Registering your Facebook Username - Second Wave, Verified Accounts

Posted on June 27th, 2009.

[IMPORTANT UPDATE June 28 at 3:30pm PDT: Wow, I'm shocked - Facebook overnight just increased the fan limit from 25 to 100!! I was literally just looking at this Fan Page/Help Center section 24 hours ago... and Facebook's eligibility limitation for fan page username registration was 25, and has now mysteriously jumped up to 100. Dang, that is not nice!!]

 

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[IMPORTANT UPDATE June 27, 2009 10:00pm PDT: How to verify your Facebook account via your mobile phone. I hadn't realized how elusive it is for Facebook users to verify their account; and the last thing you want is to have your heart set on a username and you can't get it or are delayed because your account isn't verified.

Try this:

(1) First, get a confirmation code from Facebook by sending a text message to 32665 (FBOOK) with the word "On" (without the quotes).

(2) Then, go to this help page (Mobile: Bugs and Known Problems - screenshot below), click the second line down (that says "I received a confirmation code, but there is nowhere to enter it") and you'll see a field there to enter the code texted to you by Facebook. Click Confirm.

NOTE: if you have already verified your account, when you text 32665 "On" instead of getting a confirmation code, you'll actually be turning on text message updates. If you don't want text messages from Facebook, just send the word "Off" to 32665.

You may also see the captcha pop-up box when writing on walls, commenting, sending friend requests etc. If you do see this captcha box, be sure to click the Verify link below the word:

If you're still having trouble verifying your account, fill out the form here and select Account Verification from the dropdown menu. You might also check your the Mobile tab of your Account Settings and your Mobile Texts settings.]

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[ADDITIONAL UPDATE: June 27, 2009 11:00pm PDT - okay, how odd! I just got the captcha popup box (see screenshot below) when writing a comment on a friend's status, yet there is no Verify link... because my account is already verified! Yet the captcha still comes up. Hmm.]

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Original post follows:

Get ready to register your Facebook Fan Page username if you were not previously eligible (fewer than 1000 fans by May 31st, 2009). On Sunday, June 28th at 8:59pm PDT / 11:59pm EDT go to http://facebook.com/username to register the username of your choice. See what time this is in your timezone here.

Quick Checklist:

Be sure to first read my original blog post: How To Secure Your Facebook Username (Vanity URL) - summary criteria repeated below for quick ref:

• Think carefully about the username you choose. Once you’ve selected it, you won’t be able to change or transfer it.
• Your username has to be at least five characters in length, e.g. you couldn’t register “jim” but you could register “jimmy.”
• You CAN use numbers (0-9), e.g. “jim007″
• You CAN use periods, e.g. “james.bond”
• Choose a name that exactly matches your real name for your personal Profile and your business name for your Fan Page.
• If your real name has been registered already by someone of the same name, get creative with the period or numbers. [Note username and user.name are one and the same, e.g. periods make no difference to the actual URL].
• Generic usernames (like “flowers” or “pizza”) are not available… at this time, according to Facebook.

NOTE: you must have more than 25 fans.

IMPORTANT: you may be asked to verify your account first via your mobile phone. I recommend you do this long BEFORE Sunday night.

Set Your Alarm

Facebook seem to have moved the time of this second wave of username registering by 24 hours as, previously, they stated the next round would take place at 12:01am EDT June 28th (9:01pm PDT June 27th). But, now I’m not seeing this time anywhere and instead the new time is indeed Sunday night 11:59pm EDT. See what time this is in your timezone here.

In fact, there are several mentions by Facebook with no time, or no timezone (see screenshot below).

However, I found these answers on one of the help pages:

 

If you have your heart set on a particular username and it is currently available, then for sure set your alarm! Usernames go very, very FAST!

Is Someone Squatting Your Business Username?

See this helpful post by Facebook blogger, Nick O’Neill: How To Get Your Facebook Username Back From A Squatter - quick excerpt:

If you weren’t able to get a username or are still waiting to register one for your page that has under 1,000 fans and has already been taken, head over to the Facebook client username form. Remember that you should only fill out the form if you have rights to the name and currently can’t reserve it because someone else took it or it appears to be reserved by Facebook.

NOTE
This is not for personal usernames! This is only for business names that you had taken. Keep that in mind to avoid needlessly emailing Facebook when they won’t be able to help you.

Are You Brand New To Facebook?

If you just recently joined Facebook for personal and/or business purposes, you’ll be able to claim your personal username (and Fan Page username provided you have more than 25 fans) on Sunday, June 28th at 11:59pm EDT (8:59pm PDT):

Does Someone’s Username Infringe On Your Intellectual Property?

To report IP infringement, fill out this special form.

Related post: How To Secure Your Facebook Username (Vanity URL)

Good luck! Feel free to check out my Facebook Fan Page and add your shiny new Fan Page username when you get it to this discussion thread. I do my best to check out as many Fan Pages and add a comment as I can!

Technorati Tags: facebook usernames, Mari Smith, Social Media, Social Networking, vanity url

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