Just like a customized license plate on your car, your personal Google URL can now be customized.
Having a personalized URL can really help with your personal branding. It will be easier for people to find and remember your Google Plus URL. And it will be easier for people to search though your account for what interests them (photos, video, about section.) But more on that later. Now let’s see how you trade in that boring old hard-to-remember URL for one that’s impossible to forget
Who Gets a Google Plus Custom URL?
First of all, it seems as if just about everyone is entitled to a personalized URL on Google Plus. But you need to be a member in good standing.
Here’s what’s required:
- Have 10 or more followers (not much of a trick on Google Plus).
- Have an account that’s at least 30 days old.
- Have uploaded a profile photo.
- Be a verified local business, if you have a local business account.
- Have a link to your website if you have a non-local business account.
You won’t have to scratch your head to figure out whether you’re eligible or not either. Just check the top of your account to see whether you’ve been pre-approved.
How to Get Your Custom URL
It’s not quite accurate to say Google lets you pick your custom URL.
Instead, when you click the “Get URL†button at the top of your Google Plus profile, you’ll see the one or more possible URLs Google’s approved for your account. Choose the one you like best, but be aware. If you’ve got a name like “Joe Smith,†you might be prompted to add a few letters or numbers to distinguish from other similar URLs out there.
You’ll need to approve Google’s terms of service for the new URL and may be asked to verify your account with your mobile phone number.
You can also make minor changes in layout, for example, capitalization and accents. Just be aware that once you’ve confirmed the new URL, it can’t be changed.
Easier Search of Your Profile
We told you in the beginning your personalized URL would be easier for your connections to find. But the new URL makes it easier for friends to search your account too.
There’s neat trick you can use to find the content you most want to see on a Google Plus account using the new personalized URL.
For example, let’s say you want to see someone’s photos or video on their Google Plus page. Just add the keywords “photos†or “video†at the end of the new Google personalized URL:
- google.com/+customURL/photos, or
- google.com/=custonurl/video
See how a new Google personalized URL can change your Googple Plus account.
Image: Google
