Will You Secure Your Facebook "Vanity" URL?

[ChristineG]

So it's been rumored for a while now, but Facebook has finally said that they will be allowing people to secure their Facebook username URL beginning 6/13 at 12:01 am EST.

Basically, right now Facebook URLs are long, ugly strings ending in random numbers. (ex: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pr...p?id=745339045)

This change allows you to change it to something simpler and more identifiable. (ex: http://www.facebook.com/james)

It's first come first serve though...and you can do this for your personal profile as well as your Fan Page.

It's thought that this is good from a branding and "findability" perspective--as well as having possible positive SEO implications.

Thoughts? If you're a regular Facebook user, will you be taking advantage of this?

[maryhruth]

As I understand it, Fan Pages only get to have a vanity URL if they have at least 1,000 fans. That's a lot for my little ol' biz.

[ChristineG]

Mary--good news, "the 1,000 fan restriction will be lifted on June 28..."

See the Mashable post here: http://mashable.com/2009/06/11/faceb...e-usernames-2/

[Rachel Rofe]

I got one! Was hoping for /Rachel, but I'll take /RachelRofe =)

[KirkEisele]

Yeah, got my personal one... Most clients have done well too but couldn't believe it... tried to snag a firstnamelastname combo for a client and it was gone already!

[Wayne Liew]

Grabbed myself the http://facebook.com/WayneLiew domain. It always causes ripples when there is a land rush like this on the Internet. Luckily for me, I got mine and I'm happy about it.

[maryhruth]

Thanks for the tip, Christine!That's certainly a relief.
Sometimes Facebook can be so inscrutable.

[bizcard]

I was opting for my targeted keywords to be my username, but unfortunately, they were already taken

[plcpeggy]

I received an email recently that said fan pages can now claim their URLS -- however Facebook was requiring an actual Trademark verification (a trademark #) -- how many small businesses have gone through the trouble to purchase a trademark for a business that has, for example, their given name included?

At least it will prevent poaching, in the meantime?

peggy

[jarmaine]

I have read the Facebook post for the "vanity" URLs for Pages. Some people are actually complaining because of the 1,000 fans requirement, even with the restriction supposedly being lifted after June 28.
What about not allowing generic terms to be claimed for these vanity URLs for pages? Any thoughts?