Obtaining the WhatsApp blue tick also known as a Meta verified subscription is an indispensable step when it comes to WhatsApp marketing and is foundational if you want to progress further in terms of revenue and profits thereby taking your business to the next level.
WhatsApp rolled out the new verified blue tick update in July 2024 which earlier used to be a green tick. Before this update, the green tick was exclusively available to WhatsApp API users and not to regular WhatsApp Business users. The great news is that now smaller businesses using the free WhatsApp Business app can also get access to the blue tick helping them further strengthen their brand identity and credibility.
Getting the blue tick affirms customers of your legitimacy and reliability making them feel safe and protected when initiating a conversation with your business. Customers usually tend to make purchases from businesses that are verified as it assures them of the business’ trustworthiness and authenticity. In this article, we will explore the benefits of getting a blue tick verification on WhatsApp as well as how you can obtain it for your own business.
Table of Contents
Why Should You Get The Blue Tick?
Getting the WhatsApp blue tick communicates to customers that your business has the Meta seal of approval and that they are chatting with an official business account (OBA). Getting access to this official verification badge signifies that your brand is authentic and trustworthy.
Here are some of the key reasons why you should consider acquiring this badge:
- Enhanced reputation: As already explained, having a blue tick next to your business can greatly increase your business’s reputation and signifies trust and dependence.
- Strengthens brand image: Getting the blue tick reaffirms to your customers the authenticity and uniqueness of your brand making your business stand out among the crowd and appear professional.
- Identity protection: If you possess the blue tick Meta ensures that you are safe from impersonation thus protecting your business’ identity.
- Increased visibility and engagement: With a verified blue tick your business is going to appear more prominently in WhatsApp search results and customers are more likely to interact with a business that they know is the real deal.
- Business tools: When you get a blue tick you also get access to a multitude of business tools which you can use to better engage with your customers and get insights and analytics.
Let us now see how one can get Meta verified and gain access to the blue tick badge.
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Eligibility Criteria For Blue Tick Verification
Before we jump in directly into seeing how we can set up the blue tick it is important to know the prerequisites and whether or not it is possible for you to get verified by Meta. So let us quickly take a look at the eligibility criteria that one needs to meet in order to get the blue tick verification:
Applicant Eligibility
To sign your business up for Meta verified businesses on WhatsApp, you need to:
- Be over the age of 18
- Have a phone number in a country where Meta verified for businesses is available. These countries include India, Columbia, Brazil and Indonesia. Other countries to be added soon.
- Follow Meta verified for business terms of service as well as WhatsApp Business terms of service.
Business Account Eligibility
Your business account needs to meet the following requirements:
- Have a presence on the WhatsApp Business app for a certain number of days.
- Have recently sent a message
- Be located in a country where Meta Verified for WhatsApp Business is available.
- Have a profile name and profile picture.
- Not have an active subscription to WhatsApp Business Premium.
- Not have an active Meta Verified subscription through Meta Business Suite.
You can learn more about the eligibility criteria from the official WhatsApp website by clicking here.
How To Get WhatsApp Blue Tick Verification?
There are two ways by which you can get access to the blue tick. It depends upon how you’ve currently setup your phone number with WhatsApp. It would be either of the following two:
- Number added on the free WhatsApp Business app
- Number setup with the WhatsApp Business API
Depending upon how you’ve setup your number, we’ve shared steps below for both these methods.
1. Get blue tick for number added on the WhatsApp Business app
Applying for the WhatsApp blue tick verification via the WhatsApp Business app as easy as buying a paid subscription plan. All you need to do is ensure you meet the eligibility criteria and update your WhatsApp Business profile with the latest details such as business name, profile picture, address, category, email and other essential and then purchase one of the paid subscriptions.
Follow the below steps to get blue tick on the WhatsApp business app:
- In the WhatsApp Business app, click on the 3 dots and then go to Settings page.
- Click on “Meta Verified”.
- Among the different plans available choose the plan that suits your needs.
- Choose your payment method and make your purchase.
Once you complete this purchase, it is important to note that your profile will be locked for a period of 20 days during which you won’t be able to make any changes to your profile. Additionally, deciding to change any profile details will remove the blue tick badge from your profile and you will have to re-subscribe to enable it again.
2. Get blue tick for number setup with WhatsApp Business API
Applying for the blue tick verification via WhatsApp API can be a bit more complicated compared to getting it through for numbers setup on the WhatsApp Business app. But the bonus is that while applying through the WhatsApp API the blue tick comes with no additional charges and is free!
Do not worry, we are here to make it easy for you. Let’s first look at the must-have requirements:
Must have requirements
Before diving into the application process to get the blue tick, let’s look at the must have requirements and eligibility criteria to get it:
- WhatsApp API Setup – Your business must have completed the setup of the WhatsApp API with your phone number. This step is crucial as it forms the foundation of your application for the blue tick.
- Meta Business Account Verification – You need you have your Meta business account is verified. This verification is a required to show the legitimacy of your business on Meta’s platforms.
- Display Name Approval – Your display name on WhatsApp must be approved. This name is the identity of your business on WhatsApp and should be recognizable and relevant to your brand.
- Two-step Verification – You should also have two-step verification enabled for your phone number from Phone Numbers > Settings > Two-step Verification tab.
- Media Presence – Your should must have presence online and have at least 3 pieces of organic content like PR articles, blog post on major publications, covered by news/media outlets etc. Paid PR articles do not count.
Once you have these things ready, you can move ahead with the application process.
Steps to apply for the blue tick
Step 1 – Go to the Phone Numbers page
Open the Phone Numbers page on your WhatsApp Manager. You might need to choose the correct business account in case you have multiple accounts. See to it that you choose the right one to proceed to the Phone Numbers page.
Once you are on this page, your interface should look like the image below. Click on the settings icon next to your phone number.
Step 2 – Navigate to the Profile page
Once you are on the “Phone number settings” page, click on the Profile tab. Your screen should look like something similar to the reference image below. On this page click on the Submit request button after you have filled in all the required details.
If the “Submit request” button is disabled, there might be a few steps that you might have missed out on or failed to update. Complete filling in those details and make sure nothing is left out before coming back to this page and continuing the application process.
Step 3 – Submit Request for Blue Tick Verification
When you click the Submit request button a popup will appear requesting you to fill out some additional details. These include:
- Business website: This section displays your business website URL that you added earlier during your WhatApp Business API. Ensure that the URL displayed directs to your business website and not any random URL from Instagram, Facebook or other third-party websites. In case you need to edit this section you need to do it from your Business info settings page since you won’t be able to do it from here.
- Country of operation: Enter the country in which your business is located and registered or where you operate primarily.
- Primary language: Enter the primary language that you will be using to communicate with your customers.
- Parent company: If the name of your company is different from that of the brand name that is displayed to your audience then enter the name of your company here and not the brand name that is displayed to your customers. For example, our brand name is WANotifier and our parent company’s name is Fantastech Solutions so we put the display name as WANotifier and our parent company name “Fantastech Solutions” in this field.
- Support links: Under this field add 3-4 links to articles, blog posts or independent reviews that talk about your brand and showcase that your brand is well-known and recognized by customers. Your business website, social media handles, self-published and paid or promotional content must be strictly avoided.
After you have filled in all these fields hit the “Submit” button to submit your application. After submission, your application is reviewed by WhatsApp officials and needs to be approved by them in order for your application to be accepted so that you get that pretty and alluring blue tick for your business.
Note that the approval is subject to WhatsApp’s discretion mainly based on your brand’s popularity and media presence.
Another thing to keep in mind is that once your application gets rejected for any reason you can reapply only after 30 days, so make sure that you keenly fill out all the details and attentively follow the instructions above and double-check everything before you hit that submit button.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does the WhatsApp blue tick verification process take?
The time taken for your blue tick application to be approved can vary depending on how widely known your company is, the completeness of your business profile and your company’s online media presence. Usually it takes less than a week to get the blue tick for your phone number setup on WhatsApp API if all details are added correctly.
2. What to do if my application gets rejected?
If your blue tick application gets rejected you need to wait for a period of 30 days to reapply. During this time make efforts and take coordinated measures to increase your brand’s media presence and visibility. If you want to know the reason for rejection, appeal to reconsider the decision or just speed up the process, you can reach out to WhatsApp via their Direct support channel.
3. How much does the WhatsApp blue tick cost?
If you are getting the WhatsApp blue tick through the WhatsApp Business app then the price ranges from rupees ₹639 and ₹21000 per month depending on the plan which you choose based on your requirements.
On the other hand, getting the blue tick through the WhatsApp Business API is free but you have to pay for the standard API charges that are levied per conversation.
4. What are the business categories that cannot obtain the blue tick?
Certain businesses that come under the below-mentioned categories are restricted from obtaining the official Meta verification badge. This is done to ensure that WhatsApp remains a safe messaging platform for people of all ages to use.
- Drugs
- Tobacco items
- Alcohol brands
- Gambling businesses
- Weapons and ammunition
- Live animals
- Adult products and services
- Medical and healthcare products
- Dating services
- Cryptocurrencies
5. Can I use my phone number without a blue tick?
Absolutely. You can use your WhatsApp Business or API account without getting access to the blue tick. There is no compulsion to get the blue tick as it is not mandatory in order to use WhatsApp Business or WhatsApp API. However, getting access to the blue tick greatly enhances your profile, making your business professional and improving your chances of making more sales or getting more leads.
6. Can I get the blue tick for free on the WhatsApp Business app?
No, in order to get the blue tick on the WhatsApp Business app you need to subscribe to one of their plans which does cost money. However, using WhatsApp API you can get it without any additional charges besides the standard API charges.
Conclusion
Bagging the blue tick on WhatsApp is a testimony to your company’s trustworthiness and authenticity. It gives your customers the confidence to communicate with your business and increases their chances of making a purchase from you. Having a blue tick next to your brand’s name significantly increases your brand value and reputation.
So make sure you get access to this esteemed badge that makes you recognized by Meta as well as your customers. Keep in mind that the blue tick is not just a symbol, it can have a subtle but powerful effect on the psychology of your customers which makes them feel subconsciously safer when dealing with your business.
