Twitter is a powerful way to give your business or brand a voice, but there are lots of other voices to compete with on the platform. In fact, about 6000 tweets are sent every second, meaning each of your tweets is just a drop in the ocean. Luckily, Twitter has a way of helping authentic and coveted profiles stand out – a verification system.
The credibility and authenticity represented by Twitter verification also increases customer trust, and it’s for this reason that so many businesses and brands go after the prestigious blue verified badge. But it’s often assumed that you need hundreds, if not thousands, of followers in order to get your account verified. Thankfully, that’s not true. Here’s everything you need to know about follower count and verification on Twitter.
How many followers do you need to be verified on Twitter?
According to Twitter, follower count isn’t included as a factor for account verification – so technically, you should be able to get Twitter verified with zero followers. The following list, sourced using Audience Connect proves that quantity really doesn’t count when it comes to verification:
- @zballantyne - 6 followers
- @Bigt_Ink - 8 followers
- @brant - 11 followers
This list is accurate as of 01/09/2021.
Instead, verification is awarded based on whether an account is ‘authentic, notable and active’. Notable, in this case, means that the account in question either represents or is associated with a ‘prominently recognised individual or brand’. The criteria for being ‘prominently recognised’ is listed in Twitter’s Help Centre.
Helpfully, you can actually see what kinds of accounts get verified for yourself, as the Twitter-run account @verified follows all verified accounts. Take a browse through the account’s Following list and you’ll get a taste of the broad range of accounts that are successfully verified.
The Twitter verification process
If you meet the criteria, there are still steps you need to follow if you want that coveted blue tick next to your handle:
- Log in to your profile and select Settings and Privacy from the menu
- Click Your Account
- Click Account Information
- Request Verification should be visible in blue – click on it
- Follow the onscreen instructions
You might come away panicking after looking at the criteria and realising none of it applies to your business. However, fear not – Twitter has announced that it’s looking at adding more eligible categories later this year. To keep up to date with the changes, follow @verified on Twitter.
Should I try to get verified?
There are plenty of reasons to get Twitter verified. Aside from making your profile look more professional, users that are new to your brand or business will assume that it’s important, while existing customers will have their trust cemented. You also gain access to Twitter’s proprietary analytics platform when your profile is verified, which is always handy.
One of the most compelling reasons to seek verification is less about the value of having a blue tick, and more about the shame of not having one. With so many businesses and individuals who seem like they shouldn’t be verified boasting a beautiful blue tick on their profile, the lack of one can make unverified accounts look inferior. At least, that’s some people’s opinion.
On the other hand, there are arguably far more valuable ways to spend your time, particularly if you don’t have many followers or aren’t that active on Twitter. In a nutshell, it’s probably not worth going through the lengthy process of verification unless you’re a large or well-known brand, have a relatively large number of followers, or tweet a lot (and meet the criteria).
Make Twitter work for you
Getting verified on Twitter is just one small piece of a potentially very large puzzle. Twitter offers businesses and brands an outstanding platform for audience generation and engagement, and while verification perhaps helps to make that engagement more impactful, it’s not the be-all and end-all.
If you’re looking for new ways to make Twitter work for you, try Audiense Connect. We’re the #1 Twitter marketing platform, with a range of features spanning everything from chatbot integration to audience segmentation. Find out more about Audiense here, or get in touch to speak to a member of the team.
