LinkedIn, the professional networking platform with over 850 million members worldwide, does offer verified profiles for certain members. Verified profiles on LinkedIn display a blue checkmark icon next to the member’s name, indicating that LinkedIn has confirmed the identity of that member. Here are some key things to know about LinkedIn’s verified profiles:
What is a verified profile on LinkedIn?
A verified profile on LinkedIn means that the member’s identity has been confirmed by LinkedIn to be who they claim to be. The verified badge (blue checkmark icon) is LinkedIn’s way of signaling to other members that the profile belongs to the authentic person, brand, or entity it represents.
LinkedIn states that they verify profiles for “influential, professional and authentic members of the LinkedIn community.” This includes prominent individuals in various fields like business, politics, media, entertainment, academia, science, sports and more.
Who can get a verified profile on LinkedIn?
Here are some of the types of members that LinkedIn may verify profiles for:
- Heads of state and senior government officials
- Fortune 500 CEOs and senior executives
- Prominent professional athletes, coaches and sports executives
- Well-known actors, musicians and cultural figures
- Leaders of prominent non-profit organizations and charities
- Influential journalists, commentators and media personalities
- Academics and scientists with significant accomplishments and citations
Essentially, LinkedIn looks to verify profiles for established professionals who are influential and well-known within their respective industries and fields. The main criteria appears to be having a substantial public profile, being widely recognized in a prominent field, and having a high likelihood of being targeted for impersonation.
How to get a verified profile badge on LinkedIn
Members cannot request or apply for a verified profile on LinkedIn. LinkedIn states that they identify and reach out to select members who they deem worthy of verification. Some of the factors they consider include:
- Prominence of the member’s professional accomplishments
- Media coverage, citations and public recognition of the member
- Number of publications, patents and speaking engagements (for academics and thought leaders)
- Public impact and social media following
- Likelihood of impersonation risk
If LinkedIn decides that a profile meets their criteria, they will contact the member directly and guide them through the verification process. So being patient and continuing to build your professional brand and reputation is the best way to potentially get a verified badge down the line.
Does a verified profile get more visibility on LinkedIn?
Having a verified profile does not directly lead to increased visibility or exposure in LinkedIn search results. LinkedIn states that their search algorithms do not give any preference or special ranking boost to verified members.
However, prominent professionals who are verified tend to naturally have more connections and engagement on their content. This can indirectly lead to better visibility since LinkedIn’s search ranking considers factors like number of connections and member engagement.
Should you connect with verified members?
Connecting with verified members can potentially be advantageous, but it ultimately depends on your goals and reason for connecting. Here are some pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Gain a well-known contact who can provide exposure | Very low acceptance rate due to volume of requests |
Get recognized by associating with prominent brands/people | One-sided relationship if interaction is minimal |
Tap into an influential network and access insider info | Potentially inundated with promotion requests |
The advantages mostly revolve around the prominence and prestige of having an influential verified contact. But actually gaining any benefit from the connection depends on building a strong reciprocal relationship, which can be challenging due to the demand on the verified member’s time and attention.
Should you pay for verification services?
Some websites claim they can get your LinkedIn profile verified for a fee. However, LinkedIn does not offer any paid verification services – they only verify based on their internal criteria for prominence and public recognition. Paying a third party will not result in a verified badge being added by LinkedIn.
LinkedIn has this warning about paid verification services on their website:
“Please be aware that LinkedIn does not work with any third party agencies or services that offer paid verification. There is no way to request, expedite or influence the verification process on LinkedIn.”
So be very cautious about any site offering paid LinkedIn verification. The blue verified badge can only be granted by LinkedIn themselves.
Conclusion
In summary:
- LinkedIn verifies profiles of prominent professionals but the criteria is subjective
- Members cannot request verification; LinkedIn initiates the process if they deem you worthy
- Verification provides prestige but does not directly improve search visibility
- Connect with caution as acceptance rate is low and interaction may be minimal
- Ignore any offers for paid verification services – they do not work
While not required, having a verified LinkedIn profile is a nice mark of distinction and affirmation of your professional status and reputation in your industry. But striving for it should not override your focus on networking authentically, engaging your community, and building your brand’s visibility organically.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many LinkedIn members are verified?
LinkedIn does not share official data on the number of verified member profiles. However, it is estimated to be less than 1% of LinkedIn’s over 850 million members worldwide. Verified profiles are still relatively uncommon, given LinkedIn’s focus on verifying truly prominent professionals and public figures.
How long does it take to get verified on LinkedIn?
There is no set timeline for getting verified. LinkedIn contacts members directly if they decide verification is warranted, based on factors like public recognition, media presence, professional accomplishments etc. Some members may get verified within a year or two of creating a profile, while others may take over a decade to get a verified badge, if ever.
Can you get verified with a free LinkedIn account?
Yes, having a premium, paid LinkedIn account is not necessary to get a verified profile. LinkedIn may verify members who meet their criteria regardless of whether they use a free or paid account. The account type is not a factor in their verification process.
Does verification help for job searching?
Having a verified profile does not provide any concrete advantages for job searching on LinkedIn. It does not make your profile more visible in recruiter searches. However, being verified can add prestige and boost your personal brand, which may catch a recruiter’s eye if they come across your profile.
Can you request verification after getting a new job or promotion?
It’s possible but not guaranteed. Landing a high-profile new job or promotion may potentially expedite verification if it significantly raises your professional prominence and public recognition in your field. But you still cannot directly petition LinkedIn – they will assess your new level of notability on their own terms and timeline.
Can companies and brands get verified profiles?
Yes, LinkedIn may verify company and brand profiles in addition to individual member profiles. The criteria is similar – they look for well-known household names with global reach and influence. Verified brand profiles have the blue checkmark next to the brand name at the top of the Company Page.
What are some examples of verified brand profiles?
Here are some examples of prominent companies and organizations with verified LinkedIn Company Pages:
- Microsoft
- Apple
- IBM
- Amazon
- Samsung
- United Nations
- World Economic Forum
What does it mean if a profile has a gray checkmark icon?
A gray checkmark icon on a LinkedIn profile indicates that the member is part of LinkedIn’s verified student program. This allows students to verify their status as a current student at a particular university or college. It is separate from LinkedIn’s standard blue check verification program.
Can you lose your verified profile status?
Yes, LinkedIn reserves the right to revoke verification from members who violate their policies. For example, verified status can be removed if LinkedIn finds that the member is misrepresenting themselves or participating in inappropriate behavior on the platform.
Does an inactive account lose its verification?
LinkedIn may eventually remove verification from inactive profiles that stop meeting their standards, such as professionals who retire and are no longer in the public eye. However, there does not seem to be a set time limit – some inactive accounts may retain verification badges for years.
Is verification transferable to a new profile?
No, if you create a new profile on LinkedIn, your verification does not carry over. Even if your name remains the same, LinkedIn’s verification is tied specifically to the original profile that was assessed. You would have to go through their process again for any new accounts.
Are verified profiles immune from being banned?
No, having a verified profile does not grant immunity from being banned or suspended on LinkedIn if you violate their policies. LinkedIn will take action against any members who engage in inappropriate behavior on the platform, regardless of verification status.
Why LinkedIn Verification Matters
LinkedIn verification may not be indispensable, but it does have some important implications:
Trust and Credibility
The verified badge serves as a visual indicator that a profile legitimately belongs to a real public figure or organization. This builds trust and credibility, especially when interacting with profiles of people you don’t personally know.
Thought Leadership
Professionals who achieve verified status on LinkedIn join an exclusive club of industry influencers, experts, and thought leaders.
Personal Brand
For individual members, becoming verified adds to your professional brand and personal cachet by signaling you are an established VIP in your field.
Authenticity
In a platform with millions of users, verification helps distinguish authentic profiles from impersonators or parody accounts.
Prevention of Abuse
Verification makes it harder for scammers or hackers to impersonate influential profiles and spread misinformation or malicious links.
Tips for Getting Verified
While LinkedIn does not take requests, you can boost your chances by:
- Becoming a prominent thought leader in your industry
- Speaking at major conferences and events
- Getting profiled by mainstream news publications
- Publishing books, research papers, and articles
- Gaining extensive social media followers and engagement
- Cultivating high-profile connections and endorsements
- Proactively maintaining your LinkedIn presence
Patience and perseverance are key, as it can take years before being considered. But growing your reputation and network to the point where LinkedIn takes notice should be rewarding in itself.
The Future of Verification on LinkedIn
Looking ahead, some possible changes for LinkedIn verification may include:
- Verification for content creators – LinkedIn may verify profiles of top content publishers and influencers on their platform, beyond just public figures.
- More brands and companies – LinkedIn will likely expand verification to more household name brands, startups, and organizations.
- Tiered verification levels – There could be different verification tiers (gold, silver, bronze) providing status levels based on exclusivity.
- Paid verification – LinkedIn may eventually open up verification services for purchase, similar to how social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook currently operate.
- Member-initiated requests – LinkedIn could allow members to submit verification requests, which are then reviewed based on standardized criteria.
But for now, LinkedIn’s selective and manual approach to verification persists, keeping the blue checkmark an elusive status symbol for the upper echelon of professionals on the platform.