A charity guide to social media verification

Getting verified on Twitter

 

 

Twitter was the first of the social media giants to verify social media accounts. Verification is easily recognisable by the blue ‘badge’ or ‘tick’ – it shows audiences that the account is of public interest and authentic.

 

Buffer says getting verified only takes a few short steps, including:

 

• Ensuring your Twitter profile has photos, an official name, website, and a short bio
• Making sure you have the correct contact details
• Adding privacy settings
• Filling in the verification form when available

 

There are a couple of other things to make sure you’re doing when attempting to get verified on Twitter. Buffer recommends being as specific as possible. Charities should include details in the profile biography, for example, such as an email address and any other essential contact details.

 

The verification form asks why the account should be confirmed. Charities should prepare the response in advance to ensure that Twitter can approve without delay. Remember, if for any reason your verification is not approved, charities do have 30 days to reapply.

 

 

Instagram’s verification process

 

 

Visuals on Instagram make the platform a perfect forum for charities with gripping images. To get verified on the platform, Hootsuite offers sage advice. The social media platform manager notes that it is challenging to get verified on Instagram. Only those accounts with a high chance of being impersonated actually get the status.

 

On a practical level, Instagram’s verification process is easy. Account owners simply need to click on the three lines on their profile and request to be verified.

 

Once there, an application form pops up and owners need to fill in details. Once submitted, Instagram returns a response via its notifications page.

 

 

Getting a verified badge on Facebook

 

 

The blue badge on your Facebook account shows users that charity accounts have been verified. Facebook says that accounts need to meet four general criteria before being approved.

 

These factors include being authentic, unique, complete, and notable. Facebook managers need to confirm that “an account is the authentic presence of the public figure, celebrity, or global brand it represents”.

 

AdEspresso, the advertising agency arm from Hootsuite, offers guidance on the verification application form. The form has questions around what ‘category’ your account falls under.

 

You’ll be asked to upload documents related to the charity, like Charity Commission registration, Articles of Association, and other documentation. The portion that requires the most thought is a short paragraph around why your charity account needs to be verified.

 

 

Other tips to show your authenticity

 

 

Across all the major social media platforms, there are some key things to remember.

 

First, be aware that there are organisations that offer to get your account verified. Hootsuite cautions against buying verification badges – these are more than likely scams. All the platforms mentioned here do their own verification process, so don’t be fooled into false offers.

 

Charities going through the process should prepare reasons for verification. Compelling arguments showing charity uniqueness, impact, and authority helps build the case for verification. Charities should also think about how they can demonstrate reach.

 

Many of the social media platforms also consider how many followers charity accounts have. Don’t be shy in demonstrating which verified accounts are in your network. Remember, it’s about showing what makes your charity stand apart as a public figure.