Disclaimer: The following notes are from my own experience and experiments. I do not represent and/or endorse any of the mentioned services. Also, I do not have an "inside guy at Facebook" so please avoid sending me requests for verification.
I got verified on Facebook in 2014. Since then, I've been receiving several messages requesting me to unravel the mysteries of the shining blue verified badge. Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/abijahguptamusic/
What does it mean to be verified?
Some Pages and profiles are verified by Facebook to let people know that they're authentic. These Pages and profiles may include:
- Celebrities and public figures
- Global brands and businesses
- Media
Why do people want that verified badge on their profiles?
Mostly used by public figures, a verified badge is a 'proof of authenticity' basically stating that you are who you claim to be.
It's interesting to see the search trend for verification rising ever since 2009 in the graph I generated below at: https://www.google.ca/trends/explore#q=twitter%20verification%2C%20facebook%20verification%2C%20verified%20blue%20badge&cmpt=q&tz=Etc%2FGMT%2B8
What changed after verification?
A section called "Linked catalogs" opened up for me which lets you add a link to your profile from any supported music service. Those links then appear under a tab titled "music".
Just in case you were wondering... apart from that, no other "secret features" opened up (as far as I observed).
How do I get one?
METHOD 1
The recommended method is to contact Facebook directly. After much digging around, I found the following link. The steps are:
1. Log out of Facebook first.
2. Open link: https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/538602519577289
3. Fill out all details as requested
4. "Send" your request
5. Wait for response
METHOD 2
Get an agent to do it on behalf of you. I found one via a "gig service" at a site called Fiverr. (Read my disclaimer above)
I got my blue verified badge within a month of application.
Final thoughts
Getting an online agent is challenging since there are many online who take your money on the promise of verification and then disappear. PLEASE look and read through reviews of the agent you choose to be sure of their legitimacy.
Also, from my understanding, verification is meant for specific groups. In other words fan pages will probably not be considered for verification. I also read somewhere that artist pages with a large fan following (number of page likes) is a criteria, however, I've seen some pages with as low as a 1000 page likes carrying the verified badge. So I guess it really comes down on your agent and whatever connections they have.
If you're applying for verification, good luck and do share your own experiences with me. Feel free to ask more questions. I'll be happy to answer as much as I can.