Google+ Introduces Vanity URLs
Google+ has been back in the spotlight this month, offering its users the chance to grab their own vanity URL.
If you’ve got a Google+ profile, you now have the chance to get your hands on the fairest URL of them all: one that reflects who you are and – perhaps more importantly – isn’t a nightmare for your customers and partners to remember…
What is a vanity URL?
It’s not as bad as it sounds! Put simply, a vanity URL – also known as a custom URL – is a ‘personalised’ web address that tells you something about what it points to.
So, take 21 Digital, for example. Like most sensible businesses, we’re up and running on Google+ and we populate our page with our latest news and views. So far, so good.
But what’s the point of news without people to read it?
Therein lies the problem. Before the introduction of vanity URLs, every Google+ user had a unique profile ID consisting of a long jumble of letters and numbers.
So while it was easy to click through to the profile of someone you’d connected with – or search someone’s name on Google – it wasn’t nearly as straightforward to share your Google+ profile by word-of-mouth.
If we were to say to our clients, “Come and have a look at us on Google+!” and then give them a long series of letters and numbers to remember, there’s very little chance anyone would make the effort.
And that’s bad news for us, and bad news for Google+.
So, now that Google+ has followed in the footsteps of Twitter and Facebook, we can simply direct people to . Much simpler.
It says who we are, it’s easy to remember, and it stands to make Google+ a far more user-friendly social media platform in the future.
How Do I Claim My Google+ Vanity URL?
A vanity URL is a great idea, so if you can get your hands on one, we’d recommend it. What’s more, it doesn’t take much to qualify for your Google+ custom URL – the only conditions are that:
- You have a profile photo
- You have at least 10 followers
- Your account is at least 30 days old
And while Google+ profiles are technically designed to be used by individuals, their profiles also work perfectly well for a business.
After all, in an age of social media, it’s more important than ever to connect with your customers and prospects on a frank and friendly basis.
Need a hand getting set up on Google+? The social media-savvy team at 21 Digital can help you to expand your web presence, set up your social strategy, and reap the SEO benefits that come from mastering this growing platform.
Talk to us today about getting social on Google+ – and why NOT ADD TWENTYONE TO YOUR CIRCLES while you’re at it?
