Viral posts sow panic over D.C. housing market under Trump. They’re wrong. The Washington Post
* This article was originally published here
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How to get more views on Reels: Tips for 2025
Want to know how to get more views on Instagram Reels? You’ve wound up in the right place, friend.
We’re breaking down tried-and-true hacks social media managers, creators, and Instagram pros use to get those real Reel gains.
Do what the experts do, and you’ll see your views go up in no time.
Bonus: Claim your pack of free animated Instagram Reels templates created by Hootsuite’s professional designers. Easily customize them in Canva, and take your Reels game to the next level today.
25 tips to get more views on Reels in 2025
Get your notepad ready.
1. Start with a strong hook
When today’s average consumer has an attention span less than that of a goldfish, an opening hook is a must-do to immediately grab them (and keep them sticking around for longer).
In fact, MCoBeauty’s Head of Social, Gabe Gomez, says if your Reel doesn’t have a hook, don’t post it — he knows from personal experience.
Because when a Reel featuring the brand’s freckle pen fell short, Gabe says “having a stronger hook and a more emotional reaction to how the product works” might’ve been the missing link.
The takeaway? Jump right into the meat of the video; people don’t want a long lead-up to the good stuff.
Try this
- Ask an open-ended question, spill an exciting announcement, or use a scroll-stopping visual.
2. Post Reels at the right time
To get more views on Reels, it’s all about being at the right place at the right time.
The key? Posting when your audience is most engaged.
For example, healthcare organizations that post to Instagram Reels in the late morning and early afternoon on Mondays and Fridays have the best chance of driving engagement.
Try this
- Use Hootsuite’s best time to post feature to post at optimal times according to your actual audience and boost your chances of virality!
3. Use trial Reels to test your content
Good news: You can now test the waters before officially setting sail on your next Reel with Trial Reels.
According to Instagram, Trial Reels “give you the freedom to explore new formats and help take the guesswork out of how your content will perform” by seeing out what performs best among non-followers.
Take the usual steps to create a Reel, toggle on Trial, and voila.
Try this
- Create two Reels with opposing hooks, hashtags, or editing styles. Then, use trail Reels to see which best captures your audience.
4. Keep it fresh
You wouldn’t expect last week’s leftovers to be the talk of the potluck, now would you?
To keep the Reels views rolling in, Gabe says fresh is best: “Content created 1-2 weeks out typically performs stronger than content made 1-2 months out.”
“The social team spends time every week coming up with Reels content that feels fresh and hyper relevant to seasonality and emerging trends in the beauty space,” Gabe adds.
Try this
- Set aside a weekly 30-minute brainstorm sesh to schedule one or two timely Reels to the week’s content lineup.
5. Boost successful Reels
Basking in the success of your latest Reel? Give it an extra life by promoting (or “boosting”) it!
It’s the epitome of adding fuel to the fire (in the best way).
Source: Instagram
Plus, boosting Reels that are already doing well is a better use of your budget than trying to force poor-performing content onto your audience.
Try this
- Get the most out of your boosted Reels by reading How to Boost Reels on Instagram.
6. Share Reels to Instagram and Facebook
If you already have an Instagram Business account, you can get more views on Reels by sharing them to your Facebook Page.
No harm, no foul — it’s merely an extra tap!
Try this
- Before posting your Reel, tap Share to Facebook.
7. Use on-screen text and captions
When more than half of people watch videos with the sound off, adding on-screen text and closed captions are a no-brainer to reach more Instagram users.
Plus, they’re invaluable for those with hearing difficulties.
Try this
- Use Instagram’s closed caption sticker by tapping on the sticker icon and selecting Captions.
8. Optimize text placement
Be mindful of where you’re placing your closed captions and additional text on Reels!
If your audience can’t easily see the text, they’re likely to scroll right past your video and stunt engagement.
Try this
- Add text within 4:5 dimensions for readable text in-feed and in the Reels tab.
9. Stick to your niche
Consistency truly is key when it comes to getting more views on Reels.
Because the more you create for your target audience and industry, the more the Instagram algorithm will learn who you are and what you offer.
The outcome? Serving your content to relevant users.
Try this
- Use Hootsuite’s hashtag generator to reach your people, without the guesswork.
10. Reply to a comment with a Reel
One of the most entertaining ways to engage with your audience (and boost your Reels views) is by replying to Instagram comments with a Reel.
This comment will appear like a sticker in your Reel that you can use to answer questions, continue a series, or build on your previous post.
Source: Instagram
Try this
- Hit Reply like you would to type a comment. But instead of typing, tap the camera button.
11. Use trending audio
Take it from Gabe — sound matters.
“Sometimes the difference between a banger and a flop is the audio,” Gabe says.
“Match the theme of your post to the right sound to maximize engagement and shareability.”
Try this
- Gabe says to use trending sounds (indicated by a small upward arrow next to the track title) for boosted engagement.
12. Do keyword research
When it comes to reaching the right audiences organically, Gabe says using relevant keywords in your Reels captions and on-screen text are, well, key.
Why? “People are growing more accustomed to searching for relevant topics via social,” Gabe says.
Source: Instagram
Try this
- Head to the Explore page and type in your base keyword into Instagram’s search bar. Pay attention to what Instagram suggests — the upward arrow indicates the keyword is trending!
13. Use hashtags
Speaking of Instagram SEO, adding relevant hashtags to your Reels post is key to having your content served to relevant audiences.
For example, Canadian grocery service, Odd Bunch, uses hashtags like #HealthyEating and #15MinuteRecipes to reach users who are actively engaging with similar content.
Source: Instagram
Try this
- Check out Hootsuite’s free hashtag generator for Reels.
14. Be relatable
This one may sound simple, but it’s an overlooked Reels tip across the platform.
Proof: Gabe says “the MCoBeauty_US audience LOVES the vibes.” The “vibes” being relatability.
“Some of our most successful content feels relatable to how beauty lovers actually behave but also looks aspirational to the lifestyle they want,” Gabe says.
“We try to ensure we capture the look and feel that our audience strives to have, and what they’ll share with their friends for inspiration.”
Try this
- Scope the comments of your (and your competitors’) top performing Reels. What resonates? How can you turn your learnings into another all-star moment?
15. Engage with like-content
Engage with other brands within your niche by leaving thoughtful or funny comments on their content.
You could attract their audience to your Instagram account! And, if Instagram sees your account as active and interactive, it may show you off more in the Reels tab.
Try this
- Learn how you can amplify this tactic with social listening in this blog post: Social listening: How to better understand your audience.
16. Share Reels to Instagram Stories
You want to have your Reel plastered on as many surfaces as possible.
When you publish a Reel, share it on your Story, too. This CTA will amplify your reach as far and wide as possible.
Try this
- Add stickers, text, or a colorful background to your Story to make your Reel even more clickable.
17. Experiment with length
While longer videos give you more room for storytelling, shorter videos may hold your audience’s attention spans.
Now that Reels can be up to three minutes, there’s no better time than the present to experiment and see what your audience enjoys.
Try this
- Analyze your data with a solid amount of both long and short videos to see what duration is the most popular (and be sure to keep testing over time).
18. Learn from mistakes
Sometimes, a Reel you put your heart and chronically online soul into flops. Once your ego softens, don’t simply move on — track your learnings, like Gabe and the MCoBeauty social team.
“We were really expecting this Reel featuring our freckle pen to do better than it did given the beauty community’s excitement around freckle products. However, it fell short,” Gabe explains.
After a little reflecting, Gabe says “having a stronger hook and a more emotional reaction to how the product works might have been better suited than a more stylized video like this one.”
The takeaway? A win is a win, but a loss is a lesson-learned.
Try this
- Stick to monthly or quarterly benchmarks meetings where your team notes Reels wins, losses, and learnings to refine your social media strategy and reach a wider audience.
19. Use vertical video
Awkward borders, tiny clips, and rotated Reels aren’t likely to rack up views.
Try this
- If your pending Reel isn’t the optimal size for Instagram, crop it in your phone’s camera app before uploading to Instagram to ensure high-quality content.
20. Collab with influencers
Partnering with influencers in your niche = double the audience = double the Reels views.
Try this
- Use Instagram Collab posts to add up to two other partners to a post or Reel. It shows up on the feeds and profiles of all collaborators, boosting the post’s reach for everyone.
21. Follow Instagram’s recommendation guidelines
Instagram spells out just how it decides what to recommend and who in its Recommendation Guidelines: consider this document your Social Media Commandments.
“We work to avoid making recommendations that could be low-quality, objectionable, or sensitive, and we also avoid making recommendations that may be inappropriate for younger viewers,” Instagram writes.
Content that promotes violence, self-harm or misinformation, for instance, won’t show up in someone’s feed as a recommendation. Keep it civil and play by the Insta-rules for maximum reach.
Try this
- If you’re not already, set up a social media team content review process to catch blurry vids and potential PR disasters.
22. Follow @creators on Instagram
ICYMI: The @creators account on Instagram is a valuable Reels resource, straight from the source.
Instagram frequently posts tips, including a weekly roundup of the top Reels trends like this one:
Try this
- Simple: follow @creators!
23. Browse Instagram Reels templates
With Instagram Reels Templates, you can plug your video content into time-stamped templates.
Bonus: they’re typically paired with trending audio!
Try this
- Tap Use template on applicable Reels as you spot them, or tap the camera icon then Template in the Reels video editor.
Claim your pack of free animated Instagram Reels templates created by Hootsuite’s professional designers. Easily customize them in Canva, and take your Reels game to the next level today.
24. Create original content
With millions of videos hitting the Reels tab daily, an original piece is bound to get eyes.
And you don’t have to completely reinvent the wheel either. Think: educational or entertaining, with your own unique spin.
Like MCoBeauty’s take on the “sugar plum glam” trend featuring their own products:
Try this
- Scroll the Reels tab for 10 minutes, making note of hot topics and trends in your niche. Pick one that resonates, brainstorm how you can tie it back to your brand, and get filming.
25. Be flexible
The nature of social media marketing (and major platforms) is constantly changing — who’s to say your Reels strategy has to be set in stone?
For 2025, Gabe says the MCoBeauty team is taking a slightly different approach to their Reels strategy, and it’s rooted in flexibility.
“Rather than having one set strategy that we follow for the whole year, each quarter will have its own priorities and content themes to ensure we always produce fresh, engaging content,” Gabe explains.
The sentiment is strong: “This lets our team stay super flexible, creative, and most importantly, entertaining! It’s the first time in my career that we’ve decided to operate social in this way and we are feeling really energized by how this approach will let us make some amazing work.”
Try this
- If your bandwidth allows it, meet with your fellow social media managers and/or wider digital marketing team to discuss testing a “bespoke” Reels strategy like MCoBeauty.
What counts as a view on Reels?
According to Instagram, a “view” on Reels is counted from the moment a video plays, the first time only.
In other words: all Reels views are created equal. Yup, that means no using your or a friend’s account to bump up your views a hundred times over. Sigh.
The good news? Keeping a pulse on your Instagram Reels views gives you insight into your audience’s preferences — tracking what resonates can help you optimize future content.
You can view this data (and more) anytime in one of two ways: via Instagram in-app or on desktop, or with Hootsuite Analytics.
Using Instagram
On mobile
If you’re looking for quick info on the go, Instagram Insights offers basic Instagram analytics free within the Instagram app.
There’s no way to export the data into a report, but it gives you a good basic overview of your Instagram results.
- Go to your profile in the Instagram app, and tap Insights.
- Next to Account insights, tap See all.
- View your content overview, including accounts reached, engagements, total Instagram followers, and content shared. In the top menu, you can choose a timeframe to view.
Source: Instagram
On desktop
The main Instagram Insights tool isn’t available on desktop, but you can get some basic individual post analytics on the web directly from your Instagram feed.
Click View insights under a post in your feed to bring up a pop-up screen showing the total likes, comments, saves, direct message shares, profile visits, and reach.
For more Instagram analytics on the web, you’ll need to switch to a more powerful tool (keep reading).
Source: Instagram
Using Hootsuite Analytics
For the most detailed information, Hootsuite is an all-in-one social media management tool that offers powerful built-in analytics (across social media platforms).
First, log in to your Hootsuite account on desktop. Click Analytics on the left menu.
Click New report.
On the templates sidebar, scroll down to the performance by network section and click Instagram Business. Once on this page, you can select any template to create a basic Instagram report.
Here’s what the Instagram overview report looks like:
You can easily modify a metric from the report page by clicking Configure tile. Click Add metric (like Reels views!) to add new ones.
And that about wraps it up.
Bookmark this blog and hit the drawing board. We’ll see you on Reels!
Take the pressure off real-time posting with Reels scheduling from Hootsuite. Schedule, post, and see what’s working and what’s not with easy-to-use analytics that help you get your content seen by more people.
The post How to get more views on Reels: Tips for 2025 appeared first on Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard.
* This article was originally published here
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Monday, February 10, 2025
What is the Meta Pixel, and how do you make the most of it?
Successful marketers know that data is power.
The Meta Pixel is a powerful data-gathering tool that helps marketers understand how Facebook and Instagram impact website sales. It also tells marketers who engages with their websites, making it possible to target those exact people (or lookalike audiences) with ads on Meta platforms.
Keep reading to find out more about the Meta Pixel and how you could be using it to get better results from your social media marketing efforts.
Key takeaways
- The Meta Pixel is a piece of code you add to your website to track user interactions after they engage with your Facebook or Instagram ads.
- It works by placing cookies to track user behavior across devices, enabling features like retargeting, audience building (Custom and Lookalike Audiences), and tracking key conversion events like purchases, sign-ups, and checkouts.
- The Pixel helps optimize ad performance, build targeted audiences, and remarket to people who’ve already interacted with your site.
What is the Meta Pixel (formerly Facebook Pixel)?
In very simple terms, the Meta Pixel is a piece of code that you add to your website. It helps track how people interact with your website after seeing your Facebook and Instagram ads.
This data allows you to optimize Meta ad campaigns, build targeted audiences for future ads in Ads Manager and remarket to people who have already taken some kind of action on your website.
How does the Meta Pixel work?
The Facebook pixel works by placing and triggering cookies to track users as they interact with your business both on and off of Facebook and Instagram. Those cookies allow Meta to match website users to Facebook and Instagram accounts.
For example, just yesterday I started searching for glasses online. I ended up looking at the online retailer Kits (on my laptop). One of the products I looked at was a pair of glasses you can customize with little charms at the temples.
What do I see when I next open Facebook on my phone? An ad for those very glasses.
Source: @kitseyecare
And, sure enough, they’re serving me ads on Instagram too, with a broader range of frame options.
Source: @kitseyecare
This is called retargeting. It’s a handy way for marketers to remind shoppers to come back and buy all those items they look at and leave in various shopping carts across the web.
Remarketing is not the only function of the Meta pixel, though. It’s also important for tracking, analytics, and overall ad optimization.
Once you install the Meta Pixel, it monitors various actions people take on your website. Meta calls these actions “events.”
Here are all the standard events the Facebook Pixel tracks with predefined code:
- Purchase: Someone completes a purchase on your website.
- Lead: Someone signs up for a trial or otherwise identifies themselves as a lead on your site.
- Complete registration: Someone completes a registration form on your site, such as a subscription form.
- Add payment info: Someone enters or saves their payment information in the checkout process on your website.
- Add to cart: Someone adds a product to their shopping cart on your site.
- Add to wishlist: Someone adds a product to a wishlist on your site.
- Initiate checkout: Someone starts the checkout process to buy something from your site.
- Search: Someone uses the search function to look for something on your site.
- View content: Someone lands on a specific page on your website.
- Contact: Someone contacts your business (including methods like phone, SMS, email, and chat).
- Customize product: Someone uses a configuration tool or an app your business owns to customize one of your products.
- Donate: Someone makes a donation to your organization or cause.
- Find location: Someone searches for your business’s physical location or otherwise signals an intent to visit (such as looking up inventory in a local store).
- Schedule: Someone books an appointment or reservation at your business.
- Start trial: Someone signs up for a free trial of your product or service.
- Submit application: Someone applies for your product, service, or program, such as a credit card or job application.
- Subscribe: Someone subscribes to a paid product or service.
You can also add more details – like purchase price or product category – to create custom events and custom conversions. For example, you could record page views of a specific category on your website, instead of tracking all views. Perhaps you want to separate dog owners from cat owners based on which sections of your pet supply website they viewed.
This allows Meta to better target your ads on Facebook and Instagram. It also allows you to create more targeted landing pages to increase conversions.
Core capabilities of the Meta Pixel
Build Custom Audiences for remarketing
Meta Pixel data and dynamic ads help you effectively target people who have already visited a specific page on your site. You can choose to get really granular here.
For example, you can show people an ad for the exact product that they abandoned in a shopping cart or added to a wishlist on your website. Or, you can show them related products that might nudge them further towards a purchase.
Build Lookalike Audiences
The Pixel helps you gain a picture of who your website visitors are, along with trends in their behavior. Facebook can then use its targeting data to build a lookalike audience of people who have similar likes, interests, and demographics to people who are already interacting with your website.
This can help expand your potential customer base. It also ensures you get the most value from your ads budget, since you’re showing ads to the people most likely to purchase from your brand.
Track cross-device conversions and understand the path to purchase
The Meta pixel allows you to see how people interact with your website after viewing your Facebook or Instagram ad, across their devices. This is why I saw an ad for the glasses on my laptop, even though I visited the website on my phone.
This lets you see if people tend to see your ads on mobile but switch to a desktop before buying. Or, maybe it’s the other way around. This information can help you refine your ad strategy and more accurately calculate your return on investment.
You can also get a clearer sense of your customers’ path to purchase, accurately measuring how many points of contact they have with your brand before the sale.
How to set up the Meta Pixel in 3 steps
Now that you know what you can track, and why you would want to do so, it’s time to create your Meta pixel and put it to work on your website.
Step 1: Create a Meta pixel
1. Head to Meta Events Manager and choose the ad account you want to use with your Pixel. Click Connect data then select Web. Click Next to continue.
Source: Meta Events Manager
2. Name your dataset in the pop-up box, then click Create. This creates a new dataset ID, which is the same as your Meta pixel ID. You can find the pixel ID anytime under Data Sources in the left menu of Events Manager.
Step 2: Connect the Meta pixel to your website
To put the pixel to work gathering information on your website, you now need to install some javascript code into your website headers.
That might sound a bit scary. But many brands will be able to do this without having to enter any manual code at all. Just select Connect with a partner and look for your host, ecommerce platform, or other hosting tool in the list.
Tip: Hootsuite is a Meta partner platform! Follow our instructions to easily set up website tracking.
Once your setup is complete, use the Meta Pixel Helper Chrome extension to make sure your Facebook pixel is working properly. It analyzes web pages for Meta Pixel code snippets and will help you troubleshoot anything that’s not working right.
Step 3: Add a cookie notice to your website
To comply with Meta’s terms (and, in some cases, the law), you need to make sure visitors to your website know you’re collecting their data with cookies.
You need to provide clear notice that you’re using the Meta pixel and that their information may be collected through cookies or other methods. Users need to provide consent.
To get all the details, go to the Meta Business Tools Terms and scroll down to point 3: Special Provisions Concerning the Use of Certain Business Tools. Or, check out Meta’s Cookie Consent Resource. The rules are constantly evolving and vary by jurisdiction, but Meta does a good job of providing country-specific requirements here.
Improve Meta conversions with Hootsuite’s Pixel Connector
Third-party tracking cookies are unfortunately just not as reliable as they used to be. Ad blockers can be a problem. And, as you just saw, website users can also prevent the Meta pixel from working by denying consent for non-essential cookies.
So, rather than relying solely on cookies and web and mobile browser data, Pixel Connector – powered by Meta’s Conversions API Gateway – also collects information directly from your server. It can also use additional customer data sources like your app, website platform, or even CRM. This direct data transfer is not significantly impacted by ad blockers or browser loading issues like the Pixel alone.
That extended and direct connection also means that in addition to website events, you can track offline and messaging events.
This provides a clearer understanding of the connection between your Facebook ads and in-store purchases. You can learn how the customer journey is impacted by business chats in Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp. And you can better personalize your ads to show the right products to the right people at the time they’re most likely to buy.
All of that extra data, personalization, and optimization means brands using Conversions API with the Pixel see an average 13% lower cost per result from Meta ads.
Pixel Connector simply gives you more reliable data. You’ll get better tracking across the path to purchase, from initial brand discovery all the way through to the sale (or other tracked conversion). And you’ll get a better sense of how Meta ads really impact your bottom line. Global large advertisers on Meta were able to attribute 19% additional purchase events on average while using Meta Pixel and the Conversions API together.
You can set up this secure server-to-server communication through an easy-to-use solution in your Hootsuite dashboard.
Integrate your paid and organic social strategies to strengthen connections with existing customers and reach new ones. Use Hootsuite Social Advertising to easily keep track of all of your social media activity — including ad campaigns — and get a complete view of your social ROI. Try it for free.
The post What is the Meta Pixel, and how do you make the most of it? appeared first on Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard.
* This article was originally published here
Sunday, February 9, 2025
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How to get verified on Instagram in 2025
Getting verified on any platform helps give your account more credibility, making your brand appear more trustworthy. So, if you’re looking to extend that to your Instagram account, you’ve come to the right place.
Throughout this article, we’ll teach you how to get verified on Instagram, why it’s so important, and any tips you need to increase your chances of verification.
Let’s get started.
Key Takeaways
- Two ways to get verified: You can either apply for traditional verification if you’re a notable public figure, brand, or business, or pay for Meta Verified.
- Authenticity matters: Instagram needs to know your account is real, whether it’s your personal profile or your business. Make sure you provide accurate documentation and a solid presence on the platform.
- Post consistently: To increase your chances of getting verified, stay active by posting regularly. A consistent content strategy shows you’re an engaged and serious user.
- No follower count requirement: There’s no minimum follower count for traditional verification, but a strong presence and high engagement can increase your chances.
What does Instagram verification mean?
Instagram verification is the process of getting a blue checkmark badge that appears next to your username on the platform. The verification badge signals to other users on the platform that an account really belongs to the user, artist, brand, or organization it represents.
If you’re looking to enhance your presence while pursuing verification, consider brainstorming unique Instagram username ideas that reflect your brand identity.
Your favorite celebrity probably has a blue checkmark on their account:
Brands with a strong social media following usually have a verified badge too:
But there are actually two types of verification: traditional and paid.
Originally, verification was only available to “notable and unique” people or brands. The process of awarding that coveted blue checkmark was shrouded in mystery, and verification was usually restricted to celebrities and big brand names.
These days, users can also pay for verification through Meta Verified. That means anyone can get a verified badge on their Instagram or Facebook accounts.
Both types of verification have the same benefits:
- Legitimacy: The verification process requires a government ID, so having a verified badge establishes your account authenticity and helps the community know it’s the real you.
- Security: Meta Verified offers proactive account monitoring to help protect your account from impersonators or hackers.
- Visibility: Verified accounts appear at or near the top of comments and search results when people type in a business name. They also appear as a recommended business to follow in the Feed.
Verified accounts even have access to features such as exclusive stickers on Instagram Stories and Reels to help their content stand out.
No matter which method an account used to get verified, the blue checkmark looks the same. That means it’s impossible to know whether it was awarded to a user through traditional means or if they’re paying for the Meta Verified service.
Who can get verified on Instagram?
Anyone can request a verified badge on Instagram. Though the requirements are slightly different for each type of verification.
Traditional verification requirements
If you want to go through the traditional verification process for your Instagram profile, you can apply for the blue badge if you’re a notable public figure, celebrity, or brand — and you meet the eligibility criteria.
Instagram’s criteria is a bit vague, but here’s what we do know.
In addition to following Instagram’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines, your account also needs to be:
- Authentic: It must represent a real person, registered business, or entity.
- Unique: Only one account per person or business may be verified, with exceptions for language-specific accounts. Instagram generally doesn’t verify general interest accounts.
- Complete: Your account must be public and complete. That means you must have a bio, profile photo, and active account when applying.
- Notable: Your account must represent a well-known, highly searched-for person, brand, or entity.
What counts as “notable” to one person may not be notable to another, which is why verification used to be out of reach for most Instagram users.
But don’t despair. There’s now another option: Subscribing to Meta Verified.
Meta Verified requirements
Getting a blue tick through Meta Verification is much more simple.
Here’s what you need to subscribe:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be located in a country that offers Meta Verified
- Have a public or private profile that’s associated with your full name, aligns with naming standards, and has a profile picture that includes your face
- Meet minimum activity requirements, such as prior posting history
- A government-issued ID or driver’s license
- Two-factor authentication enabled on your profile
- Follow Instagram’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines
If you’re relatively confident you meet the eligibility requirements for traditional verification, or you’re ready to splurge on paid Meta Verification, read on.
How to get verified on Instagram in 5 steps
Want to try for traditional verification? Follow these five steps to request verification for your business account. Keep in mind you can only request traditional verification using the mobile app, not the desktop version.
Step 1: Go to your Instagram profile
First things first, open your Instagram app and make sure you’re logged into the account you want to verify. Then, tap your profile photo in the bottom right corner of the app to head to your Instagram profile.
Step 2: Tap the hamburger menu icon
From there, tap the hamburger menu icon (three parallel lines) in the top right corner of your profile.
This takes you to all of your Instagram settings.
Step 3: Tap Business tools and controls
Scroll down in the settings until you see the For professionals section. Then tap Business tools and controls.
Step 4: Tap Request verification
Scroll to the bottom of this section to find the blue Request verification link and tap it.
Step 5: Fill out the form
Next, you’ll have to fill out the available form to request verification for your professional account.
You’ll have to confirm both authenticity and notability with documentation. The information you’ll need to provide include:
- 1-2 identification documents for your business, like a driver’s license, passport, ID card, tax filing, utility bill, or articles of incorporation.
- The category and country of your notability, as well as any names that you or your business is known by.
- Additional social media accounts that showcase your notability.
While many of the form fields are listed as “optional,” we recommend filling out as much as you can to increase your chances of receiving verification.
Once you’ve completed the form, tap the Submit button at the bottom.
After submitting, keep the following in mind:
- Just because you request verification doesn’t mean the platform will grant it.
- Submitting a verification request multiple times before getting a decision will cancel your application.
- Getting verified on instagram doesn’t mean your Facebook Page will also receive verification — you’ll have to submit a request on both platforms.
- Once verified, you cannot change your Instagram username, so make sure you’re happy with the name you’ve chosen.
- If you’ve received verification using false or misleading information, Instagram reserves the right to take action, like removing your verified badge and/or disabling your account.
How to get verified on Instagram with Meta Verified
If you haven’t been able to get verified the traditional way or you don’t qualify, you might instead choose to go the Meta Verified route. With Meta Verified, you can pay $14.99/month to get the Instagram verification badge along with the other benefits that come with having a verified account.
Step 1: Follow steps 1-4 of the previous step-by-step
If you have a business or creator account, you’ll need to take the same first four steps as before:
- Go to your Instagram profile
- Tap the hamburger menu icon
- Tap Business tools and controls
- Tap Request verification
However, you won’t fill out the available form.
Step 2: Tap Subscribe to Meta Verified
At the top of the verification request form, you’ll see a Before you start header that prompts users to sign up for Meta Verified if they aren’t a notable individual or prominent brand. Tap this to get started.
Step 3: Sign up for Meta Verified
Some accounts may have a prompt to join the waitlist before they can sign up. This may be the case for users in countries where the feature isn’t yet available, but many users say they’ve had to wait for a few weeks in the waitlist, even in applicable countries before getting access.
Otherwise, you’ll immediately be hit with a prompt to Unlock benefits.
Tap the button to move onto the next page. Here, you’ll see the price in your area along with some of the perks you’ll get access to.
Tap Continue to move on. If you’re on iPhone, you’ll be prompted to confirm your subscription.
You can also sign up on the Android app or the desktop version. With Meta Verified, both your Instagram and linked Facebook Page or account will be verified through the same subscription.
4 tips to earn a blue check on Instagram
Ready to earn that blue check? Keep these tips in mind to increase your chances of receiving traditional verification.
1. Be authentic
While authenticity (being a legitimate person or business) is a prerequisite for verification, that’s not exactly what we mean here. We mean that you should showcase who you really are as a legitimate person or business.
Share your life, or go behind-the-scenes of how your business works. Be real with your audience so the platform can easily see that you are who you say you are.
2. Post consistently
Instagram wants to reward active accounts, so make sure you’ve got a consistent posting schedule.
More than that, though, make sure that you’re posting consistently often. Sharing a new post once per week may not be enough. Try being active on the platform each day.
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Start free 30-day trial3. Leverage collaborations
According to Instagram growth strategist Sarah Campbell, you’ll want to leverage Instagram collaborations this year. Not only can this improve your growth on the platform overall, but it can help your chances of getting verified.
By partnering with other credible and notable accounts, you’re further solidifying your position. Sarah shares that collaborations can lead to shared audiences, boosting your Instagram follower count, but that they also boost credibility.
4. Optimize your Instagram profile
There are so many areas to fill out in your Instagram profile that can provide even more context behind who you are. Optimize your profile and bio to create further trust and credibility.
To do this:
- Upload a high-quality profile photo (or logo if you’re a business)
- Use your real name or business name as your username
- Fill out your bio with exactly who you are and what you do
- Input your location (or the location of your flagship store/headquarters)
- If a business account, choose the appropriate business category
- Add a CTA button to help people get in touch with you
- Create Story Highlights that live on your profile
Creating an optimized account makes people more likely to follow you, giving Instagram even more reason to verify you.
3 benefits to get verified on Instagram
There are three main benefits to getting verification on any social media platform. Let’s walk through each one.
1. Increased trust
Having that verification badge helps people trust you more. They know that you are who you say you are, meaning they’re more likely to follow you, interact with you, and work with you.
2. Protect against impersonators
There are many fake accounts out there for various reasons, like scams or parodies. Having that verification sets your account apart from potential impersonators, offering an additional level of security for both you and your followers.
3. Improve performance
Getting verified can increase the chances that people will want to follow or work with your account. So you can see a boost in followers, an increase in website clicks, as well as more sales and conversions through your Instagram account.
Instagram verification FAQs
How many followers do you need to get verified on Instagram?
There’s no minimum follower count you need to hit to be eligible for verification. However, traditional verification methods are set aside for notable accounts, so it’s likely that you’ll want to grow your followers before you immediately request verification.
How much does it cost to get verified on Instagram?
Traditional verification is free. However, accounts that don’t qualify for verification can still sign up for Meta Verified, a paid verification service that costs $14.99/month.
How long does it take to get verified on Instagram?
Instagram typically notifies verification applicants within 30 days of their decision.
What happens if my Instagram verification request is denied?
If your Instagram verification request is denied, you can apply again. Try using different documentation this time around. Or, you can choose to sign up for Meta Verified instead.
How can I increase my chances of getting verified on Instagram?
Be a real human or business, showcase authenticity, post consistently, and optimize your Instagram profile to improve your chances of getting verified.
Can I apply for verification multiple times?
Yes, you can apply for verification multiple times. However, you’ll need to wait until you hear a decision before applying again, or your application can be cancelled.
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The post How to get verified on Instagram in 2025 appeared first on Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard.
* This article was originally published here
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