Google+ Begins Rolling Out Vanity URLs
… But you probably won’t get one! Not yet, anyway.
A vanity URL is a short, easy-to-remember web address that links directly to a member’s profile or page on Google+. Facebook and Twitter already do this, for example:
www.facebook.com/dentaldesignltd
www.twitter.com/dentaldesign
I don’t profess to understand how easy, or indeed complicated, it may be to roll out such a feature but to my mind, it is a requirement, and not a luxury. Vanity URLs make finding people and pages infinitely easier – which surely would stand to increase the popularity of the social network?
Any which way, as I say, such URLs will be given to the major players before a full roll out so it looks like it will be a little while yet before we can start promoting our presence on Google+ as we would like… but at least it’s in the pipeline!
Google+ is introducing vanity URLs, allowing users to further customize their profile pages, the company announced Monday.
The new addresses will be markedly different from their current format. Right now, each user is identified by a long, uniquely assigned number string that looks something like this:https://plus.google.com/107341475998486822497.
Sharma, a product manager at Google’s San Francisco office, says the personalized addresses will be “available to people and pages worldwide,” but did not specify an exact date.
“At first, we’re introducing custom URLs to a limited number of verified profiles and pages. But over time, we plan to offer custom URLs to many more brands and individuals,” he writes in the post.
Sharma adds that the URLs will make it easier for users to find profiles on the social network.
Reaction to Google’s announcement has largely been positive, with some users commenting that this customization is a long-awaited addition.
In the past, vanity URLs were only available through third-party applications, such as Gplus.to. The app lets you create a short URL for your Google+ page, so you can easily share your profile with friends.
For now, only celebs like David Beckham, Hugh Jackman and Britney Spears, as well as popular brands Hugo Boss, Toyota and Delta have gotten specialized addresses. Google+, unsurprisingly, already has its own vanity URL. Not a boldface name? You’re out of luck — at least for the time being.
Google+ follows in the footsteps of other social networks that offer this feature, such as Facebook and Twitter.
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