Did you know…you can get a custom URL on Facebook. Just go to http://facebook.com/username and sign up for your username before someone else does. It’s one more way to keep your brand consistent and own your name on a major service.

Why should you do this?

First, it’s easier to remember, especially if you have a hard to spell last name. Instead of saying “look me up on Facebook” you could make this a key place for your personal brand to live at.

Second, you can put it on a business card. http://facebook.com/philgerb is WAY more memorable than http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=682195131 isn’t it?

Third, don’t get stuck with http://facebook.com/phil.gerbyshak53202, like back in the days when AOL email addresses were all the rage.

Fourth, it’s consistent. My URL on Twitter is http://twitter.com/philgerb. Now I am http://facebook.com/philgerb. I can remember that (and so can you)

Last, it’s free. It doesn’t cost you anything to register your name RIGHT NOW. Why not go do it, just on the off-chance you might want it in the future.

And one more reason:

So someone doesn’t steal your brand name – Bad form? Yep. Illegal? Probably not.

A few interesting tidbits:

Facebook doesn’t allow you to transfer your custom URL to anyone, so folks who are thinking they will be squatting on all the “good names” are out of luck.

Also, unless you have more than 1000 “fans,” you can’t get a custom URL for your fan pages.

Last but not least, if you are a big shot journalist, you didn’t have to wait in line for a custom URL, which is pretty lame, in my humble opinion, but whatever. I’m not a Facebook owner. I might have done the same thing

If you want to be my “Facebook friend,” you can find me at http://facebook.com/philgerb. Just please tell me how you know me, and I will gladly accept your request.