57. Instagram's Shaking It Up: New Features & Is Meta Verified Worth It?
- Brittany Miller
- May 14, 2024
- 10 min read
Updated: Sep 1, 2025
Instagram has been buzzing with updates lately, and as a social media manager and business owner myself, I’ve been keeping a close eye on everything unfolding. If you’ve been wondering, “Is Meta Verified worth it?” — especially as a small business owner or creator — you’re in the right place. In this article, I’m going to share everything you need to know about Instagram’s latest features, the new paid verification tiers Meta is rolling out, and what these changes could mean for your business strategy moving forward.
As someone who juggles running Brittany Miller Socials and preparing to welcome a new baby (yes, that’s happening soon!), I’m trying to stay sharp and selective about what I focus on. So I’m breaking down the latest Instagram news, sharing my honest thoughts on the paid verification options, and offering tips on how you can leverage the new tools and algorithm changes to your advantage — without breaking the bank.
If we haven't met yet, I’m Brittany, an online marketing strategist for female entrepreneurs. I teach women how to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality through smart, actionable marketing strategies that get them seen, loved, and paid. Whether you’re eager to DIY your way to success or hire professionals to help you along the way–my goal is to make sure you walk away with the clarity you need to see the results you desire and build a life you love.
Table of Contents
What’s New on Instagram? Fresh Story Stickers to Spark Engagement
First things first: Instagram recently dropped some fun new story stickers that I’m genuinely excited about. If you create Instagram Stories regularly (which I highly recommend as part of your marketing mix), these features can help you build more engaging, visually dynamic content quickly and easily.
New Frames Feature for Stories
The “Frames” sticker lets you layer images creatively — you can have a background image and then add a frame with another photo from your camera roll, plus a caption underneath. This makes it so much easier to create stories that stand out without needing to design everything externally in tools like Canva. Imagine quickly piecing together a multi-layered story that catches your audience’s eye and keeps them watching.
Add Your Own Music
Instagram also introduced an “Add Yours Music” sticker, which seems geared toward music creators. I haven’t experimented much with this one since it’s not super relevant to my business right now, but if you’re a musician or use music heavily in your content, this could be a great way to connect with your audience in a fresh, interactive way.
The Reveal Sticker: A Game-Changer for Engagement and Lead Generation
One of my favorite new story features is the “Reveal” sticker. Here’s how it works: you post an image that’s initially blacked out, then invite your audience to send you a message using a specific keyword to reveal the hidden content. For example, you could post a blacked-out story with a prompt like “Comment ‘hooks’ to see 10 real hooks you can use for your reels.” When people message you “hooks,” they get access to the content, and you can start a conversation with them.
This is a game-changer because it’s like having ManyChat’s automation baked right into Instagram — no extra tools required. You can use it to:
Deliver exclusive tips or content to your most engaged followers
Generate warm leads by offering a free discovery call or lead magnet as a follow-up
Start meaningful conversations that build relationships and trust
For example, after someone messages you to reveal content, you could reply with an offer for a free call or invite them to sign up for your email list where they get even more value. This sticker alone has huge potential to boost your engagement and grow your audience in an authentic way.
Instagram’s Upcoming Algorithm Update: Good News for Small Businesses?
Now, let’s talk about the big announcement that had me both hopeful and cautious: Instagram is planning to update its algorithm to better support small creators and businesses. If you’ve felt frustrated by how your posts get buried or barely seen by your followers, this could be a welcome change.
From what I’ve gathered, the update, expected to roll out later this summer (think July or August), will shift how Instagram shows your content to non-followers. Right now, when you post something, Instagram tends to show it to a tiny percentage of your existing followers — sometimes as low as 5-10%. If those followers engage quickly, Instagram then shows it to more followers and eventually to some non-followers who might be interested.
This system has meant that even if you do all the right things, your content’s reach can feel like a lottery. It’s been a “pay to play” environment in many ways, where you either need to get lucky or spend on ads to get real visibility.
With the new algorithm, Instagram will start showing your posts to non-followers sooner, which should help you grow your audience organically and get more engagement without immediately needing to boost posts. This could be a game-changer for small businesses who rely on organic reach to grow.
What Does This Mean for Your Content Strategy?
It doesn’t mean you can slack off on your content quality or engagement tactics. Instagram will still prioritize posts that get good engagement quickly, so you’ll want to keep focusing on creating eye-catching visuals and captions that invite action. The difference is, your content should get a bit more exposure early on, giving you a better shot at going viral or at least reaching a broader audience.
However, if you don’t have a solid content strategy or aren’t posting consistently, this update might not move the needle much. It’s still crucial to build relationships, post regularly, and engage authentically with your community.
The New Paid Verification Tiers: What Meta Verified Means for Your Business
Just when I was feeling optimistic about Instagram’s algorithm update, Meta dropped another announcement that honestly left me scratching my head — introducing several new paid verification tiers for business accounts. This move feels contradictory to the promise of supporting small creators because it introduces more “pay to play” options.
Let’s break down what these paid verification options look like and what you get for your money. Keep in mind, these prices and features are currently for U.S. users and available primarily on mobile devices.
What Is Meta Verified?
Meta Verified is a subscription service that offers a verified badge (the blue checkmark) and a suite of perks designed to help businesses stand out and get better support from Meta. Verification has traditionally been free but hard to get, so this paid option is a new way to get that coveted checkmark — and more.
The Four Meta Verified Business Tiers
Here’s a rundown of each tier, their pricing, and features:
Standard Meta Verified: $14.99/month
Verified badge
Higher ranking in searches
Impersonation protection
Ability to add links to images
Easier access to customer support
Meta Verified Business Plus: $44.99/month
All Standard benefits
Faster issue resolution with enhanced support
Enhanced profiles: share up to 3 business addresses
Showcase up to 3 other profiles on your account
Featured account placement in “accounts you might like” sections
Links in up to 2 reels per month
Meta Verified Business Premium: $149.99/month (currently on sale for $119.99)
All Business Plus benefits
Employee impersonation protection for 2 employees
Request a call from a Meta agent
Share up to 5 business addresses
Showcase up to 5 other profiles
More frequent featured placements (details vague)
Links in up to 4 reels per month
Customized messaging chats (details unclear)
Meta Verified Business Max: $499.99/month (currently on sale for $349.99)
All Premium benefits
Employee impersonation protection for 5 employees
Active case monitoring
Share up to 8 business addresses
Showcase up to 8 other profiles
Most frequent featured placements (details vague)
Links in up to 6 reels per month
Semi-annual account review
What Does “Featured” Mean?
One of the perks Meta emphasizes is “featured” placement, meaning your account will show up in sections like “accounts you might like” — those carousels of suggested profiles you see when browsing Instagram.
However, the details about how often or how prominently you’ll be featured are vague, which leaves a lot of questions unanswered.
My Thoughts on Meta Verified: Is It Worth It?
Now, to the big question I know many of you are wondering: Is Meta Verified worth it? Here’s my honest take based on what I know so far and my experience managing social media for small businesses.
The Good
Impersonation Protection: If your brand is frequently copied or impersonated, this could offer some peace of mind.
Verified Badge: The blue checkmark can add credibility and trustworthiness, which might help with conversions.
Customer Support: Enhanced support and the ability to request calls might be helpful if you face issues with your account.
Search Ranking: Ranking higher in searches could help new people discover your business more easily.
Linking Profiles and Addresses: Useful for businesses with multiple locations or multiple Instagram profiles they want to connect.
The Challenges
Cost: The higher tiers, especially Business Premium and Max, are expensive. $150 to $500 a month is a significant investment, especially for small businesses with tight budgets.
Limited Link Usage: Only a few reels per month can have links embedded — 2 reels with Business Plus, 4 with Premium, and 6 with Max. For content creators pumping out dozens of reels monthly, this is restrictive.
Pay to Play Concerns: Introducing more paid tiers feels contradictory to the promise of supporting small creators organically. It may widen the gap between businesses with big budgets and those without.
Lack of Transparency: Vague details about “featured” placements and “customized messaging” leave many questions unanswered.
Mobile Only: Available only on mobile devices, which might limit how some businesses manage their accounts.
Will I Be Testing Meta Verified?
Personally, I’m on the fence. I don’t currently feel the need to pay for verification to prove I’m a real person or to get the blue checkmark. If I were to test any tier, it would be the Business Plus plan at $44.99/month, mainly to experiment with showcasing multiple profiles (like my podcast) and adding links to reels. But even then, I’m cautious because I don’t see a clear return on investment for my business at this time.
With my maternity leave coming up, I’m watching my budget closely. I’m leaning toward doubling down on organic growth strategies like email marketing, Pinterest, and refining my content strategy rather than jumping into paid verification right now.
How These Changes Might Impact Your Marketing Strategy
The combination of the new Instagram algorithm update and the rollout of paid verification tiers means we’re likely entering a new era of social media marketing — one where organic reach might get a slight boost, but paid options are becoming more prominent and possibly necessary for serious growth.
What Should Small Business Owners Do?
Keep Creating Quality Content: The algorithm update still prioritizes engagement, so focus on making content that your audience loves and interacts with.
Engage Your Audience: Use features like the Reveal sticker to spark conversations and build relationships organically.
Explore Other Platforms: If Instagram becomes more pay-to-play, consider investing more time on platforms like Pinterest and email marketing where you can own your audience better.
Evaluate Paid Options Carefully: If you have the budget, test Meta Verified plans to see if the benefits justify the cost for your business. But don’t feel pressured to pay just because it’s available.
What Could Go Wrong?
There’s a real risk that as more accounts pay to be “featured,” organic reach for small businesses that can’t afford these tiers could decline. This might make Instagram less friendly for small creators and push them toward other platforms. It’s a wait-and-see scenario, but I’m keeping a close eye on how these changes affect engagement and reach in the coming months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Meta Verified worth it for small businesses?
It depends on your budget and business goals. If you need impersonation protection, enhanced search ranking, and better support, the standard or Business Plus plans might be useful. However, the cost and limited link usage mean it’s not a must-have for every small business.
Will the new Instagram algorithm update improve my organic reach?
Yes, Instagram plans to show your content to non-followers sooner, which should help increase organic reach for small creators and businesses. But quality content and engagement remain crucial.
Can I get the Meta Verified badge without paying?
Currently, Meta Verified is a paid subscription. Traditional free verification still exists but is obtainable only after growing your following significantly. The paid option offers faster verification and additional perks.
How many links can I add to reels with Meta Verified?
It varies by plan: 2 links per month with Business Plus, 4 with Premium, and 6 with Max. This is limited compared to the volume of content many creators produce monthly.
Will these changes affect Instagram’s Stories and other features?
Instagram has also added new story stickers like Frames and Reveal, which can boost engagement. These updates are separate from paid verification (and free for all creators to use) but contribute to evolving content strategies.
Should I focus more on other platforms given these changes?
This is a personal choice but it’s a smart idea to diversify. Email marketing and platforms like Pinterest can give you more control over your audience and reduce dependence on Instagram’s shifting algorithms and paid features.
Final Thoughts: Navigating Instagram’s Changing Landscape
Instagram is at a crossroads, balancing its desire to support small creators organically while also expanding paid features that may favor larger businesses with bigger budgets. As someone deeply invested in helping small businesses thrive, I’m cautiously optimistic about the new algorithm update but wary of the growing paywalls.
If you’re asking yourself, “Is Meta Verified worth it?” I encourage you to weigh the costs against the benefits for your unique situation. For many, focusing on strong organic strategies, leveraging new story stickers, and building your email list will continue to be the most sustainable and effective approach.
I’ll be keeping a close eye on how these changes roll out and testing the waters myself. If you decide to try any of the Meta Verified tiers, please share your experience with me — I’d love to hear what’s working and what isn’t.
In the meantime, stay creative, stay authentic, and don’t let the social media shifts derail your passion or your business. Remember, success on Instagram (and beyond) is a marathon, not a sprint.
Thank you for reading, and as always, if you have questions or want to chat about your social media strategy, feel free to reach out. Together, we can navigate these changes and keep growing your business the smart way.
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Ready to level up your life and business taking it from good to great? Hit follow and please leave a review if you enjoyed this episode! The kids and I might even bust out a happy dance! 💗 - Brittany
00:00 Intro
1:00 New Story stickers
1:45 Add your own music
2:10 How to use the new "Reveal" sticker
3:40 New algorithm coming soon
8:15 IG paid verification options 2
1:20 Will I test them out?
24:10 Closing thoughts
26:45 Wrap up
