Author’s Note: This article has been updated to correspond with the new Facebook Timeline layout of business profile pages. [4/5/2012]
Changing a Facebook web address to a short memorable name that matches your business is an important step for professionalizing your social media presence. Having a custom URL such as www.facebook.com/loebigink will allow you to easily direct visitors to your Facebook page. A custom Facebook URL will also increase your businesses visibility in search engines adding to your SEO efforts.
I recently had the opportunity to create a custom URL for a premier advertising and marketing firm in the Philadelphia area, Peregrine Associates, and used the opportunity to create these step by step visual instructions.
In order for the vanity URL option to be activated in Facebook a page will first need to have 25 fans/friends who like the page.
Step 1: As a Facebook Page Admin, visit the home page of the page you wish to customize.
Step2: At the top of the page click the “Manage” button and then “Edit Page.”
Step 3: In the left navigation menu, select the “Basic Information” button. On the basic information page a category towards the top called “Username” will appear if 25 fans have liked the page. Click on the link that says, “Create a username for this page?”
Step 4: On the next page the instructions mention that you will not be able to edit or transfer the username you select once you set it so choose wisely!
Step 5: Choose a name in the text field and click the “Check Availability” button. If the name you select is already taken a text message below the box will indicate it is not available.
Step6: Once you find an available Facebook web page name a pop up will appear and give you several warnings about the name you are about to select:
- You can’t change the username once you set it.
- You can’t transfer the ownership of a username to another party.
- You can’t violate anyone elses trademark rights.
- If you are acquiring a username to sell it in the future (squatting), you will lose it.
- Usernames may be reclaimed for other unauthorized usages.
If you are sure of the name you are selecting click “Confirm.”
Step 7: Success! A new popup will appear letting you know the custom Facebook username has been set for the site.
For higher resolution screen shots of these Facebook directions visit our website: www.Loebigink.com/ink/article_facebookurl.ashx
I have a problem. At my company we had a standard profile but thought it better to convert over to a business profile. We had a vanity URL associated with this account.
On Tuesday when we initiated the change that morning using the business page migration tool we did not get very far in the process.
When getting onto the page listing the URL, the vanity URL hadn’t been transferred across when Facebook clearly states that the URL is automatically transferred over with moving from a profile to a fan page. Facebook says our web address is already taken.
I was wondering if you had any ideas why this is happening to us? I have personally looked at through all of the questions and answers on Facebook but nothing seems to work. Any help will be useful!
Great explanation btw! Thanks!
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