not engaging which will make it more difficult for you to get verified. So, how do you make sure you are consistently creating content for your profile that is engaging?
- Use attractive thumbnails and headlines. With the speed at which users are swiping through content, the first impression is incredibly important. If you don’t grab them quickly, you will just be another quick swipe.
- Produce videos that are inventive and unique. Again, easier said than done but this is what TikTok users crave.
- Make sure your videos are under 60 seconds. In general, the shorter, the better. Users’ attention spans are only getting shorter so get to your point quickly and creatively.
- Film your content in vertical mode always.
- Get to know and stay up to date with the TikTok filters and editing features. Bright and vibrant content is powerful for giving a strong first impression and they are constantly adding new features and filters. The built-in TikTok features are powerful but there are also third-party apps that can be used to edit your content before uploading.
Focus on Longer Watch Times
TikTok tracks how long users watch your videos and it uses that data to determine whether your content is engaging. If people are watching your videos all the way through, it’s a good sign that you’re doing something right. How do you increase watch times?
- Use subtitles to keep the viewer engaged throughout the length of the video
- Create cliffhangers such as asking a question at the beginning of the video and then answering it at the end. Users love to see a resolution to a story or a task
- Feature well-known influencers or celebrities in your videos. This could be done through Duets, Stitch, or just regular footage. If you feature recognizable users, not only will it grab the attention of your followers, but they will likely stick around until the end of your video
- End your videos with a call to action like “swipe up to learn more” or “double tap if you agree”. TikTok will notice if your users are following through on your calls to action
Get Featured in the Media
TikTok LOVES this. If you can get your business featured in the mainstream media, it will go a long way in helping you get verified on TikTok. Try reaching out to influencers in your industry and see if they’re willing to write about your business or give you a shoutout.
You can even take it old school and reach out to media outlets and see if they’re interested in doing a story on your content. Most local news outlets have employees whose sole job is to slog through social media all day looking for viral content and trends. Tread carefully with this method, as TikTok will not consider paid media or press releases as valuable towards your verification. In fact, they could potentially use it against you in their decision to verify your business.
Continue to Grow Your Daily Followers
It goes without saying that the more followers you have, the better. The TikTok algorithm will notice fast growth but it also takes into account consistent growth. Maybe you have a viral post and your subscribers go through the roof. While this is excellent, you will need to repeat this with more interesting content to get verified on Tik Tok.
Once again, it’s not just about quantity – quality matters too. Make sure you’re regularly interacting with other users, liking and commenting on their videos and engaging with them using the aforementioned collaboration features like Duet and Stitch. If people see that you’re constantly active on the app, they’re more likely to follow you.
How Many Users Do You Need to Get a Verified Account?
There is no set number but TikTok has said that they consider “an account’s popularity, level of engagement, and creative excellence” when making their decision. This means that even if you don’t have a legion of followers, you may still be eligible for verification if your content is high-quality and captivating. So while there is no clear answer, it is understood that this is an important factor for the algorithm.
The Importance of Being Consistent
Consistency on all social media platforms will pay dividends for your business. TikTok places a high value on the consistency of its creators. Take a look at some of the high-profile users on TikTok, they are posting at a minimum once a day, if not more.
You need to be posting regularly and engaging with other users frequently. Even if every post isn’t a hit, TikTok still values the content and your commitment to using the app. It cannot be stressed enough, the more active you are, the better your chances of getting noticed by TikTok and eventually being verified.
Can TikTok Remove My Verification?
Congratulations, your company received its TikTok blue checkmark verification badge! But can they take it away from your business? Yes, they absolutely can, at any time, without any notice. To avoid this, avoid the following:
- Transferring your account to another owner. This will most likely cause TikTok to deem your verification inauthentic. Occasionally, users will try to sell their already successful accounts. While this is not against TikTok’s policy, if it is a verified account and TikTok flags it, the account will need to be verified again.
- Changing your username. Yes, something as simple as this will cause you to lose your verification and require you to work towards it being re-verified.
- Changing the account type. There are three types of accounts: personal, business, and institution. If you are verified as personal and change to business or visa versa, you will lose your verification.
Final Thoughts
There is no guarantee that your business will get verified on TikTok if you follow these tips but your chances should be significantly higher. The social media landscape and especially the TikTok algorithm is ever-changing and what works today may not work tomorrow. Keeping up with the changes may seem like an uphill struggle but doing so will be beneficial to the success of your business’s social media presence.
Ultimately, the best thing you can do is to focus on creating great content, growing your account organically, and being consistent. If you’re doing all of those things, the verification badge will eventually be in your grasp and you will be well on your way to success. Hopefully, this article has given you valuable insight into how to get verified on TikTok as a business.
