How to Get Verified on YouTube

What Is YouTube Verification?

YouTube verification is the platform’s way of confirming the authenticity of a YouTube channel by displaying a small checkmark badge next to its name. This badge helps viewers recognize that the channel is genuine and belongs to the person or brand it represents.

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Verification is especially relevant for well-known creators, public figures, or businesses, as it prevents others from impersonating them and shows that YouTube has confirmed the channel’s legitimacy.

Why Should You Get Verified on YouTube?

Getting verified on YouTube boosts your channel’s credibility, making it easier for viewers to trust your content. It helps prevent impersonation by confirming your identity. Additionally, verification unlocks access to certain features, such as customized thumbnails and enhanced channel management tools.

Here’s why you should get verified on YouTube:

• Increase trust with your viewers. A verification badge next to your channel name proves that your channel is real and vetted by YouTube. This builds trust, as people are more likely to follow and engage with a channel they know is legitimate. 
• Make your channel more attractive to advertisers and brands. Verification badges can open up more opportunities for sponsorships, collaborations, and advertising partnerships. Brands often prefer to work with verified channels because they feel more confident that their products will be promoted by a trusted source.
• Protect your business from impersonation. A verification badge helps distinguish your channel from others who might try to mimic your content or brand identity. This is especially important as your account grows and becomes more popular.
• Boost visibility in search results. Verified channels are often given a slight edge in YouTube’s search results. While it’s not the only factor that affects search ranking, having a badge can help your channel appear more prominently when people search for content related to your industry. 
• Get early access to new features. When verified, you gain access to more features, such as a higher time limit for live streams, the ability to post longer videos, etc. What’s more, YouTube occasionally rolls out new features and tools to verified channels before they become widely available, allowing you to stay ahead of the curve and offer new experiences to your audience.

Account Verification vs. Channel Verification

Account verification primarily serves to verify the identity of the account holder, usually requiring a phone number for the process. It is designed to enhance account security and functionality. On the other hand, channel verification, confirms the authenticity of channels that are widely recognized outside of YouTube or have a significant number of subscribers (typically over 100,000).

Account verification is a process that gives you access to basic YouTube features like uploading videos longer than 15 minutes, adding custom thumbnails, live streaming, and appealing content ID claims. In contrast, channel verification boosts your channel’s credibility with viewers by adding a verification badge.

Account Verification is the process that confirms you’re the legitimate owner of your YouTube account and not a bot. It’s usually one of the first steps you’ll take after creating a YouTube account. 

Here are the benefits of having a verified YouTube account:

• Uploading longer videos: Without verification, you’re limited to videos up to 15 minutes long. Once verified, you can upload videos longer than that.
• Custom thumbnails: Verification lets you upload custom thumbnails for your videos, which can help make your content more appealing.
• Live streaming: To access YouTube’s live streaming features, you need to verify your account first.
• Appeal content ID claims: If your video is mistakenly flagged for copyright, you can challenge the claim and protect your content. 

Channel Verification is a more advanced process that confirms your channel’s authenticity and importance. When a channel is verified, YouTube adds a small checkmark badge next to your channel name. 

Channel Verification is typically available to channels with at least 100,000 subscribers, although YouTube may proactively verify channels with less followers in certain circumstances. 

How to Get Account Verification on YouTube

Verifying your YouTube account is an important first step in unlocking some of the platform’s essential features. While this type of verification doesn’t give you the YouTube verification badge that some larger channels have, it does provide access to additional features, like uploading videos longer than 15 minutes, adding custom thumbnails, live streaming, and appealing content ID claims.

Here is how to verify your YouTube account:

1. Head over to YouTube’s verification page. You can do this on any device with internet access, whether it’s a PC or mobile device.
2. YouTube needs to verify that you’re a real person, so you’ll need to provide your phone number. You can select to receive the verification code via text message or call.
3. After entering your phone number, click “Get Code.” YouTube will then send a six-digit verification code to your phone. Enter it into the space provided on the verification page.
4. After you’ve entered the code, YouTube will confirm that your account is verified. This usually takes only a few minutes.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you may want to double-check that your account is indeed verified. 

Here’s how to check if your YouTube account is verified:

1. In the top right corner of your screen, click on your profile picture and select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
2. Here, go to “Channel status and features,” where you’ll find a list of features available to your account.
3. Look for the verification status: Select “Channel,” then access “Feature eligibility.” Go to the “Intermediate features” that require phone verification section to see if the section has a green checkmark underneath. If it does, your account is successfully verified.

How to Get Channel Verification on YouTube

Getting your YouTube channel verified is a significant milestone that adds credibility to your presence on the platform. The process is simple, but it requires you to meet certain requirements and follow a list of steps. 

Here’s how to get channel verification on YouTube:

1. Confirm your channel meets YouTube’s criteria with over 100,000 subscribers or special considerations, and has a complete and active profile.
2. Log in to YouTube, select your account, and navigate to the verification request form to check eligibility.
3. Complete the form with your channel’s details and any additional proof of its authenticity.
4. Submit your application and patiently await YouTube’s review. 

1. Make Sure You’re Eligible

Before you apply for channel verification, check if your channel meets the eligibility criteria. YouTube generally requires channels to have more than 100,000 subscribers to be considered for verification. 

Occasionally, you might come across YouTube channels with less than 100,000 subscribers that still have a verification badge. 

There are a few cases in which channels with fewer than 100,000 subscribers can be verified: 

• Legacy verification: Verification requirements have evolved over time, and some channels may have been verified under older criteria.
• Proactive verification: YouTube sometimes verifies channels that may be smaller on the platform but have significant recognition or influence elsewhere, such as those belonging to public figures, brands, or media companies.

In addition to subscriber count, your channel should be complete and active. This means having a profile picture, a channel banner, and consistent content that follows YouTube’s community guidelines. A well-maintained channel with quality content is more likely to be approved for verification.

2. Access the Application Page

After you’re confident that your channel meets the eligibility requirements, ensure you’re signed in with the email address for the eligible channel. Then, click your profile picture in the top-right and select that account. 

Afterward, look for the official YouTube link that leads to the verification request form. If you’re eligible, the form will be available for you to fill out. If not, you may receive a message that your channel doesn’t meet the current requirements, and you’ll need to wait until you do.

3. Complete the Application Form

On the application form, you’ll need to provide some key information about your channel, including: 

• Channel name 
• Channel ID
• Additional details that demonstrate your channel’s authenticity and importance

Ensure you fill out the form accurately and include any relevant links or supporting information that can help YouTube verify that your channel represents a legitimate brand, public figure, or entity.

If your channel is well-known outside of YouTube, providing links to your website, social media profiles, or media coverage can strengthen your application. The more evidence you provide, the better your chances of getting approved.

4. Be Patient

After submitting your application, the final step is to wait for YouTube’s decision. The review process can take some time, so try to be patient. 

If your application is approved, the verification badge will appear next to your channel name, confirming that you have a verified YouTube channel.

If your application is denied, don’t get disheartened. You can continue to grow your channel and apply again in the future. Focus on building a strong, engaged audience and maintaining the quality of your videos.

YouTube Verification for Music Channels

For music channels, the verification process is slightly different from the standard one. Instead of the standard gray checkmark, verified music channels receive a music note badge. 

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This indicates that your channel represents an official artist, which holds a lot of weight in the music industry, where protecting your identity from impostors is crucial.

To get your music YouTube channel verified, you need to meet the following criteria:

• Dedicated to one artist/band: Your channel should focus on a single artist or band, helping YouTube clearly identify the channel’s purpose.
• Official music video: You need at least one official music video on your YouTube channel, distributed through an established music distributor or label. For music distribution services, you can consider reaching out to AIR Media-Tech.
• YouTube Partner Manager: If you collaborate with a YouTube Partner Manager or are associated with a label network that works with one, you’re in a favorable position.
• YouTube Partner Program: Being part of the YPP (YouTube Partner Program) can strengthen your case for verification.
• Music Partner Distribution: If your music is distributed by a member of the YouTube Services Directory for Music Partners, it enhances your eligibility.

How to Maintain YouTube Verification

You could think that once you’ve earned that coveted YouTube verification badge, your work is done. However, keeping it requires ongoing effort. 

Here’s how to maintain your YouTube verification:

1. Respect the Terms of Service and Community Guidelines
2. Don’t change your YouTube channel name
3. Post regularly and consistently
4. Create high-quality content
5. Apply SEO techniques

1. Respect the Terms of Service and Community Guidelines

YouTube takes its policies very seriously, and any violations could lead to the removal of your verification badge or even your channel.

First, you need to understand YouTube’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. These regulations cover a wide array of topics, including content safety, copyright issues, and user conduct. Familiarize yourself with what is acceptable and what isn’t, so you can avoid accidentally uploading videos that could be considered harmful, misleading, or inappropriate. 

Also, pay attention to your video titles, descriptions, and thumbnails, as these too can be flagged for violations. Engaging in misleading or clickbait tactics can harm your channel’s reputation and put your verification status at risk.

Lastly, ensure that your comments, posts, and interactions with your YouTube community are respectful and constructive. Encouraging or participating in harassment, hate speech, or inappropriate behavior can lead to penalties. 

2. Don’t Change Your YouTube Channel Name

Although not always applicable, changing your YouTube channel’s name after receiving verification may affect your verified status. The verification badge is linked to your specific channel name, so any changes can confuse your audience and make it harder for them to find you and interact with your content. 

If you absolutely must change your channel name due to rebranding or other significant reasons, ensure that the new name is consistent across all your social platforms to avoid confusion. 

3. Post Regularly and Consistently on Your YouTube Account

YouTube may review verified channels periodically, and long periods of inactivity can lead to the loss of your verified status. Keep your channel active with new uploads, community posts, and interactions with your audience.

To achieve this, create a consistent posting schedule. Whether you post weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, sticking to a schedule helps your audience know when to expect new content from you.