Get A Custom Google+ Vanity URL

If you're using Google+, you might have noticed that unlike many other social networks (such as Facebook and Twitter) there isn't an option to create a vanity URL. Instead, each profile is identified by a long string of numbers in the URL (for example, 107030912810704099919).

According to Mashable, the reason Google+ doesn't offer its own vanity URL shorteners is to keep out spammers who could possibly use that data to infer account information about the user. Google+ isn't a standalone product, and elements of the social network will be baked into various Google products (including search and gmail), so it's obvious why the company is placing so much importance on privacy.

The Wall Street Journal offers some additional insight into Google+'s security precautions, writing, "Google's last social-networking attempt, called Buzz, blew up in its face over a privacy issue. The company has learned from that mistake, choosing to limit the number of users with initial access to Google+, in order to minimize damage if any problems popped up."

For those users who simply must have a vanity URL for their Google+ profile, there is an alternative.

Mashable, notes that a newly launched web application called Gplus.to solves the problem of cumbersome URLs. For example, the service converts "https://plus.google.com/u/0/107030912810704099919/about" into an easy-to-read "Gplus.to/mrcoopersmith."

CNET has created an instructional video with instructions on what to do.

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create your own personalized vanity URL:

1) Go to your Google+ profile (Open Google+ then click on your name)

2) In the URL at the top of the page, find the string of numbers that come directly after 'plus.google.com/' and before '/posts' or '/about.'
Note: this is what you're looking for: https://plus.google.com/#################/posts

3) Copy that string of numbers

4) Now, visit Gplus.to and paste the string of numbers into the appropriate field. You could also try using gplusID.

5) Where indicated, type in a nickname or shortener you want to replace the string of numbers with, and click 'Add'.

6) That's it! You're done.

Comments

[Otto2]

04:49 AM on 08/12/2011

http://GPlus.is is another site.

[altaluz]

07:06 PM on 07/11/2011

Dont overtrust theese .to (Tonga) domains !

We have to bare in mind that we trust here the route to our social network to someone we dont know any reputation of. Like it happened with the .tk domains, later there can be added easily xxx adult advertisements or any other disturbing content.
As a programmer i advice you that for now google.tk uses a redirect to your g+ account, but when ever they decided so, they could use an so called "iframe" that adds whatever they wish to your g+ site.
I am really very surprised how much this Tonga URL is being recommended in serious articles.Even higher security risks like keylogging etc. would be no problem (How many of us use the same password everywhere...)

It does not make much sense anyhow, given the point that an "vanity"-url is meant to be added to the G+ URL by hand or to be found lateron in a googlesearch, and not be given verbally. (because if we talk about a link, then it wont make any difference if its twenty numbers or a nice word)I repeat here clearly google.to has nothing to do with the company Google, it is even hosted where legal restrictions are harder to be realized for consumer-protecting and governmental institutions.

So don´t waste time and even risk surprising your visitors with strange advertisements, and just wait until the real vanity-URL´s will be available by Google itself.