The Social Networker

Facebook vanity URL’s tonight - not worth the face value?
by Chris Miller at 11:21:24 AM on Friday, June 12th, 2009
As we discussed on TheSocialGeeks Episode 16, the Facebook vanity URL dam walls open tonight for those of you registered on Facebook before May 31 2009.  Yes, before May 31 only.  This is to prevent squatters on specific names.  So what name are you going to pick?  What rights do you have to that name?  (Side note that the name must be 5 characters or greater, so sorry IBM, Dell, HP and KFC?) This was an important part of the discussion on the podcast and I found myself thinking more about it this morning.

Myself, I have a brand name that has been built under IdoNotes across all the networks.  Well documented, shown for years and mapped to me.  So I even have a case to use the form Facebook has in place when there is a conflict with someone taking your name.  That brings me right to the next point.  What about your common name?  You know, as in "ChrisMiller"?
  • Who owns that right on Facebook with the hundreds of people with that name?
  • Is it first come, first serve?
  • What about first person that was on Facebook?
  • How about the most active person?
  • The one with the most friends?
  • The one with the largest fan page?
Then following what Louis Gray said on the podcast, which summarized to "Facebook is leaving off the fact anyone can buy a domain name and redirect it to your facebook page".  He uses SocialToo for that very purpose and many of you own multiple domains.  Is Facebook where you want your point of entry for everything?  Why not have a social page like Wayne Sutton or myself?  Then link to every profile.  So why is this so important to Facebook?

Easy, to make them your portal for your identity.  It is the pure ownership of you showing off you you are and you are passing it to someone else.  I am saying to you to go and get your vanity URL on Facebook.  Fight with the masses.  But then go register a domain that represents you and make a brand out of it. Be yourself and own yourself.  Do not let a site like this force you into showing your identity through them.  Use them as the free service they are, ad driven.  Not putting so much worth into a URL you do not own or control in the end.
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Location: St. Louis, MO		 Category:  Facebook 
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  • 1) Facebook vanity URL’s tonight - not worth the face value?
    Created by nick b. at 06/12/2009 12:17:57 PM email |

    Good advice. I think it will be interesting to see what everyone's experience is in fighting with the masses, so I've created a stream of tweets featuring the #fburlparty tag at this link, { Link } Use the tag & check the link to find out how it goes for everyone tonight.

  • 2) Facebook vanity URL’s tonight - not worth the face value?
    Created by Rob Novak at 06/12/2009 12:26:46 PM email | website

    Pressure cooker. I still have to decide, in the next 10 hours, whether I want to be my brand or my name.

  • 3) Facebook vanity URL’s tonight - not worth the face value?
    Created by Lars Olufsen at 06/12/2009 12:57:38 PM email | website

    @2 - Go with the name, Rob. If Facebook becomes a "Brand YOU" marketing ploy, interest will fade fairly quickly.

    I completely agree, Chris, on the recommendation to register a domain and claim ownership of your own identity.


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Yes this is a blatant theft of the outline that Jess uses on her page, but I asked permission. Why?? Because I am a hardcore admin and can make ugly tables to make you developers frustrated, but this was too nice to pass up.

Also Known As: Chris Miller (when awake)

Boring Certifications: (only because someone asked twice)

  • Workplace Collaboration Services 2.5 - Team Collab and Messaging
  • Domino 7 Certified Security Administrator
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Yes, I write some of those dreaded admin cert exams you take. I won't say which ones so you don't come looking for me, but I will say they are the real good recent ones that have been coming out.

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  • At work an IBM 2 GHz
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  • A Toshiba E740 with 802.11b (yes geek toy)
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  • Compaq RioPort MP3 player (now in storage)
  • An EBook (REB1100) also for travel (Love that darn thing)
  • Verizon and they always seem to know how to find me, damn cell

Animals:

One dog, a Pug. He has been on this world before and seems to understand slippers and a fine cigar. Mind you that is him in the chair and not me.

Let us now also add a deranged cat that is in the process of being toilet trained. Update: Toilet traning was very very close.

Music:

Non-stop. At my desk, in my car, walking to work and back to my car downtown. In the house there is a crazy zoned set-up for you home automation geeks.

I am a self-proclaimed MP3 fiend, to which I have tried rehab 4 billion times to no avail. Next is the MP3 hard-drive for the car that I found. Now what kind of music you ask? I will never tell.

Languages:

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Geek class special abilities:

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Skills:

Get back to you here

Spells:

Hershey’s Stomach of Holding: Jess and I are fighting over who eats more chocolate. TWDUFF can help me out and vouch for me.

Character Bio:

This will take far more time than I have today. I will start with I was born and still live in St. Louis, MO. Even though for a couple years I was never, ever here and always on the road, this is smack in the middle of the US. Everything is just a few hour flight. That part is nice. No beach/ocean/coast isn't the best. But with the travel I make up for it.

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