It feels great when you have that verification badge beside your name on social accounts, isn’t it? It’s a way to tell people that you are not just unique but also important as an individual. The same goes for brands too. It makes them look credible. But the question is: How to verify your WhatsApp Business account? How to apply for it and get an official green tick?
Before we get into the nitty-gritties, let’s understand the basics.
WhatsApp business accounts can be classified into 2 types:
What Does Your Whatsapp Business Account Look Like?
Depending on the type of Whatsapp business account you have, users will see them differently. Here’s an overview of both.
1. Official Whatsapp Business Account
- An official business account will show the ‘display name’ on the chat screens, chat list, contacts view, and chat groups instead of the phone number.
- It includes a ‘green checkmark’ next to the display name, even in the contact list.
- When you click on the profile to view more details, you will see other details like address, website URL etc. These have been "verified" by Facebook
2. Whatsapp Business Account
- The ‘display name’ is shown only to the contacts view.
- On the other views, the display name doesn’t show up. Instead, it's the ‘phone number.’
- When you click on the profile, other details like address & website URL will show up. But these are not "verified" by Facebook
You will need a WhatsApp for Business API account, in order to apply for a "verified green-tick status"
Eligibility Criteria to Get a Green Tick on Your Whatsapp Account
- You should be a business and not an individual
- You should be a reputed and notable brand
- You should integrate your business with a Whatsapp Business API (you will need a solution provider to do this for you)
- Your 2-step verification should be enabled
- A verified Facebook Business Manager account
Note: Your business will not be eligible for a verified account (with a green badge on it) if it's dealing with the below products or services:
- Cryptocurrencies
- Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco Items
- Weapons & Ammunition
- Gambling
- Live Animals
- Medical and Healthcare
- Adult Product or Services
- Dating Services
Benefits of Green Tick on the Whatsapp Account
- You can show your brand name: When you have a verified business account, the recipient of your messages will still prominently see your brand’s name (with a green tick) despite not saving your WhatsApp number as a contact on their phone. On the other hand, the profile of a regular business account will only display the phone number next to the display picture.
- Hyperlinks are clickable: A verified WhatsApp business account will deliver messages with hyperlinks that are clickable, even if the customer has never interacted with you via WhatsApp (or) saved your contact number. However, with a regular business account, this isn’t the case. The hyperlinks are clickable only when the recipient saves the number as a contact or replies to your message. This is because, hyperlinks from verified accounts are considered safer by Facebook!
- Greater ability to sustain at higher quality and capacity limits: Brands with a green tick status are more likely to maintain higher quality and sustain higher capacity tiers. This is largely because the recipients are more likely to block or report a WhatsApp number when they are not sure of the authenticity of the sender.
How to Verify your Whatsapp Business Account?
Before we explain the process of WhatsApp business verification to get a green tick to your brand name, note that not all WhatsApp Businesses get verified.
WhatsApp's official page clearly states that the verified status is granted by Facebook at its own discretion. So, while some international brands get this status automatically, the rest of them have to go through an application process as described below. Keep reading!
Method 1: Talk to a WhatsApp BSP (Business Solution Provider)
Old Process: brands can apply for Official Business Account status anytime after they register and activate their WABA account and phone number.
Once the BSP initiates the application, you will have to furnish these details:
- Brand Name
- WhatsApp Number
- Facebook Page
- Screenshot of the Facebook Business Manager account with the Verified Status
- If you have not completed the Facebook Business Verification, check this link for more information.
A BSP collects all the business details from you and transfers them to WhatsApp.
There will be a set of prerequisites by a BSP. You need to furnish the FB Verification status along with your FB Business Manager Id.
Once you submit all the details to a BSP (business name, phone number, address, email, etc), it generally takes 2-3 days for a decision to be made.
Note: In case your application is rejected, you can reapply after 30 days. There is no way you can appeal it. Faecbook retains the solde discretion in granting a verified badge to a business account.
Now that you know how to verify a WhatsApp business account, the next steps to take action.
Method 2: FB Verification & Embedded Sign up Process
New Process (all those brands that have registered for WABA accounts via the recently launched embedded sign up process), please check this link and follow the step by step process to request for an official business account.
Follow the below instructions to request an official business account via Facebook:
- Access Direct Support from your Business Manager.
- Click on the ‘Ask a Question’ button from the top right corner.
- Select WABiz: Request official business account status and fill out the required information.
- If you have not set up a two-factor verification for your phone number you want to verify, follow the instructions in this Two-Step Verification documentation to enable it.
- If you have not completed the Facebook Business Verification, check this link for more information.
Facebook makes it clear that they grant the "green tick" status only to a few select, recognizable brands.
However, our experience indicates that the following aspects could add credibility to the application:
- Are you an internationally recognizable brand?
- Have you generated public interest in the past?
- How many people search for you on the web?
- Media coverage (excluding paid campaigns)
- Popular awards/rankings that serve as a proof of brand recognition
- WhatsApp API message volume
- WhatsApp API number Quality rating
WhatsApp Business: Verified or Not
We recommend that every WhatsApp Business API account should apply for a verified status. The benefits are huge, it grants legitimacy to your brand, its free to apply and re-apply. So, why not?
Do I need a WhatsApp Business API account?
If you are unclear whether you need a regular WhatsApp Business account or need a WhatsApp Business API account, do this quick check:
If you a solo entrepreneur or a very small business with minimal automation needs, the free WhatsApp Business account will be sufficient for you. However, if you are growing, need multiple people to handle chats, need automation, chatbots and/or back-end integrations, you should seriously consider a WhatsApp Business API account.
Please note that you can apply for a verified business account (green tick) status only if you have a WhatsApp Business API account.
Talk to us if you have questions & we will be delighted to share our knowledge with you!
