Twitter has for some time featured a system whereby blue ticks appear on the profiles of ‘Verified Accounts’, acting as a means to help users ‘identify key individuals and organisations on Twitter as authentic’.

This system was previously conducted on an invite-only basis, with Twitter staff reaching out to relevant account holders to offer verification. This has recently changed, with Twitter now taking applications for verification from individuals and organisations that are of ‘public interest’.

Brand owners should consider taking steps to have relevant accounts verified, to help stand out from any fake accounts, or accounts with otherwise similar names, and ensure that users searching for their Twitter account are left in no doubt as to the official presence for the business.

As we have discussed previously, social media accounts are becoming increasingly valuable as business assets, and maintaining a strong presence and control of relevant usernames can be crucial.

This article was written by Luke Dale and Daniel Kiley.