Google+ is now offering custom URLs to profiles and pages, similar to the vanity URLs provided by Facebook and Twitter. The move also suggests the internet giant is looking to integrate the service as a ‘social spine’ into all its services.
Google+’s custom URLs is currently available to a limited number of ‘verified’ profiles and pages.
The service will be soon rolled out to more brands and individuals.
Google revealed that few celebrities such as David Beckham and pop singer Britney Spears, along with brands like Toyota, Delta, and Hugo Boss have already received the custom URLs.
In a telling change to the URL structure, the “http://plus.” has disappeared, making way for “http://google.com/+NAME/”. The change seems to confirm Google’s strategy to integrate Google+ into Google, becoming simply the ‘social spine’ for all of its services and products.
Google believes the custom URLs will make it easier to find profiles on Google+.
“Your Google+ profile is a place for you to share your passions with the millions of people who come to Google each day…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+,” says Google product manager Saurabh Sharma in a blog post.
