Twitter will let businesses keep their gold checkmarks — for $1,000 per month

In a major shift for businesses that want to get their messages heard, Twitter recently announced that businesses can now keep their gold checkmarks for $1,000 per month. Historically, Twitter had only given these elite badges of verified status to celebrities and influencers, not to brands and companies. However, the company has changed its stance and is now allowing businesses to become verified and maintained, at a cost.

The addition of this service has been met with both criticism and excitement. On the one hand, many business owners are thrilled to have the ability to increase their visibility and credibility on the platform, especially now that it’s easier and more affordable to do so. At the same time, some argue that this is yet another way that Twitter is trying to monetize its product, and that businesses may have to take advantage of their new offer if they expect to get any attention on the platform.

Despite the debate, there is undeniable value to having a verified account. It adds legitimacy to a brand and helps to establish trust with potential customers, as often a verified account will be seen as having already been vetted by the website. Additionally, having a verified account increases the likelihood that a Twitter user will engage with a post, as verified accounts often carry more weight in the eyes of users.

For small to medium sized businesses, paying $1,000 per month to maintain their gold checkmark status might seem expensive. However, considering the combined potential benefits of being verified, it could be a worthwhile investment. From increased engagement to more trust with customers, there are several ways in which the ROI can be quickly and easily calculated.

Twitter’s move is a game changer for how businesses take advantage of the platform. Whether the decision ends up being an unpopular one is still yet to be seen, but for now, businesses across the globe can celebrate their new found ability to follow in the footsteps of the celebrity and influencer set by getting their own gold checkmark.