How Facebook’s Verified Business Stamp Can Boost Your Business’ Credibility

​by Charles Dearing, Guest Contributor

Facebook has been making some major strides in recent years when it comes to helping business owners improve their online presence, boost their credibility, and generate revenue. What was once a social media network that focused solely on helping acquaintances connect and stay in touch online has quickly turned into a huge revenue generating opportunity for businesses. Here's one reason why. 

​One of the most recent changes that Facebook has made is the addition of the Verified Business Stamp for local businesses and/or companies & organizations. Currently, Facebook utilizes a blue badge to identify the actual accounts of celebrities, entertainers, athletes, etc. In order to easily distinguish between the two, businesses are given a gray badge.
 
The Process for Verifying Your Business Page
 
Facebook has made the process of verifying your business page rather easy. The instructions for doing so are as follows:

It should be noted that, instead of using your business’ publicly listed phone number, you also have the option of using some type of business document (ex: utility bill). The document will need to have your business’ name and address on it.
 
Is the Stamp Really That Important?
 
While this may at first seem like nothing more than a small upgrade, it certainly has the makings of something that could have a significant impact in the long run. As Facebook product marketing manager Kirsten Bury says:
 
“The badges will help people find the right and authentic accounts for local merchants. This is one way businesses can make sure that they are finding and communicating with the right page.”
 
This is something that was much more difficult to do in the past, especially when many businesses had multiple pages and consumers could easily become confused. Not only that, but there were several issues with being able to find and verify business phone numbers and physical addresses.
 
With the over 40 million business pages on Facebook, there were also a variety of issues with businesses having the same name. Bury also mentions that pages with a Verified Business Stamp will show up higher in search results, which can create a huge edge for some.
 
So, yes, the stamp is important. Not only does it make consumers more comfortable contacting you directly through your Facebook page or via the information listed there, but is also can have a strong positive impact on your business’ credibility. It can also play a vital role as a part of your overall marketing efforts.
 
What Does This Mean for Credibility?
 
The importance of credibility is something every business owner understands. With the digital age upon us, credibility has become even more important than ever.
 
Businesses are forced to maintain consistency and authenticity with everything from customer support to delivering strong products/services on a regular basis. If they don’t, they end up facing the wrath of a negative review that is published for the world to see. 
 
With the Verified Business Stamp, businesses are given the opportunity to engage with their customers and fans in a more comfortable environment. Consumers are much more willing to contact you via your Facebook page when they see that you are clearly who you say you are. This stamp provides that comfort for them.
 
While the stamp does help with credibility, it should be pointed out that just having a gray badge by your business name does not automatically equal credibility. In order to really get the most out of your Facebook business page, you need to create a page that is engaging and intriguing to consumers.
 
With the ease of the verification process and the fact that it can help your business rank higher in search results, there is plenty of reason to think that this change can have a strong positive impact for the future of business pages on Facebook.
 
In the end, you really have no excuse but to follow through with getting your page verified as soon as possible. Doing so should only take you a few minutes and can provide long term benefits.  ​

IMAGE CREDIT: STUART MILES