Getting your account verified on TikTok in 2021, just like with any other social media platform, can be a great boost for your brand. It lends you legitimacy, authenticity, and street cred — showing your followers, or potential followers, that you’re the real deal.

However, it’s not easy to get the coveted blue tick checkmark — especially on TikTok. Verification is supposed to be for public figures, celebrities, brands, and publishers, but what exactly makes a public figure or a brand that’s “legit” enough?

Well, TikTok’s Creator Launch Team has strict criteria and guidelines for granting verification. The main idea of verification is to protect popular creators who might be impersonated, copied, or bullied. They also want to attract celebrities, politicians, musicians, and other very popular figures to use their platform.

So if you want to get verified, you’ll need to meet those criteria.

Can you request verification on TikTok?

On most platforms, like Instagram and Twitter, you can apply to be considered for verification and getting the TikTok blue tick. That’s not true with TikTok. The TikTok team seeks accounts that may require verification and grants it on their initiative.

Can you buy TikTok verification?

NO. Beware of scams! You cannot buy verification on TikTok.

Verification will be granted for free to users who have been selected by the TikTok team. There are many scammers out claiming to be able to hook you up for a few hundred or a few thousand dollars. Don’t fall for it! It’s not legal or legitimate, and if they run off with your money, there’s nothing you can do about it. The only way to get verified is to meet the criteria and get selected by the TikTok team.

So what are the criteria for TikTok verification to get the coveted blue tick in 2021?

According to TikTok expert Rachel Pederson, who is connected with the Creator Launch Team on TikTok, these are the criteria they look at when considering an account for verification:

• Consistent daily follower growth: Accounts that are consistently gaining around 500–2,000 followers per day
• Growing watch time: Accounts that are getting more and more views and watch time
• Media coverage: Accounts of users who are featured in prominent and respected media platforms, such as newspapers, TV shows, and magazines
• Consistently viral content: Accounts that are putting out content that consistently goes viral
• Account verification on other social media platforms: Accounts of users who are already verified on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter

If you are already a celebrity or media figure, these issues aren’t a problem. However, as a small business owner still trying to get the word out about your brand, it could be extremely challenging to meet these criteria.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try!

Some ways to increase your chances of getting verified on TikTok:

Consistently produce fantastic content

You may not have control over whether your videos go viral, but you certainly can work toward making them viral-worthy. Make sure you’re putting out great content on a regular basis.

A few ways you can take your videos up a level:

• Use high-quality gear
• Incorporate popular music
• Pay attention to the details: do you have a good background? How’s your lighting?
• Use tools such as the Boosted app to make your videos look cool and professional

Engage and collaborate with other users

If you want to gain more followers and get that TikTok blue tick, following liberally and engaging with other users is the way to go. Your audience can grow exponentially once you’ve reached enough people with your great content.

Try to get noticed by the media

Make sure your brand is doing some extraordinary, noteworthy things that will gain enough attention to get media coverage. If you have some connections in the media, it can’t hurt to leverage those, either. Consider taking part in public projects or events that will help get you noticed.

Get your account verified on other platforms

Apply for verification on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and make sure these accounts are connected to your TikTok account. For more information on requesting verification on Instagram, see our post How to Get Verified on Instagram: A Step by Step Guide.

Don’t overfocus on verification

Ultimately, getting verified and getting the TikTok blue tick on TikTok isn’t something you can have much control over. So there’s not much point in getting hung up on the blue tick. You don’t need verification to grow your brand or become a popular and respected presence on TikTok.

Just focus on growing your presence, making new connections, having fun, and producing excellent content. If you happen to get verified in the process — awesome. If not, just carry on!