Facebook vanity URLs coming this weekend

(Credit: Facebook)

Facebook's 200-plus million members will be able to customize the URLs to their profiles starting at midnight Eastern on Saturday, according to a post on the Facebook blog. Currently, users' profile URLs have been structured as a string of numbers. At least for now, it doesn't look like the switch is mandatory.

This is a move that will help Facebook profiles get better traction in search engines, potentially upping traffic--and give people-search sites a run for their money in the process. For brands whose "fan pages" are a crucial part of Facebook's marketing and advertising strategy, it'll make their pages easier for people to access without needing to click around much.

But there's fine print! "Think carefully about the user name you choose. Once it's been selected, you won't be able to change or transfer it," the post by Facebook's Blaise DiPersia read. "If you signed up for a Facebook Page after May 31 or a user profile after today at 3 p.m. EDT, you may not be able to sign up for a user name immediately because of steps we've taken to prevent abuse or 'squatting' on names."

There's something significant here: not being able to change or transfer your Facebook name means that it's less likely there will be a big market for them on eBay, Craigslist, or elsewhere, something that could easily get out of hand otherwise.

Also: "We expect to offer even more ways to use your Facebook user name in the future," DiPersia wrote. Presumably, this means that you'll be able to use it for Facebook Connect log-ins on external sites, rather than your e-mail address.

[Kev_Orng]

Ugh, that's the last thing I want to do! Be easier to find in a Google search? I've spent the last five years making myself impossible to find in a Google search!

Facebook is the only place on the internet where one can see my real name, and I have the privacy controls locked down tight; friends and family only.

[ca5ter]

I'll have to Twitter about my Facebook url, once I update my blog and My Space page. That is after I text everyone about how I replied to this comment...

[Aaron Kempf]

kev, you're too paranoid kid, lay off the crackpipe-- nobody is out to get you!

[Kev_Orng]

Suit yourself. When I was looking for a realtor, I almost rejected one based on what I found in a 2-second google search that led me to his wide-open facebook page! I was actually looking for his agency contact info.

I decided to go with him anyway based on other factors, and he was very good as a realtor. And I felt bad for almost judging someone on what they do on their personal time, and not on their professional merit. So what if his profile pic shows him grabbing his girlfriends boob for a profile pic? After all, consensual boob grabbing is something I would normally support!

But still, I had some nagging doubts about a professional who so poorly managed their own public image without even realizing it. When I suggested that he should maybe think about adjusting his FB privacy settings, he was completely surprised (and apologetic) that I could see his profile. Why could I see it? because he allowed people in his "networks" to see it, and one of his networks was the city we live in. So me and countless other potential clients are all in that same network, and therefore privy to his boob-grabbing photos. A week or two later he was agonizing over how much business he may or may not have lost because of it.

Personally, I like to make sure that my potential clients can only come across what I want them to come across, and when I want to be goofy with friends and family, I'll do it privately. Maybe on facebook, but still privately.

[Kev_Orng]

BTW, it wasn't just the picture, it was the status updates and other assorted items that saw before I could hit the back button. I won't list them here.

[rrod182]

Kev, I think you should stop typing, step away from the computer and take your medication. It's nappy time. And stop stalking your realtors.

[rrod182]

One more thing @Kev, can you link me that boob grab pic? Thanks.

[ssjtrunks]

Huh? What are u talkin about rrod? Kev made some perfectly legitimate points, albeit a bit exaggerated in terms of issues of the average facebook user (ie teenagers). Still, don't be a dick.

[SebDavies]

Wooo sounds good! Not gonna complain about a free service!

[7434be]

facebook username cant wait
http://hubpages.com/hub/Facebook-Username-Vanity-Url-Yet

[Super2online]

Already set up two alarms to remind me!

[Harrison912]

I'm thinking this is probably a good idea for my safety and security web site FaceBook page! Thanks, Caroline, for this information.

[alexcnovak]

I hope Facebook does a better job with this than MySpace did. There's real potential here for Facebook traffic. I'm glad FB is moving away from the LinkedIn model of user adoption. Nothing was more frustrating when trying to find old colleagues, etc.

[Sophie-Capri]

Please, when will that term "vanity url" be replaced with something that isn't offensive and insulting? Just because I'd like my Facebook to have an easier url to remember that is personalized, does not make me vain! Let's forget "vanity url" and call it something else, like "name-url" or "personalized url" something that doesn't judge people as vain for customizing their urls by changing a seemingly long string of random numbers to a word or name.

A good move from Facebook, but I wonder will this be too much.

I kinda hate this featyre if I've got the ability to change my username time-to-time. I suggest the username should be one-and-only. Because one can have some one else's username when the first user left it, and this can drive that persons friends into a wrong one's profile.

[dls744447]

Thanks for the reminder. Good artical & info. Thanks for stressing "you cannot change your vanity URL once picked". (How about Personal URL? For Sophie-Capri-What ya think? I agree with you about the vanity name!)