Get a Verified Account on Twitter

If you've seen that white checkmark in a blue cloud on somebody's Twitter profile, that means they hold a "verified account." Twitter uses verification to establish the authenticity of tweeters, and does so proactively—they concentrate on "highly sought users in music, acting, fashion, government, politics, religion, journalism, media, advertising, business, and other key interest areas." If you (or your boss/client) fit the bill, here is how to go about getting your Twitter account verified.

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Steps

    1
    Determine if you qualify for a verified Twitter account. Twitter verifies as few accounts as possible and only for legitimate reasons. Reasons for asking Twitter include being a highly recognizable public figure (athletes, artists, public officials, public or government agencies, etc.), or if your name and likeness is parodied or impersonated on multiple Twitter accounts, leading to identity confusion.
        Though Twitter does not have an official stance on this, several Twitter-verified companies have indicated that spending $5000/month on Twitter advertising will also get (and keep) your account verified
        Twitter will not consider you for verification based on your number of followers. Twitter urges Tweeters to "Please note that follower count is not a factor in determining whether an account meets our criteria for verification.
        Twitter recommends embedding a Twitter "Follow" button on your official website as the best alternative to verification. You can learn how to do this here. This allows you to obtain followers directly from your official site, which is very helpful if there are multiple Twitter accounts that use your name.
        Twitter also recommends including a link to an official website as an alternative to verification.
    2
    Read the Verified Account terms. These terms explain what a verified account is, what it means to be verified, who has the verified badge, identifying a verified account, etc. They can be found here.
    3
    Find out how to apply for a verified account. Send a direct message to this address and be sure to have the following information ready.
        Account name
        Full name
        Location
        Official website (you will be given a suggestion to put the Twitter logo or badge on your official website to speed up verification)
        Bio information (information about yourself in fewer than 160 characters)
        Primary contact name (referring to the individual who manages the account)
        Additional Contact Information
    4
    Wait for Twitter to respond. If you don't get a reply shortly, you can contact Twitter by snail mail or through Twitter. Keep in mind that Twitter deals with a high volume of verification requests, and that it focuses first on the most "highly sought users.
    5
    Follow Twitter's instructions for verifying your account. If Twitter decides that you qualify for a verified account, they will reach out to you via direct message. Click the link in the direct message to be taken to finish the process.
        The final part of the process has 3 parts, Learn how to Tweet effectively, Connect with other Interesting Twitter Users, and Protect your Account.
            Learn how to Tweet effectively gives you a choice between 2 tweets and asks you to choose which one is better. It has the form of a quiz, but there will be no negative effects if you do not answer correctly.
            Connect with other Interesting Twitter Users gives you the option to follow other verified accounts. Twitter believes that this gives you more legitimacy as a verified user.
            Protect your Account asks you to enter a phone number that Twitter can call if there are any problems with your account. Once you have completed this step, your account will be verified.
    6
    Do not change your account information. Once you have received a verification badge, it is important to keep your account information the same. Changing information, such as your profile image, can cause Twitter to remove the badge, forcing you to contact them again.

Tips

    If you do not qualify for a verified Twitter account, the best way to prove that your Twitter is the "real" you is to include a link to your page on an official website.

Warnings

    Applying for a verified account is no guarantee that Twitter will respond to you.
    Having a verified Twitter account does not stop others from creating parody/impersonation accounts of you.
    After your account has been verified, you may notice that some of your followers have been removed.