How to Get Verified on YouTube: Get a YouTube Verification Badge

how to get verified on YouTube

For many creators, getting their YouTube channel verified is a big deal. It’s particularly important for anyone who’s looking to make money or build their brand on the platform. If you’re looking to get that grey checkmark next to your name, then this guide should help you out.

Getting verified can seem like an overwhelming process, and it’s true that it can take some time. However, there are simple steps that you can take to give your channel the best chance of verification. Read on to find out more.

The Difference Between a YouTube Verification Badge and Verifying Your Account

how to get verified on YouTube

There’s always some confusion about the difference between getting a YouTube account verified and getting a verification badge. Even though the terms are used interchangeably, they are actually two very different things.

YouTube Account Verification

When you first make an account, YouTube will ask you to add a phone number. This is the process of “verifying your YouTube account”. Once your account is verified, you’ll be given the freedom to upload longer videos, use custom thumbnails and live stream from your channel.

Getting your account verified is an important step if you want to make money on YouTube, but it isn’t our main focus in this article. Instead, we’ll be looking at the YouTube Verification badge.

YouTube Verification Badge

A verification badge is a small checkmark that appears next to your channel’s name. If a channel has this badge, then it means that the owner is a creator, artist, public figure, or company. Channels for musicians and artists will usually have a small music note rather than a checkmark as their badge.

The badge helps distinguish official channels from others with similar names. This is a big benefit for popular creators who are concerned about other YouTube channels posing as them.

Getting the verification badge is a much more involved process than a simple account verification. When you see a channel with the checkmark, you know that they are serious about making content for the platform.

Why Do You Need to Be Verified on Youtube?

make money on YouTube when verified

At some point, having a verification badge on YouTube is essential if you want your channel to grow. As we’ve mentioned, having the checkmark lets people know that channel is trustworthy and legit. These channel characteristics are super important, especially if your goal is to monetize your account.

Being verified gives you the best chance of being accepted on YouTube monetization programs, such as the Partner Program. The YouTube Partner Program gives creators the ability to gain income from adverts on their videos, which is one of the big ways YouTubers make money.

YouTube Verification Rules and Requirements

youtube verification rules and requirements

YouTube doesn’t hand out the verification badge to just any account. In reality, there are a few requirements that an account must meet before it can be considered for verification. The main one is that your account must have a minimum of 100,000 subscribers.

In some cases, YouTube may accept accounts with less than 100,000 subs if the creator or organization is well known outside of the platform. Once you’ve applied for verification, YouTube will verify that your channel is authentic and complete. A complete channel is one that is public, has a channel banner, profile picture, and description. So make sure you have all that in place before applying!

How to Apply For Verification on YouTube

Step 1: Go to Google’s support page

To apply for verification, head over to the Google support page and ensure that you’re signed in with your YouTube account details. On this page, you’ll see a section titled “Apply for channel verification”. If your channel is eligible, then there’ll be an “Apply Now” link displayed.

Step 2: Fill in the form

The link will take you to an application form. Simply fill in your official channel name and channel ID, and then send it off! If you don’t know your ID, then you’ll be able to find it in your YouTube settings, under the “Advanced Settings” section.

How to Remain Verified on YouTube

how to remain verified on YouTube

Congratulations, you’ve been accepted for verification and you have the badge to prove it. However, the work isn’t over. Now you’ve got to make sure you keep your verification badge and don’t do anything that could result in it being revoked. Verified channels are expected to follow a range of rules if they want to keep their privileges:

Breaking copyright rules is one of the biggest reasons why channels lose their verification badge. Playing even a few seconds of unlicensed music or sound effects can result in a copyright claim or even a strike on your account.

Music licensing for YouTube doesn’t have to be complicated. By using a service such as Lickd to source your sounds, you’ll never have to worry about confusing laws and regulations. Find over 1 Million popular songs and a vast library of high-quality stock music on Lickd, all of which you can license for your YouTube channel in a matter of minutes.

When it comes to music copyrighting, keeping everything as simple as possible is the best way to stay out of trouble. Why take a risk with unlicensed music when you have a huge bank of safe tracks right at your fingertips?

Comply with Community Guidelines and Terms of Service

As well as abiding by copyright laws, you’ll also have to stay within YouTube’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. These rules layout the content that is acceptable for the platform, which applies to videos, thumbnails, and comments.

Avoid changing your channel’s name

If you change your channel name, then you’ll automatically lose the verification badge associated with the account. You can reapply for verification straight away, but we’d recommend not changing your channel name unless you have a good reason to do so.

How to Increase Your Chances Of Getting YouTube Verified

increase chances of getting YouTube verified

For most channels, the only way they can get verified is to reach the minimum subscriber count. Until you’ve got 100,000 subscribers, getting verified is going to be a difficult process. So what can you do in the meantime to boost your engagement and start growing your fanbase?

Produce high-quality content

Posting high-quality videos lets YouTube know that your channel can be trusted with a verification badge. More importantly, producing great content is likely to drive people to your channel and help it grow.

Upload videos frequently and consistently

Posting regularly is just as important as making good content. Keeping your audience engaged is an essential step in building a dedicated subscriber base.

Encourage subscribers to like and share your content

There’s a reason why YouTube creators are always asking their audiences to like and share their content. Getting lots of likes on your video will give it a huge boost within the algorithm, and it will be recommended to more and more people. Using your audience to distribute your content is always a great strategy for growth.

For more tips on how to grow your channel, check out this guide on how to get more subscribers.

FAQs

How long does it take to get verified on YouTube?

how long does it take to get verified on YouTube

YouTube usually gets back to you within 24 hours of a submitted application. During this time, the platform will be using a combination of software and human checks to proactively verify channels.

Do I have to be verified on YouTube to earn revenue?

No, but you do have to be a member of the YouTube Partner Program to monetize your videos. There are a few requirements to meet in order to join the Partner Program, including having more than 500 subscribers (and 1000 in order to monetize, as of June 2023). You can find the full list of requirements and advice on how to join the YPP in this guide.

How do I check my YouTube channel is verified?

To check your channel is verified, go to your YouTube Settings and click on “Status and Features”. If you’re verified, then the checkmark badge will be displayed next to your YouTube channel’s name.

That’s how to get verified on YouTube!

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