If you want to get verified on YouTube, check this out.

When you look up celebrities and public figures on social media, how do you know which account to follow? Chances are, you keep an eye out for a verified account. That badge, checkmark, or little blue circle have become literal status symbols in the digital realm. Verification indicates that the platform has authenticated the identity of the account holder. (And on some platforms, it simply means someone has shelled out $8.)

But to internet users, verification means much more: It conveys credibility and legitimacy. People know that verified accounts are real, not impersonators, and trust what they post and share. Plus, verified creators tend to rank higher in search results, and appear higher in comments sections, driving more viewers to their channels.

So how do you get verified on YouTube, and how will it help your channel growth? TubeBuddy has the official deets. We’re for real—we promise.

Subscriber count and channel quality are equally important

We’ll get the hard part out of the way first: you have to reach 100,000 subscribers.

This threshold exists to ensure that only prominent, well-known channels receive verified status. Jenn Jager, a creator who makes videos about video production, said it took her more than three years and 173 videos to amass 100,000 subscribers.

To receive verification, your channel also has to be public and posting actively. You must have a channel banner, description, and profile picture.

If you don’t already have these features, it’s a smart idea to put them on your to-do list for growing your channel. Verified or not, a banner and profile picture make YouTube channels look more polished, engaging, and (yes) credible.

Source: Want to Get Verified on YouTube? Here Are 3 Insights For Creators – TubeBuddy