Last year, I realized something while talking to creators and writers on Jottings: we had built a platform where you own your writing, your audience, and your data. But there was one thing missing—a way to signal credibility and authority without relying on someone else's verification system.
That's where the verification badge came in.
What's the Verification Badge?
The Jottings verification badge is a small checkmark that appears next to your name on your site—on every jot you publish, your info page, and anywhere your author information is displayed. It's a visual signal that says: "This is the real me, and I stand behind this work."
Unlike Twitter's verification badge, which you either pay for or get gatekept by an algorithm, the Jottings verification badge is entirely yours. You control when it appears, what it says, and what it means to you.
How It Works
When you enable the verification badge on your site, it shows a checkmark next to your author name. But here's the part that matters: you can customize the tooltip. That's right—you get to write the message that appears when someone hovers over your badge.
Maybe you use it to highlight your credentials: "Certified blockchain developer with 10 years of experience."
Maybe you use it to tell your story: "Award-winning journalist focused on climate reporting."
Maybe you use it to connect with your audience: "Independently published, fully editorially independent."
Your badge. Your message. Your choice.
It's a PRO Feature
The verification badge is available exclusively to PRO members. When you upgrade to PRO, you unlock the ability to:
- Enable the verification badge on your site
- Write a custom tooltip that appears on hover (up to 160 characters)
- Display it prominently across all your published work
- Remove it anytime if your situation changes
This keeps the badge meaningful. It signals that you've invested in your platform and your audience, which is exactly what we want.
Where It Appears
Once enabled, your verification badge shows up everywhere:
- Next to your name on every jot you publish
- On your site's info page
- In author cards and bylines
- On any page displaying your author information
It's subtle but consistent—a constant reminder to your readers that this is the real you.
The Philosophy Behind It
Here's what I think is broken with verification systems today: they're gatekept by platforms. Twitter wants money. Blue Sky wants exclusivity. Medium wants influence metrics.
Jottings is different. We're not in the business of deciding who's "verified" and who isn't. We're in the business of giving you the tools to build credibility on your own terms.
The verification badge isn't about what we think of you. It's about what you want to communicate to your audience. It's personal branding at its finest—straightforward, customizable, and entirely under your control.
Why This Matters
In an era of deepfakes, imposters, and misinformation, building trust with your audience is more important than ever. The verification badge is a small but powerful way to say: "Here's where I really publish. Here's where you can find my authentic voice."
It's not a replacement for consistency, quality writing, or genuine engagement. But it's a signal that you're serious about your work and willing to stand behind it publicly.
Ready to Earn Your Badge?
If you're ready to upgrade to PRO and add the verification badge to your site, it takes just a few minutes:
- Head to your site settings in the dashboard
- Navigate to the "Author" section
- Toggle on "Show verification badge"
- Write your custom tooltip (optional—we provide a default if you skip it)
- Hit save
Your badge will appear on your site immediately, letting your audience know that this is your authentic voice.
The verification badge is just one of many PRO features—you also get custom domains, markdown support, and more. But if personal branding and credibility are important to you, it might be your favorite.
Upgrade to PRO today and start building trust with your audience.
Have questions about the verification badge or PRO features? Drop me a line at support@jottings.me. I read every message.