A profile URL is a web address that points to a user’s profile page on a website or application. It typically follows a standard format containing the user’s unique username or ID. Profile URLs allow users to easily share a direct link to their profile to display their public information, content, activity, and more. They are commonly used on social media platforms, community forums, professional networks, dating sites, and other web services that host member profiles. Some key examples of profile URLs include:
Twitter uses the format https://twitter.com/username to construct profile URLs. For example:
This points to the official Twitter company profile. A user’s tweets, followers, likes, lists, media, and other public Twitter activity can be viewed from their profile URL.
Facebook profile URLs follow the format https://www.facebook.com/username. For instance:
https://www.facebook.com/zuck
That’s the profile URL for Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Visiting a Facebook profile displays info like the user’s photos, friends, groups, check-ins, about section, and recent posts if set to public.
LinkedIn uses profile URLs like https://www.linkedin.com/in/username. Such as:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/billgates
Bill Gates’ LinkedIn profile features his work experience, education, skills, recommendations, and network. LinkedIn profiles showcase professional experience and are used for recruiting, networking, and more.
Reddit has profile pages located at https://www.reddit.com/user/username that aggregate a user’s posts and comments on the platform. For example:
https://www.reddit.com/user/reddit
That’s the profile URL for the official Reddit account. Reddit profiles display content the user has shared across communities/subreddits as well as karma, cake day, and other metadata.
YouTube
YouTube channels have custom URLs like https://www.youtube.com/channel/channelID. Such as:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEgdi0XIXXZ-qJOFPf4JSKw
That’s the URL for the YouTube channel behind the extremely popular children’s videos “Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes”. YouTube channel profiles showcase all the channel’s uploaded videos, playlists, community posts, about section, and more.
Instagram uses profile URLs like https://www.instagram.com/username/. For example:
https://www.instagram.com/cristiano/
That’s the custom URL set for footballer Cristiano Ronaldo’s extremely popular Instagram account. Instagram profiles display the user’s photos, stories, live videos, tagged posts, and bio info.
Twitch
Twitch has customizable profile URLs following the format https://www.twitch.tv/username. Such as:
https://www.twitch.tv/ninja
That’s the profile URL for Ninja, one of Twitch’s most popular streamers. Twitch profiles show live streams, clips, video highlights, schedule, and details about the user.
TikTok
TikTok profile URLs use the format https://www.tiktok.com/@username. For instance:
@therock
Points to actor Dwayne Johnson’s TikTok profile page aggregating his short form videos. TikTok profiles display the user’s public videos, likes, followers, and bio.
eBay
eBay uses profile URLs like https://www.ebay.com/usr/username to link to seller profiles on its marketplace. For example:
https://www.ebay.com/usr/electronics
That’s the profile page for eBay’s official electronics store. eBay seller profiles showcase the user’s listings, feedback rating, location, joined date, and more seller info.
Etsy
Etsy shop profiles exist at URLs starting with https://www.etsy.com/shop/shopname. Such as:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Etsy
That links to Etsy’s own shop profile set up to sell branded products. Etsy shop profiles feature every active listing from the seller along with policies, reviews, favorites, about section, and purchase history.
Medium
Medium users have profile pages at https://medium.com/@username. For example:
https://medium.com/@barackobama
Former US president Barack Obama writes publicly on his Medium profile. Medium profiles highlight the user’s published stories, bookmarks, topics they follow, and details about the writer.
Slack
Slack profile URLs look like https://app.slack.com/team/U0123456. The string of numbers is the user’s unique Slack ID. Such as:
https://app.slack.com/team/U0KRQ9XJV
This example points to the public profile of Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield. Slack profiles show workspaces, contact info, customizable status, and the ability to chat and call the user (if permissions allow).
GitHub
GitHub uses profile URLs with the format https://github.com/username. For instance:
https://github.com/torvalds
That’s the profile link for Linux creator Linus Torvalds. GitHub hosts developer profiles highlighting their pinned repositories, contributions, readme files, followers, following, stars, and more.
Forums
Most forum platforms allow users to set a custom URL that points to their profile such as https://forumwebsite.com/members/username. For example on a car forum:
https://www.civicx.com/members/vtec-yo
Visiting this link would display that member’s profile showing all their forum posts, activity, stats, garage, friends, list data, and bio.
Dating Sites
Dating platforms allow users to set a public profile URL to share in the format https://datingsite.com/username. For instance:
https://www.match.com/profile/ABOUTME?profileid=1234567
This example from Match.com points to a member’s dating profile where they describe themselves and what they’re looking for. Dating site profiles showcase details like age, location, photos, interests, personality quizzes, and more personal information.
Why profile URLs matter
Making your profile easy to access with a clear URL provides many benefits:
Discoverability
A custom profile URL that’s short and memorable is easy to share, type, remember, and pass on via word-of-mouth. Friends can tell others to visit “instagram.com/yourusername” to see your profile, rather than using a long numerical ID.
Branding
A URL containing your name, business, or username helps build your brand and identity on the web.
Trust
Scammers can easily create fake social media accounts. A custom URL proves you control your unique profile on the platform.
Marketing
Share your profile URL on business cards, social media bios, email signatures, and anywhere else you want to drive visitors.
Usability
Links with readable usernames instead of random strings are more user-friendly. Users are more likely to type in and accurately remember a clean URL.
Credibility
A custom link demonstrates you’ve invested time in establishing your presence on the site versus very new or throwaway accounts.
Best practices for profile URLs
Here are some tips for creating the ideal profile URL:
Simplicity
Short, single word usernames without hyphens or numbers are easiest to remember.
Consistency
Use the same username across platforms to reinforce your brand. Add middle initials if common names are taken.
Identity
Incorporate your name, business name, or a descriptive moniker that identifies who you are.
Availablility
Research to choose an uncommon username that’s likely available on most sites. Avoid obscure words that people won’t associate with your brand.
Relevancy
Consider including targeted keywords if you’ll use your profile for SEO like promoting a business.
Customization
Many platforms let you change your custom URL once for free if you want to rebrand.
Meaning
Avoid potentially offensive or insensitive language within your username.
Conclusion
Profile URLs enable internet users to easily access and share their public persona, content, and activity on various platforms. Common examples include Twitter profiles like twitter.com/username and Instagram profiles at instagram.com/username. Setting a custom URL benefits branding, marketing, discoverability and usability. Best practices include keeping your username short, memorable, consistent, and descriptive. With so much of our lives now existing online, a profile URL strategically optimized becomes digital real estate for establishing your unique presence.