Google+ Vanity URLs Available Soon

Google seems to always be in the news recently, but never because of “exponential growth with their Google+ platform.”

This time, Google+ is finally rolling out vanity URLs.

For those that do not know what they are, if you look at your own Google+ profile page, you will notice that the URL you use to redirect people to your page looks something like this: http://plus.google.com/109836416910621262146/. We previously shared with you a temporary fix to this issue, but it now seems that they are going to resolve this. The question is: why did they not do it sooner!

Here are three thoughts on this for those who hope to get their own name.

• Get It Soon.
  If the past with Facebook is any indication, people will do anything to swipe up all of the prime vanity URLs out there. When you have the earliest opportunity to get yours, do it. They are slowly rolling this out to people, so it may take time to happen, but keep an eye out for it. What if you do not even use your G+ account? Doesn’t matter. You don’t want others to impersonate you or you lose out on the opportunity later, do you?
• Keep Consistency.
  Google+ is not bringing anything new or revolutionary to the social media world. You probably already have a Twitter and Facebook tag. Make your Google+ vanity URL either exactly the same or similar to the ones you already have so as to be consistent and build a quality brand! If this is your first one anywhere, make it the name of your company, church, or something that identifies your interest.
• Distinguish Between People And Brands.
  Too many churches and blogs make the mistake of using a personal account for their business or hobby. Make a personal distinguishable between the two, in case in the future the two split permanently. This is also healthy social media boundaries for your personal life!
• Update Your Links.
  Most likely you link to your Google+ account form your other social media networks, blog, and even business cards. As soon as you get the new URL, it is time to update these links to the new one. Make sure you remember everyplace, including if you have them in a post somewhere!

Share your Google+ Page below so we can network with you before the vanity URLs come out!

Be sure to add ChurchMag on Google+, too!

Jeremy Smith

Jeremy is owner of ChurchAndMentalHealth.com and the Co-Occurring Program Coordinator and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor at a community mental health center. Jeremy has a history of working as a ministry director for Youth for Christ for 8 years and then working as a mental health and substance use adult counselor in Colorado and Ohio, specifically running an Opioid Residential Treatment Center.