Getting verified on Facebook is an important step for any business looking to build its presence and credibility on the platform. Verification provides a level of authenticity that helps customers trust that they are engaging with the real brand. There are a few key requirements and steps businesses need to follow in order to get that coveted blue verification badge on Facebook.
What is Facebook Verification?
Facebook verification is a process that confirms the authenticity of Facebook pages and profiles to prevent impersonation. When a page or profile gets verified, it receives a blue verification badge that appears next to the name. This lets visitors know that the page or profile they are viewing represents the real person, brand, or entity it claims to be.
Verification helps build trust between brands and their audience on Facebook. It gives brands an air of legitimacy and official recognition from Facebook. Having the blue verification badge makes it easier for customers to identify authentic brand pages and profiles from fakes.
Why Should My Business Get Verified on Facebook?
There are a few key benefits for businesses that get verified on Facebook:
- Increases trust and credibility – The blue verification badge signals to customers that the page is the authentic presence of the brand on Facebook.
- Prevents fake accounts – Getting verified makes it harder for fake pages and profiles to pass themselves off as your brand.
- Improves search ranking – Verified pages get a boost in visibility and tend to rank higher in Facebook search results.
- Expanded platform access – Verified pages and profiles get access to certain Facebook features not available to regular users.
- Looks more professional – The verification adds an air of prestige and authority that makes your brand look more legitimate.
In summary, verification makes your Facebook presence look more credible, official, and trustworthy. It’s a signal that Facebook has confirmed you are who you say you are. For businesses, this can go a long way in building customer confidence in your brand on one of the world’s largest social platforms.
What Are the Requirements for Facebook Verification?
To qualify for verification, your Facebook page needs to meet the following requirements:
- Represent a real organization, brand, entity or public figure
- Have an authentic profile and cover photo clearly representing your brand
- Have at least 100 followers
- Be at least 30 days old
- Have a completed profile description
- Respond to messages and comments from visitors
Essentially, Facebook wants to see that your page has an established presence with decent engagement from real followers. Verification helps confirm the authenticity of active pages with a clear connection to a real organization, brand or public figure.
How to Get Verified on Facebook: Step-by-Step
Getting that coveted blue verification badge takes a bit of work. Here are the steps to guide you through the verification process:
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Choose the Right Page Category – When applying for verification, you’ll need to select a page category that fits your brand. Options include: Local Business or Place, Company/Brand/Product, Organization, Website, Public Figure, Media/News Company, Entertainment, and Government Official. Choose the one that most closely aligns with your page.
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Make Sure Your Page is Complete – Fill out all profile info including description, website links, contact details, profile/cover images, and any relevant e-commerce setup.
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Get to 100 Followers – Pages need a minimum of 100 real followers to qualify for verification. Engage your existing audience and run promotions to get more followers.
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Enable Public Comments – Verified pages need to enable public commenting so users can engage. Go to Settings > Posts > Comment Ranking and select ‘All Public Comments’.
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Confirm Your Account Ownership – Facebook will want to check you actually own the website/domains you list. Add the domain verification code or upload a confirmation file.
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Apply for Verification – In the Page Settings, go to General > Page Verification and choose the option to get verified. Complete all info accurately.
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Provide Requested Documentation – Facebook will ask for documentation to confirm your business authenticity. This may include business licenses, tax records, official letters, etc.
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Respond to Facebook Follow-Ups – The verification process can take a bit of back and forth with Facebook to confirm details. Respond promptly to any additional info requests.
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Wait for Facebook’s Decision – Once you’ve submitted all documentation, Facebook will review your verification request and make a final decision – this can take anywhere from 2 days to a few weeks.
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Display Your Verification Badge – Congrats, you’re verified! The blue verification badge will now appear next to your page name.
The verification process requires patience and attention to detail. Work through all of Facebook’s steps and requests thoroughly to get approved. Having a complete, professional looking page with real engagement goes a long way in passing verification.
Why is My Facebook Verification Request Declined?
If your request for a verified badge is rejected, here are some potential reasons why:
- Page doesn’t have enough followers – Having less than 100 followers is an automatic disqualification.
- Info provided is inaccurate or fake – Any sign of false info will lead to a rejection.
- Page is not fully completed – Missing profile elements like a description or profile photo can get your request denied.
- Page is too new – Typically the page needs to be over 30 days old to qualify for verification.
- Lack of real user engagement – Low comments, shares, likes, and overall interaction looks suspicious.
- Issues verifying account ownership – Failure to properly confirm you own associated sites/domains.
- Unresponsive to Facebook requests – Not providing follow-up info when Facebook asks.
- Page deemed unimportant – Facebook may reject pages it doesn’t consider notable enough to warrant verification.
To pass verification on a future attempt, go through and improve your page based on the potential issues above. Having an authentic, fully filled out page with strong user engagement is key.
Conclusion
Getting verified on Facebook takes effort but delivers important credibility benefits for brands. By meeting Facebook’s requirements, completing all steps in the process diligently, and building an engaging page audience, businesses can earn that prestigious blue verification badge. Display your verified trust marker proudly and let customers know your authentic brand presence on Facebook.