Usernames in your Facebook URL

Facebook has announced that on June 13th they will allow users to select a username which will show up in their individual Facebook URL. Currently Facebook users all have an assigned number which appears in their URL. Having a username will allow for users to easily connect with family and friends by being able to provide them with an easy to remember Facebook URL. This is also great news for search engine optimization, because Facebook profiles will have a better chance of ranking organically for people’s names once there is the option to include a name in the URL.

Here is an example:

My current Facebook URL: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=652579865

On June 13th I can change it to: http://www.facebook.com/allison.goldberg

But, keep in mind that selecting your new username is on a first come first serve basis, so if you have a common name (like mine) and want to be able to change your URL to include your full name you might want to set your alarm for 12 am EST on June 13th.

For more information on this change you can visit the Facebook Blog.

Google Gadget Clones Digg’s Core Features

Google has added a new feature to their personalized home page which clones the core features of Digg and StumbleUpon. These core features are embedded into a Google gadget that is accessible from within the web desktop.

This new feature, which Google is now showcasing in its directory, is called “What’s Popular.” Using this Google gadget folks can submit links either anonymously or publicly and vote other submissions up or down.

According to Google, the What’s Popular gadget “uses algorithms to find interesting content from a combination of your submissions and trends in aggregated user activity across a variety of Google services, like YouTube and Google Reader.”

There’s more to it than that though. Clicking on the maximize link causes the gadget to expand into a canvas view which sorts the submissions into different categories - e.g. stories, videos and images.

What NOT to do on Social Networking Sites when Applying for a Job

Nowadays many companies will search online before they interview potential candidates for a job. With social networking being so hot, most people have either a Twitter, Facebook, or MySpace profile. When you create these profiles you want to make sure you are not doing anything on them that will jeopardize your chance of being hired for a position.

Here are some tips to follow on social networking sites:

• Do not make your profile public if you are using your social networking profile for personal use.

• Do not post inappropriate photos that a potential employer might come across if you profile is public.

• Do not vent about your current job in your status updates if your profile is public.

• Do not update your status about how an interview went if your profile is public .

• Do not let your employers be friends or follow you on your personal profile. Create a business profile so they can friend you or follow you from that one.

If you can think of any others, please feel free to share them in the comment section below.

How to Utilize Facebook to Promote your Business

Facebook is the leading social networking site attracting users to connect with friends, share videos and links, promote their business and much more!

Many people do not associate social networking sites as business tools, but they are actually a great means to increase your company’s exposure and promote your business/product. Facebook offers Facebook Pages for businesses/products that are simple to create and easy to use. These profiles are public, giving your page the opportunity to show up in the search results. This is a great way to showcase your business, plus they are free! Once you create a page, you can share this page with friends, coworkers, and even place a link to your Facebook Page on your website.

For example, Getupdated has a Facebook Page to connect employees across the globe and to promote their business. Check out Getupdated’s Facebook Page.

So if you are interested in creating a Facebook Page for your business/product, get started today!