Facebook Turns a Design Flaw into a PR Coup

I've been commenting over on Scott Hoffman&39;s Cliqology about Facebook&39;s username registration.Scott wonders aloud if Facebook left $3 million in revenue on the table by not charging for the names.

I responded:

Facebook here is giving people something they expect on any other
service – MySpace, Google, LinkedIn, etc. Creating a barrier to entry
would have stood in the face of the democratization of social media.
That customized names were needed at all was a design flaw. That they
made it a PR coup was brilliant. That they left revenue on the table
was a smart business decision.

As an aside, it wouldn&39;t have
been anywhere near $3 million. I&39;m sure a large number who did it enjoy
the bragging rights and badge of honor, but it&39;s not something they&39;d
pay for.

There&39;s more discussion on Scott&39;s blog, so check it out.

You can also connect with me on Facebook via my new vanity URL, www.facebook.com/dberkowitz. (Send me a note if you know me through the blog – I often ignore people when I have no clue why they&39;re connecting.)