So if you’re a nerd like me, you were online late last Friday participating in the Username Rush of 2009 to claim your Facebook username but there are other things you can customize online. Here are 4 other ways that you can personalize the Internet.
1.) Custom TinyURL
So if you’ve been online for long, you’ve probably seen people use a TinyURL somewhere. Using a TinyURL makes it easier to post links to something that would otherwise be reallllly long. Did you know that you can customize them so instead of saying
http://tinyurl.com/l38tos
it could say
http://tinyurl.com/BillsHouse
I’ve actually used this a lot with our address because it’s easy to tell somebody “just go to tinyurl.com/myhouse” than it is to expect them to remember the address. In fact, I also use this link on invitations since I know people will be Googling the address and it just saves them one step by taking them directly to the map. Be nice to your friends and do it too.
Link: TinyURL.com
2.) Get a new Twitter background
The default blue Twitter background is nice and all but it just takes a few steps to make your Twitter account look like a bit more like you.
Here’s mine. (Follow me on Twitter)
Mashable has a great tutorial on how to set it up.
Link: http://mashable.com/2009/05/23/twitter-backgrounds/
3.) Email address at your own domain
In a previous post, I mentioned getting your own domain name for your blog. If you use GoDaddy.com to register, you can also get a free email address to go with it. Instead of having somebody email funnygirl9984@hotmail.com, they could email you@yourname.com which is way cooler (and easier to remember).
Link: http://help.godaddy.com/article/1728
4.) Create a Google Profile
Google Profiles are pages that you setup on Google that let you control what people see about you. Let’s say that you’ve interviewed for a job and your prospective company is researching you online. What if they look you up and find somebody else with questionable taste? You can create a Google Profile page that has your picture, basic info, links to your correct social networking accounts, etc.
Link: http://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=97703
How about you?
There are lots of ways you could personalize the Internet that aren’t on my list. What nerdy tricks do you have?
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This is fun! I love little personal touches that we can use to show our personalities in this “social networking” age!
These are great suggestions! You should add gravatar.com to your list… I just learned how to use it yesterday after reading your comment ask Glen at hqhow.com. I'm so glad I found that site, because now I look like a professional commenter!