When a Facebook Business Fan Page is set up, Facebook assigns a web address (URL) to the page. Just like a web page, the address is long and ugly until it’s changed to a pretty permalink.
Take a look at the URL of your Facebook Business Fan Page – is it pretty or ugly?
- Ugly: www.facebook.com/pages/yourbusinesspagename/28563514487
- Pretty: www.facebook.com/yourbusinesspagename
Why do I need a “pretty” permalink URL for my Facebook Fan Page?
- It looks better and easier to remember – Let’s face it – it’s easier to promote your business with something that is short and significant.
- Claim your name and brand! You can put it on your company website, business cards and email signatures – anywhere you want to put information about your business.
- It’s free, so why not??!
Before we start here are a few caveats:
After you get 25 fans to like your page, you can change your URL from ugly to pretty. [EDIT: Good news! No longer do you have to have 25 fans to change your URL! 9/15/11]
Only a page administrator can change the page username (URL).
Each page username must be unique. Facebook checks your username request to make sure it is available. If it isn’t available, you must select a different username.
If you make a mistake, a typo, or change your mind, you cannot change your business page username. Be careful!
When you select your username, keep in mind that it should be aligned with your marketing strategies. This isn’t the time to be creative – make your page easy to find. Use the name of your business.
Remember that your business Fan Page is NOT THE SAME as your personal Facebook profile page.
How to add a username to your Facebook business page
- Go to http://www.facebook.com/username
- Login to Facebook
- All of the Fan Pages that you administer are displayed in a dropbox list. Select the page from the list.
- Type the Facebook username that you want to use for your vanity URL
- Click “check availability”
- Read the warning message. Make sure your username is typed correctly – once you click confirm YOU CAN’T CHANGE IT !!
- Click “confirm”
