Meta has announced the expansion of its verification program to include businesses after initially launching it for creators back in March, this subscription service, priced at $12 per month, provides creators with a blue badge, granting them access to various perks, such as priority customer support and identity protection.
The company is currently testing its verification program on Facebook and Instagram with specific geographic regions and has plans to roll it out for businesses on WhatsApp in later stages.
Businesses can purchase the verification subscription at a cost of $22 per month for each Facebook page or Instagram account, there is also an option to pay $35 per month for both platforms, which is higher than the pricing for creators, ranging from $12 to $15 per month, Meta has not disclosed the verification pricing for WhatsApp businesses yet.
The advantages of the verification program for businesses include the blue badge and improved visibility, verified businesses will rank higher in search results and be recommended to users in the summaries section.
Meta stated, “Businesses enrolled in the verification program will have their accounts placed at the top of search results or close to the top, appearing in a new section called ‘Recommended Businesses.'”
Meta also mentioned that businesses interested in purchasing the subscription will need to meet eligibility criteria, such as phone, email, or domain verification, along with a minimum level of activity on their Facebook or Instagram pages.
However, Meta has not provided detailed information about these requirements and stated, “We will share more information as the program rolls out.”
Additionally, the company is developing a verification program for WhatsApp businesses, which will allow them to create a custom web page discoverable through web search.
This feature will support multiple devices, up to 10 devices, to facilitate handling customer inquiries and requests across different team members.
Meta’s move toward paid verification comes after recent changes in Facebook, where subscribers paying for the blue badge lost their badge privileges.
Meta is continuing its efforts to enhance user trust and protect against identity fraud in the wake of these changes.
