On Monday afternoon, Google announced that it had launched a custom URL feature for a select few Google+ profiles and pages. The change, which was desperately needed and over three years after Facebook offered its users this same functionality, will allow big brands and personalities to replace strings of more than 20 random numerical digits with an easy to remember URL. For example, Google+ can now use the vanity URL of http://plus.google.com/+googleplus/ instead of asking users to remember http://plus.google.com/u/0/101560853443212199687/.

Saurabh Sharma, a Product Manager for Google+, posted the following to the Official Google+ Page:

“Today we’re introducing custom URLs to make it even easier for people to find your profile on Google+. A custom URL is a short, easy to remember web address that links directly to your profile or page on Google+. For instance, +TOYOTA can now use google.com/+toyota to unveil their latest models, +Britney Spears can share her upcoming appearances at google.com/+britneyspears, +Ubisoft can share game trailers and videos at google.com/+assassinscreed, and +Delta can help travelers find great deals at google.com/+delta.”

Although the new vanity URL feature is already live for some verified Google+ profiles and pages, the announcement indicated that the social network is not ready to provide this new feature to normal users. However, Sharma did indicate that Google plans to roll out the new feature for all Google+ users in the future, but he failed to say when it could be expected.

Until now, it was nearly impossible to remember the URL of a Google+ profile or page. Do you think the addition of vanity URLs will increase the number of brands using traditional print, television, and radio media to promote their pages?
Read more at http://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-plus-vanity-urls/47314/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SearchEngineJournal+%28Search+Engine+Journal%29#q46xpuq5taSY23gZ.99