Trying to get verified on social media? Here's what you need to know.

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originally introduced social media verification to authenticate the identity of public figures and celebrities. Since then, verified users also include companies, brands, influencers, activists and journalists.

Verifying your social media accounts has many benefits. First of all, the blue tick confirms that you are real, official and not an imitation. It is seen as an endorsement that tells people that you are credible, important, and worthy of attention. Additionally, verified accounts always rank higher in the same search queries. Your posts and comments are placed above those of unverified accounts, which is a great way to reach a wider audience and boost your engagement. Earlier research found that verified Instagram accounts have a 30% higher engagement rate than regular accounts.

There is no doubt that earning the blue badge is highly desired by anyone looking to grow their brand or business. However, the verification process can be difficult. According to research, only 3.26% of Instagram accounts with more than 1,000 followers have the verification check. Moreover, 73.4% of verified accounts are among accounts with more than one million followers, while for accounts with less than five thousand followers, only 0.87% are verified.

Related: This Is Why You Should Have That Blue Verification Checkmark On Your Social Media Accounts

So how do you check? There are various myths surrounding social media verification. Some people think you have to be famous to get the blue badge, or you have to have millions of followers to qualify. However, none of this is true. While social media verification was restricted to celebrities and famous people in the past, it is now open to all individuals, businesses, and brands. So even if you are a coach or other professional, you can apply as long as you meet their requirements.

In terms of the number of subscribers, there are also no minimum requirements. It might be easier if you have millions of subscribers, but that doesn't mean you can't get blue ticked if you only have a few thousand subscribers. There are many examples of users with only a few thousand subscribers who have managed to get the blue tick, such as virtual insurer OneDegree, digital investment platform Aqumon, online broker Webull Securities and financial portal MoneySmart. And journalist Peter Yeung also earned his blue badge with just over 1,000 followers.

Different social media platforms may have slightly different requirements. For example, Facebook and Instagram require your account to be authentic, complete, unique, and notable. The first three requirements are pretty simple, but most people struggle with the notoriety requirement. And that's why I hope to shed some light here.

Related: How I Got Verified on Instagram Without Being Famous

What happens when you submit your account for verification is that an online search will take place to determine your "notability". In the case of Instagram, for example, to be considered "notable" you must be well known, highly sought after, or prominent enough to be talked about (i.e. featured in multiple outlets). Many articles online also mention this point of media coverage to "explain" the notability criteria - but very little detail is given on what it actually entails.

Basically, to increase your chances...