How to create a vanity url with Facebook

If you have ever wanted to get your own vanity URL for your Facebook social networking community account instead of the string of numbers that you see in the URL when you log in - then you are in Luck! On Friday night, 6/12/2009 at 12:01 AM Eastern Time (technically Saturday 6/13/2009) the Facebook online social networking community site is going to launch it's new vanity URL feature. The vanity URL will replace the numbers you see in the web address of your page, and will become your unique identifier. This is similar to the functionality offered by MySpace and Twitter. So think about the vanity URL you want your account to have and follow the steps below!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Facebook Account

1. To create a vanity URL for your Facebook profile, log onto the Facebook online social networking community website on Friday night (6/12/2009) and wait until exactly 12:01 AM Eastern Standard Time (technically Saturday 6/13/2009). If you do not have a Facebook account, you can create one by visiting the first link in the resources section below.

2. Once the application is live, you will be able to register your vanity URL name based on a first-come, first-serve basis. You will be given a few options to choose a vanity URL based on your real name or business name, but you can also choose a random vanity name as well. Be careful about what name you choose, as this name will stay on your account for as long as it is registered and you WILL NOT be able to change or transfer the name.

3. If you are a business that has a protected or trademarked company name, then you can also take steps to make sure that no one else can register it. Simply click on the second link I have provided in the resources section, and you will be able to protect your URL.

Tips & Warnings

• FACEBOOK VANITY URL RULES: Facebook usernames will be available in basic text forms, and you can only choose a single username for your profile and for each of the Pages that you administer. Your username must be at least five characters in length and only include alphanumeric characters (A-Z, 0-9), or a period or full stop ("."). While usernames are currently available only for Romanized text, we're looking at how we might support non-Romanized characters in the future.
• Choose your vanity URL wisely, because once you choose it - you are stuck with it!
• Trademark infringement is not allowed

Resources

• Facebook
• If you have a trademarked or protected name - click here
• Vanity URL Countdown
• Facebook Blog