Becoming a public figure on Instagram used to be unattainable until you reached a specific number of followers. Or, you had to really be a public figure (famous). Nowadays this is not the case. You can adjust your Instagram settings and mark yourself as a Public Figure and gain verification (the now famous blue tick badge).
If only that was all there was to it …but it can be easy if you do your homework and furnish yourself with the relevant information before you apply.
There are certain conditions that Instagram look for when you apply for verification (which is what the Public Figure status means).
Pre-requisites
Before you even think about requesting a Public Figure status on Instagram, make sure you update your account (in as much as you can) to comply with the following:
Authenticity
As long as you are not pretending to be someone else (or something else), you won’t have a problem with this.
Uniqueness
Do you have more than one account? If so, why? You need to concentrate all your efforts into one account to enable you to be verified.
Account Completion
If you want the blue tick, you must make sure that your account profile Is fully complete. This requires a profile picture, a bio and at least one post.
No “add me” Links
This one puts many people off. You cannot have links to other social media channels. For example, you would not be able to point to your Facebook or Twitter accounts from within your Instagram account.
Notability
Instagram defines ‘notable’ as a renowned and well searched brand or entity. Instagram uses media coverage to determine this process.
Do All You Can To Ensure Acceptance Into The Public Figure World
You cannot just request a status and get it automatically. There are various aspects of your usage that Instagram will consider. In order to give yourself the best chance, try the following.
- Build up your followers. I know, easier said than done. But try and think outside the box. Use your hashtags properly, engage with people you are following, post exciting or trending content.
- Be Impersonated. Although this sounds ridiculous it is actually what the verification is there for. If someone is replicating you, you need to verify yourself, don’t you?
- No negativity. There is a difference between famous and infamous!
- Post, post, post. Being active is the best way to get noticed, and gain followers.
- Invest in Instagram growth services. Instagram growth services such as Upleap, Mr Insta, and Kicksta are worth investing in. Specially with Kicksta as they are known to help provide their clients getting real Instagram followers that will boost your public identity or profile on Instagram.
Instructions For Making The Request to Public Figure Status
So, once you have done as much as you can do from the previous guides, you need to make the request.
- Open Instagram
- Tap the Profile icon (bottom right corner of screen)
- Tap the three-bar icon (top right of profile screen)
- Select ‘Settings’
- Tap ‘Account’
- Select ‘Request Verification’
- Follow on screen requests for official information
- Select a category for your account
- Tap ‘Submit’
Benefits Of Being A Public Figure On Instagram
If you are fame hungry then you want this status just for the kudos. However, most holders of the verification have a good reason for wanting it. It denotes an established brand or influencer which means those looking to use the services of either will often use this as the starting point (i.e. their initial research only will only consider verified users).
Apart from the obvious status symbol of having Public Figure verification there are other advantages. You have access to Instagram’s analytics which helps you to understand your user base and what they want to see.
If You Are Not Accepted As A Public Figure On Instagram
Unfortunately, there is no rhyme or reason why some are accepted and others declined. Maybe it depends on the mood of the adjudicator on that day?
Suffice to say that if you are unsuccessful you cannot immediately re-apply, there is a waiting period of 30 days. During this period, you should revisit the ‘Do all you can to ensure acceptance into the Public Figure World’ heading, and get active as often as you can on the app.
There are various ways that you can completely bypass the method detailed in this article, think carefully before you do it. If you do it, others will too which devalues and makes a nonsense of the whole procedure.
In Summary…
Because this function has been made available to all who use Instagram, there may be the prospect of it being completely devalued.
Before using any short-cuts to get your Public Figure verified status just know that it can do you harm as well as good. If you get the status but only have 100 followers, people will see this and rather than having a look at what you have to offer, they may go past as they do not believe your status. Whereas, if you make it known that you are a new startup (with no status) they may just give you a chance as you are being upfront and honest and not trying to hoodwink them.
Think about what you would do if you were to see your status…if it doesn’t match your statistics then you will be found out.
On the plus side, if you have followed the instructions and have a large following for your brand, or as an influencer, this status is the sprinkles on the cherry on the top of the cake.
