Claiming Your Vanity URL on Facebook

Almost half of the world’s population (3.03 billion people) are on some type of social media. So, if you are skipping these platforms in your digital marketing strategy, you might be making a big mistake.

Different social sites produce different results and play to various audiences. You won’t reach the same people with a short tweet, that you would with a long post on Facebook. And vice-versa. However, out of the hundreds of social sites that now exist, Facebook is still king. That’s why it’s critical to develop strategies that help market on this platform; like vanity URLs.

Why Facebook?

Many people might be more drawn to micro-blogging sites likes Twitter because it’s easier and quicker to post. However, the numbers don’t lie. When questioning whether to waste your time with Facebook or not, consider some of these statistics:

• 22% of the world’s total population is on Facebook.
• Facebook supports 1% of social logins made by consumers to sign into apps of publishers and brands.
• 79% of the online U.S. adults actively use Facebook.
• Users spend an average of 20 minutes per day on Facebook.
• Facebook has 41 billion monthly active users.

There are hundreds of these stats. So, every business, small and large, should consider spending some time on the site for marketing.

Now, the first step to an effective Facebook marketing campaign is claiming your vanity link.

Why a Vanity URL on Facebook?

Claiming a branded link on a site like Facebook might seem like a complicated process, but it’s actually quite simple. It’s a smart move to make because it gives your page an easy-to-find and quick-to-share URL that has a branded and professional look. For example, which link would you rather share?

A: Regular Facebook Page Link

www.facebook.com/pages/my-business/54851154200154

B: Facebook Vanity Link

www.facebook.com/MyBuisness

Which do you think is quicker to convey a message on print media and mailers? If you want people to find you on Facebook through any type of physical marketing campaign, you should consider using a vanity URL.

A vanity link on Facebook also helps to reinforce brand trust. It comes across as more credible and shows people you are not afraid of accountability. “I put my name front and center.” As more people share and are satisfied with your business, the engagement will become exponential. When that happens, you want a vanity link on your side.

Claiming Your Vanity URL on Facebook

There are a few simple steps to ensuring your link is branded on Facebook. To claim your vanity URL, follow these simple steps:

Step 1

Head over to www.facebook.com/username

There you can either type in a brand word for your main page or choose a page to alter from the drop-down menu.

Step 2

If you are naming a page with your brand, remember it is the term that follows “facebook.com/” So don’t try and use spaces or symbols.

Step 3

Check availability. Here Facebook will tell you whether they will accept the vanity URL or not. The main reason they won’t is if someone has already claimed the name or phrase. Other reasons might include things like profanity or copyright infringement.

Step 4

Keep testing until you get a name that Facebook accepts. Then click “confirm” to claim and update your URL.

Some Things to Remember

Before you go changing and updating everything on your Facebook with a vanity URL, consider these quick tips:

• You can only change the name ONCE after setting it. So be very careful when typing.
• You cannot violate anyone’s copyright or trademark rights.
• You cannot transfer ownership to a third party.
• You cannot acquire a vanity URL to sell it.
• Your username can be claimed for unauthorized uses.

You should also note, Facebook requires your page to have at least 25 likes before you can update to a vanity URL.

Good luck and happy linking!