Various badges may appear next to your name — verified ✓, role badges, tier indicators. Each one signals something different. This article explains what they mean.
The verified ✓ checkmark
A small gold checkmark next to your name. Means the team has confirmed your identity. See the article “How verification works” for full details on how to get verified.
Role badges
Special gold pills displayed alongside the verified mark for members with formal roles in the platform:
- Founder · The Smile Channel — Ken Rochon
- Co-Founder · Perfect Publishing
- Official Partner · The Smile Channel — strategic partners
- Team Member · The Smile Channel — staff and core team
These are assigned by the team, not requested. They appear next to verified status everywhere the name shows.
Tier indicators (where applicable)
Most surfaces don’t show your tier publicly — visitors don’t need to know whether you’re Free, Starter, Pro, or VIP. The exceptions:
- The admin Manager dashboard (visible only to staff)
- Your own dashboard (so you know your current plan)
VIP members get a subtle gold rim around their profile photo on listing pages. It’s discreet but signals premium membership at a glance.
Connector Board podium
If you’re in the top 3 of the Connector Board, you appear on the podium with rank labels (No. 2 / Top Connector / No. 3). The #1 spot has a gold crown above the card. These reset when rankings change.
Reader badges
Earned through the Reader Leaderboard for review milestones (5 reviews, 10 reviews, etc.). Displayed near your name in the Reader Leaderboard view. Don’t appear on your main profile by default — that’s a separate surface.