Since 2009, wannabe actors, models, and musicians have aspired to display Twitter’s coveted blue checkmark on their profiles. That’s when you know you’ve made it, right? Not necessarily. It is becoming more and more common for accounts with comparatively small numbers of followers to earn verification.
The ability to get verified on Twitter was actually introduced as the result of a high-profile lawsuit.
Eight years ago, manager of the St. Luis Cardinals Tony La Russa sued Twitter after he was impersonated on the site. According to the Huffington Post, many celebrities and public figures had issued similar complaints about fake accounts to Twitter. In response, Twitter developed the blue checkmark to establish verified users and prevent the confusion that emanated from simply deleting the false accounts.
Soon after this feature was introduced, the ability to get verified on Twitter transformed to symbolize status and bragging rights. Twitter provides recommendations for getting verified here, but it’s not that simple. Verification is an exclusive badge that the site awards only to users who they deem to be of public interest.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a celebrity to get verified on Twitter.
Forbes contributor Tom Ward details his experience getting verified as a non-celebrity, and he instructs how others can do the same. If you ask Ward, who had 500 followers at the time, having a verified account is about more than just vanity. In his Forbes article, Ward asserts that being verified gives you credibility, helps others find you, and results in more followers.
According to Tom Ward, the most important thing you can do to get verified on Twitter is demonstrate that you’ve had an impact in your field. You don’t have to be famous, but you do have to prove why you’re of public interest. Twitter asks you to provide two to five URLs to support your accomplishments, and Ward urges that you list five. He also suggests before you begin the application that you make sure to post consistently and interact with other users.
Finally, Ward emphasizes the importance of telling the truth. You are given 500 characters to pitch yourself. Don’t claim to be afraid of impersonators or fabricate jobs you’ve held.
If you cannot corroborate your story, you will not be considered for verification.
There are hundreds of thousands of articles circulating the Internet about how to get verified on Twitter, and many are in agreement with Ward’s advice. As for why you should consider it, being able to distinguish yourself from the site’s other 900 million users is a start. Other influential figures are more likely to take notice of and respond to your account. You can more easily build your reputation as being legitimate in your industry with these increased networking opportunities. In conclusion, anyone has the potential to get verified on Twitter if you sell yourself well enough.
- Instagram Tests Letting Users Follow Hashtags Instead of People - November 14, 2017
- Apple Declines to Comment on iPhone Autocorrect Glitch - November 8, 2017
- Walmart Brings Robots In-Store to Help Stock Shelves - November 1, 2017