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FaceBook User Names - How Do They Work?

By Christine Donovan

Real Estate Agent with Donovan Blatt Realty 01267479

September 27, 2010 06:44 PM

After you create a business or fan page on FaceBook, you will want to obtain a vanity URL as quickly as possible. You may choose your vanity URL once 25 people have liked your new page.

Go to www.facebook.com/username and choose the name of your page and the user name you want. Be very careful with the spelling and make sure it is the right name, as you will be unable to change it.

Knowing all of this, I still messed up the name of my page. As a result, I have deleted the old page and created a new one. I have diligently gathered up my 25 likes and am ready to claim the old user name. However, FaceBook keeps telling me the vanity URL/user name is unavailable.

I have been told that sometimes the user name is available immediately and sometimes it is not.

Does anybody know the rhyme or reason behind this? Does any one know how long it might take before I can reclaim my old vanity URL, hopefully before somebody else does?

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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist

KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA

Probate Real Estate Services

Christine, I’ve done the same thing … messed up and had to do over. It is my understanding that the once the vanity/url is used … that’s it … we cannot get it back. I hope my understanding is incorrect and you are able to get it back.

Sep 27, 2010 06:49 PM

Debe Maxwell, CRS

Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC

The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hmm...didn't even know I could name my biz page--so, I surely don't know THEIR rhyme or reason! LOL I'm off to check it out. Thanks for the tip!

Praful Thakkar

LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA

Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Christine, did you try to see who owns the name - if at all? Or there is none?

You can contact facebook and request them for the name which was yours anyway - if nobody has claimed it.

Good Luck.

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Sometimes, getting the best name for your business page is a frustrating experience on Facebook.

Blooming for home buyers.

Sep 27, 2010 11:20 PM

Dave Halpern

Dave Halpern Real Estate Agent, Inc., Louisville, KY (502) 664-7827 - Louisville, KY

Louisville Short Sale Expert

Christine,

Thanks for the reminder to ramp up my Facebook strategy. BTW, here's a fun tool to check availabilty of usernames in Facebook and other social media: http://namechk.com/

Sep 28, 2010 09:41 AM

Michael C. Price

Keller Williams - Ann Arbor, MI

Ann Arbor-Real Estate Strategist

I am in the middle of trying to figure out my fan page as well. I suggest some training before you post it.

Sep 28, 2010 05:08 PM

Dave ~ Great tip. I will be using it.

Sep 28, 2010 05:23 PM

Christine Donovan

Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA

Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Kathleen - Mike Mueller had said sometimes the names available immediately, and sometimes it's not. I'm trying to understand when and why.

Debe - Go claim your vanity URL!

Praful - I owned the name. Now noone does. I'm trying to reattach it to my new page.

Roy - That's been my experience.

Dave - Thanks for the suggestion.

Michael - I have some ideas. I just misnamed the original page.

Sep 28, 2010 06:06 PM

Billie Hillier

http://702IsHome.com - North Las Vegas, NV

Savvy Home Realty Solutions

I just found out your vanity name is gone.....

Sep 30, 2010 04:29 AM

Billie - I know. That's what I've been trying to figure out. How to get it back.

Sep 30, 2010 02:02 PM

Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, ePRO, GRI

Keller Williams Indianapolis Metro NE - Carmel, IN

Carmel, Fishers, Westfield IN Real Estate Expert

Frustrating Christine. Wish I could help!! I'll be back if I find out the fix!!

Oct 01, 2010 07:53 PM

Anonymous

MpM

Hi - Did you get your facebook vanity URL finally? I have the same problem. When will facebook fix this?

Nov 17, 2010 05:51 AM

#13

Pat - Appreciate it.

MpM - No, I didn't get it, and it's been quite a while.

Nov 18, 2010 07:15 PM

FaceBook User Names - How Do They Work?

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