Do you need 100k subscribers on YouTube to get verified?

Having a YouTube channel verified with a checkmark is a goal for many creators on the platform. The checkmark gives a channel legitimacy and proves that it belongs to an authentic creator or brand. But does a channel need 100,000 subscribers to get verified on YouTube? The short answer is no — 100,000 subscribers is not necessarily the requirement for getting verified.

What is channel verification on YouTube?

Channel verification, denoted by a checkmark next to the channel name, means that YouTube has confirmed the authenticity of a channel. This checkmark lets viewers know that the channel belongs to the real creator, brand, organization or entity it claims to represent.

YouTube introduced channel verification in 2013 as a way to decrease impersonation and improve trust on the platform. Prior to verification, it was common for channels to pretend to belong to someone else by using their name and stolen content.

Verification helps distinguish official channels from impersonators. When you see the checkmark, you can be confident the channel is authentic.

Why get verified on YouTube?

There are a few key benefits to getting your YouTube channel verified:

  • Proves your authenticity: The checkmark shows viewers your channel is real and official.
  • Increases trust: Verification makes your channel seem more legitimate and trustworthy.
  • Brand building: It establishes your brand identity on YouTube and helps prevent impersonation.
  • Stand out: The checkmark makes your channel stand out from others in search results and related videos.
  • Monetization: In some cases, verification helps unlock monetization options.

In short, verification comes with perks that can help grow your audience and revenue. It’s a coveted status symbol for top creators on the platform.

Does my channel need 100k subscribers to get verified?

No, 100,000 subscribers is not a firm requirement for getting verified on YouTube. However, reaching this subscriber milestone helps increase your chances of getting approved.

YouTube does not share exact verification requirements publicly. Based on observations of verified channels, it seems YouTube weighs several factors when reviewing verification applications, including:

  • Total subscribers and viewership
  • Frequency of uploads
  • Overall authority in a niche
  • Evidence of authenticity
  • Presence off YouTube

While subscriber count isn’t the sole factor, it does play a significant role in verification. YouTube wants to ensure that channels have a substantial audience before awarding a checkmark.

Generally, it appears that YouTube looks for channels with at least 100,000 total subscribers when considering verification requests. However, exceptions are made in some cases:

  • Prominent public figures and brands may get verified with fewer subscribers, especially if they provide evidence of authenticity.
  • Channels with as few as 10,000 subscribers have reported getting verification in unique circumstances.
  • YouTube is more flexible with subscription requirements for legacy creators from early YouTube days.

So while 100,000 subscribers seems to be a general baseline, it is not a hard and fast rule. Some channels can get verified with fewer or more subscribers depending on other factors.

Tips for getting verified with under 100k subscribers

For channels with fewer than 100,000 subscribers, verification is hard but not necessarily impossible. Here are some tips that may help get that coveted checkmark before hitting the 100k milestone:

  • Strengthen your authority and reputation within a specific niche.
  • Partner with brands and prominent creators for collaborations.
  • Cross-promote your channel on other social media platforms.
  • Add off-YouTube website links to your channel for more credibility.
  • Provide strong evidence of authenticity such as ID, press links, etc.
  • Build relationships with YouTube employees and contacts.
  • Purchase YouTube ads to increase viewership numbers.

YouTube wants to verify channels that are influential in their niches and have strong evidence of authenticity. Using these strategies can help make your case even as a smaller channel.

Boosting authority and reputation

Focus on becoming an authority and thought leader in your niche. Make high-quality, in-depth content that demonstrates expertise. Collaborate with industry professionals and organizations to strengthen your reputation.

Partnering with other creators

Collaborate with channels that are already verified or have over 100k subscribers. This introduces you to wider audiences and aligns your brand with established creators.

Cross-promoting on other platforms

Linking social media accounts like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to your YouTube channel helps show you have an authentic brand with presence off of YouTube as well.

Adding off-platform website links

Linking to your official website, portfolio, press articles, and other online properties demonstrates you are a real entity beyond just YouTube.

Providing strong evidence of authenticity

When applying for verification, submit as much evidence as possible, like business licenses, official government IDs, trademarks, etc. The more you can prove your authenticity, the better.

Networking with YouTube employees

Try networking with YouTube employees, creators, or partners to make connections that may help your verification request get noticed.

Purchasing YouTube ads

Running ad campaigns on YouTube can rapidly increase your views and subscribers. More viewership signals influence to YouTube and may strengthen your verification case.

Other requirements to know

In addition to considering subscribers and authority, YouTube looks at these other requirements when reviewing verification applications:

  • Complete channel optimization: Your channel should have a full description, channel art, playlists, and up-to-date info.
  • Consistent uploading: You need to maintain a regular upload schedule, not just a single viral video.
  • Quality content: Videos should be high-resolution, well-produced, and appropriate for most audiences.
  • Reach off YouTube: Demonstrate that you have an established brand, website, social media, or press coverage outside the platform.
  • No community guideline violations: Accounts with strikes, terminations, or abuse flags may not qualify.

Ensuring your channel meets these best practices will maximize your chances of getting that coveted verification checkmark.

How to request YouTube channel verification

YouTube does not have a public submission form to request verification. The process involves enabling verification in YouTube Studio and then waiting for YouTube to review your channel.

Here are the steps to request verification:

  1. Sign in to YouTube Studio and go to Settings > Channel > Status and Features.
  2. Toggle the “Verify my channel” option to enable it.
  3. Click Submit to complete the request. YouTube will show a “Requested” label.
  4. Wait for YouTube to review your channel. This can take weeks or months in some cases.
  5. If approved, your channel name will be marked with a verification checkmark.

After submitting the request, there is unfortunately no way to speed up the process. YouTube verifies channels at its own discretion. Some tips like focusing on subscribers, improving authority, and cross-promoting can potentially help expedite an approval.

YouTube also sometimes reaches out proactively to verify channels without a submission. So even if you don’t request it, you may get verified eventually if your channel grows and meets standards.

What if my verification request gets declined?

It’s possible for YouTube to deny a verification request if they feel your channel does not fully meet the requirements. Reasons a verification may be declined include:

  • Not enough subscribers
  • Lacking authority in your niche
  • Insufficient evidence of authenticity
  • Too many community guideline violations
  • Impersonating another creator or brand

If your request gets rejected, focus on strengthening your channel by:

  • Increasing your subscriber count and viewership
  • Improving your content quality and upload consistency
  • Building your reputation and collaborating with others
  • Removing any policy violations on your channel

After making improvements, wait at least a few months before requesting verification again. With persistence and nurturing your channel, you’ll eventually have a strong case for approval.

Maintaining verification status

Getting that coveted checkmark is just the first step. Once verified, you must continue upholding YouTube’s policies and standards to maintain your status. If your channel stops meeting requirements, YouTube may unverify or suspend your channel.

Here are some best practices for keeping verification:

  • Consistently upload high-quality content
  • Avoid community guideline violations
  • Quickly resolve copyright claims or issues
  • Monitor your comments for spam, abuse, or impersonators
  • Keep channel info, contacts, and links up-to-date

By staying active, growing your audience, and playing by the rules, your channel can continue enjoying all the benefits that come with being an official verified YouTube creator.

Conclusion

YouTube verification can significantly help level up a creator’s channel by proving its authenticity. But contrary to popular belief, you do not necessarily need 100,000 subscribers to get that coveted checkmark.

While 100k subscribers seems to be a general threshold, some channels can qualify with as little as 10,000. Factors like authority, consistency, content quality, and off-YouTube presence also influence verification decisions.

Smaller channels have a harder path but can get verified by strategically improving their reputation, collaborating with big names, cross-promoting, submitting strong evidence, and networking with YouTube contacts.

At the end of the day, verification aims to determine which channels are making a real impact and contributing value to the YouTube community. By focusing on your authority and credibility, even smaller creators can earn verification and take their channels to the next level.

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