How to verify your Twitter account in 10 steps

Twitter has announced it will now let any of its users apply for the much sought after blue badge of verification.

But there are still a number of criteria you must fulfil in order to be accepted into the Twitter pantheon.

Luckily it’s nothing nearly as taxing as ‘being just as popular as Katy Perry’ or ‘being just as terrifyingly unpredictable like Kanye West’.

Here’s a handy guide to everything you need to do to achieve blue tick* status…

What does verification mean?

It lets people know that your Twitter account is both of the following:

• Of public interest
• Authentic

At first its main use was to help users determine between genuine celebrities and their countless imitators and parody accounts, but soon afterwards any high profile user with tweets of particular note in any field of interest became eligible for verification.

It stood as a badge of authority.

Previously you couldn’t actually apply for the verification label, you were just offered it by Twitter when they ‘noticed’ you.

However all that has changed as of this week…

How do I get my Twitter account verified?

1) First you’ll have to personally determine whether your account is “of public interest.”  This may take some soul searching and uncovering of some hard truths, but if you’re a regular contributor to online publications and can prove your identity by linking to other genuine online profiles, you’re in with a chance.

2) Sign in to Twitter on your desktop, head to your profile page, click ‘Edit Profile’ and make sure you have the following details filled in:

• Make sure your name is genuinely your name (or your stage name)
• A profile photo featuring your own face
• A header photo
• A bio
• A website linking to your work
• Your birthday

3) Save changes.

4) Next, click on your little thumbnail profile picture on the top right corner to launch the pop-up menu, and click Settings.

5) In Settings you’ll need to do the following:

• Verify your mobile number
• Confirm you email address

You’ll probably have already confirmed your email when you signed up, but it’s a good idea to check now that it’s your current one.

To verify your mobile number, head to Mobile on the bottom left menu, then add your number. You’ll receive a text with a six digit number you’ll have to enter here to confirm.

6) Set your tweets to public in the Security and Privacy settings.

You should now be ready to submit your account for verification.

7) Submit your request to verify your account by clicking this form.

8) Make sure you’re signed in to the Twitter account you wish to be verified for.

9) You will then need to provide at least two URLs to websites that will help identify you (I’ve chosen my author page at SEW and my Contently page) and you will also need to provide a 500 character explanation on why you should be verified.

10) Click next, check your details, and click confirm.

Other things to be aware of

• Twitter will respond to your request via email.
• If your request is denied, you can submit another request 30 days after receiving the email.
• The blue verification badge appears next to your name wherever it appears on Twitter and in search results.
• Accounts that use the verification badge as a part of the profile photo or background photo are subject to permanent account suspension.
• A verified badge does not imply an endorsement by Twitter.

*I know, the tick is technically white on a blue background. The use of ‘blue tick’ annoys me as much as it annoys you.