What verifying your account isn't:
-adding a steemit logo with photoshop/paint/similar in the background of a picture (this can be done with any picture) and shouldn't be used as verification.
-You don't HAVE to hold a paper with steemit on it, but its one of the most accessible ways to do it quickly (if you are editing your introduction post)
-adding tons of sources from other social platforms (if you in this case verify there, that works too, (example you are mostly active on twitter, you could tweet: "Doing an introduction post on Steemit, or something similar")) but if Steemit isn't mentioned anywhere there, that is also easy just to copy links of someone else and post them here
-You don't have to take personal pictures of yourself or others/other things that disclose information about you, your account here can remain anonymous if you want it to be
What verifying is:
-proving that the person you are portraying to be, is the one posting on said account
-extra trust