Facebook Gives Journalists First-Dibs on Personal URL

Facebook has finally decided to allow all users to choose their own user name and password. As my previous blog states, this feature is being opened up tonight at 11:01 CDT. (Go to www.facebook.com/username to get yours). Before tonight, vanity Facebook URLs were only open to Facebook employees and top clients and brands.

Of course, part of Facebook's strategy with the midnight release (EDT) is to create urgency. "Get your name before someone else takes it!" And no doubt, there will be millions of users logging on tonight to do just that. But there are some people who don't have to wait. Apparently, key journalists have already been invited to claim their URL names. Facebook sent e-mails to specific writers with instructions on how to get their names before everyone else.

A fair strategy? Some may say no, but the fact is, Facebook wants to keep the press and bloggers happy to encourage Facebook-friendly articles and posts. We all have to make strategic marketing decisions at some point, and this was one that made sense to Facebook. And it will probably work in their favor!

What do you think? Does this special treatment for journalists and writers change your impression of Facebook as a company? And maybe a better question, will Facebook servers crash after midnight tonight when everyone signs on to claim their name? Stay tuned!