I received an email from Google this evening to let me know that I can now use a custom URL for my Google+ profile. The email had a subject of “Get a custom URL for your Google+ profile,” and the email said “You’re now eligible for a unique Google+ custom URL.”
My new custom url for Google+ is google.com/+ElliotSilver. I was able to change it from a long url made up of a bunch of random numbers and letters, so this is an improvement. Although Google reserved this particular url for me, I was permitted to request a different url, but I like the one that was selected for me.
There are a few rules that people who use custom urls will need to follow. These rules, found on a Google Plus Terms of Use page include the following terms and conditions:
- We reserve the right to reclaim custom URLs or remove them for any reason, and without notice.
- Custom URLs are free for now, but we may start charging a fee for them. However, we will tell you before we start charging and give you the choice to stop participating first.
- Don’t include words and phrases in your custom URL that would violate the Google+ User Content and Conduct Policy
I am going to have to spend some time updating the links on my website, but I think it will be well worth the effort to do so. If you receive this email from Google Plus, you should think about claiming your own URL.
One word of caution though. Any time people know about emails like this, scammers are likely to be close behind and may use an email like this as a phishing or even a spear phishing attempt. Make sure the email is legitimate and from Google. Never click on links in emails, especially ones that could lead to your Google account being compromised.
Thanks for the update – now will add 10 friends so I can do this…been waiting for Google to finally role this service out…why they waited so long was beyond me – the first day they rolled out Google plus they should have made vanity urls available to companies…free publicity. Facebook was helped along by this… I think social media is a bunch of B.S…social has always been on the Internet…so now they have me taking the time to promote their stupid service. Ok…everyone flame me. Facebook for the longest time received way too much free publicity…companies constantly spending a ton of money on ads and in storefront windows to promote facebook instead of themselves…crazy. Now hashtags are all the rage…I still remember people including myself putting those netscape and ms explorer buttons on pages…
I haven’t received such an email yet and I hope to get it soon because it will be nice to use such an url. I had not thought about using Gmail when it started and I had to add year of birth to my Gmail nickname :-/.
Very interesting, a G URL, my thoughts go to the new gtld’s and Fank S rightly makes the assertion that the gtld’s must be low priced. Good timing for “G” to offer free URL’s !! ( blood on the carpet ?)
Like all of Google’s ideas, this one sounds good. Unfortunately, I’ve come to see what they offer as Trojan horses, particularly because they do a lot of things “without Notice” or even an explanation later.
So without such email other users cannot apply for such custom URL? Or is it open to all Google+ users? If so, can you help to navigate us how to setup such custom URL?
I don’t believe it is open to everyone yet, but it probably will be soon (just a guess).
first step.
next step a free domain name in one of their new gTLDs, dot lol