Everyone has seen that enviable blue checkmark next to a profile on Instagram and Twitter, or that blue badge on Facebook. Those are the movers and shakers, the influencers, the “public figures”….the Verified. While it can seem intimidating getting your social media account verified, it can make a big difference in the life of an Independent Film, or anyone that simply wants to be in the higher ranks of social media. While there are dozens of tips and tricks that can boost your account into a verified status, here are a few that you can start doing today:
Build Relationships with Your Followers
Why do we follow people and brands that we follow? Initially, we might like what they post, but we keep following them and engage with their posts because we feel some sort of connection with them. The same should be true for your social presence.
One of the most important things you will have to ‘prove’ to have your account verified, regardless of the platform, is that you’re noteworthy and appropriately deserve to be verified. To do that, you need some sort of following. Grow your following by asking engaging questions in your post, interacting with commenters, as well as following other accounts, liking their posts and leaving a comment. The investment in those relationships will pay off big time.
Know the Ins and Outs of Posting
A key part of getting the followers and engagement that you want is to know what you should be posting, where, when, and how often. Use these as your initial go-to resources for your social posting and watch your engagement habits and data insights to adjust from there.
The first step is to know what days and times of day are best for posting.
- Facebook: Post on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and keep it between 9am to 10am, 12pm to 1pm, or 4pm to 5pm.
- Twitter: Choose Saturday or Sunday around 8am to 10am, 12pm, or 7pm to 9pm.
- Instagram: Publish a weekly post on Friday, around 8am, 1pm, or 9pm. Look for high engagement peaks to determine other beneficial posting days.
For additional help leverage one of the many software options available to help you track your reach and see what works and what doesn’t. This is where experimentation will come into play. If you notice a certain type of post or hashtag or time isn’t working for you, try something else!
#UseYourHashtags
Hashtags will get your post in front of those who don’t already follow you and you may gain a few new followers just from using a new hashtag. Pay attention to which hashtags are the most popular and how well it applies to your post. Consider giving your Independent Film its own hashtag so you can track how much traction it’s getting. Use hashtags as not only an extension of your post’s copy, but a way to engage with trending and engaged outside audiences.
Learn From the Experts
When we want to become really great at something, we look to experts in that field to show us the way. The same is true for building a social media presence around your Independent Film or brand. You are likely already following a few verified accounts. Watch what they’re doing. If you notice something they are doing is working and you think you could try it on your page, give it a shot! Your platform analytics will be able to tell you if it works for your followers or not.
So, you’ve done the work. Now what?
Once you have your brand established and a solid following, you’re ready to apply to become verified. You can become verified on just about every social media platform, the main verification platforms being Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Twitter: Sadly, Twitter has put all verifications on hold. That being said, you should still be working to build the brand of your independent film on the platform.
Facebook: For Facebook, there are two types of verifications, one with a blue badge and one with a gray badge.
- Blue Badge
- This is a verification used exclusively for: Journalists, Popular brands and businesses, Government officials, Celebrities, Media, Entertainment, & Sports companies.
- Note: To receive this verification, you will need at least one form of government-issued photo ID that shows your name and date of birth.
- Gray Badge
- This is a verification applies only to working businesses. For this verification, in addition to the other pieces of verification we will talk about, you may need to show the following documents:
- Tax exemption documents, Articles of incorporation, A copy of a utility or phone bill, A written explanation about why your account should receive the verification, and more.
Instagram: Similar to Facebook, you will be asked to prove your identity with Instagram in a similar fashion. You can become verified on Instagram if you are a public figure, celebrity, or huge brand.
Why Get Verified
The two biggest pulls and reasons to work towards verification is to stand out from the crowd when social users are looking for new accounts to follow as well as proving your influence and provide an engaging and reliable social presence. If you want your film or brand to succeed, people have to know about it. There is no better way than to grow your social voice and go through the steps to get verified. With a little work, you can grow a strong following who will be eager to spend their money to go see your film, value your personality and opinion, and follow your story.
GET STARTED!
If the following suggestions sound appealing, and you are interested in getting verified yourself, or for your business, or for any other initiative, we’d love to hear from you. Verification in addition to other digital strategies can significantly move the needle for you. We’d love to hear about your projects, and see if we might be able to help.
