January 15, 2011 48 Comments

PingTags Adds QR Code Access to Your LinkedIn Profile

PingTags

I just found out about PingTags, a service that lets you connect to your LinkedIn Profile and generate a QR code for people to scan. When you’re done linking your LinkedIn profile to PingTags, simply right-click (or ctrl-click on a mac) and save the file to your desktop, and you can print it, throw it on other places, and then see who connects and makes use of your mobile-formatted LinkedIn profile.

What do you think?

Check it out for yourself at PingTags.com

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  • http://www.dutchovenbranding.com/ Jonathan Oliff

    I really like this idea, I tried it a while ago but linked my blog/site… I gotta agree that LinkedIn makes more sense on a business card

  • http://twitter.com/aarnih Aarni Heiskanen

    I think this is a great idea. I’ll try it on my next business card.

  • http://www.loususi.com loususi

    that was easy …

    strangely enough, for an online experience it fell a little flat, but maybe its because of the whole beta thing … i mean, i’m sure that they could hook this up to a service like moo or cafe press to then let you put that thar QR code on whatever your little heart desires … and then a few other Qs come up, but that’s for a different pot comment ;

    another

  • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

    I have been experimenting with QR Codes especially since I moved away from Blackberry which was not to efficient with handling QR codes. The other day I tried an online special for a client we setup a website for. We did get more traffic than usual just out of people’s curiosity.

    I see many things that can be done with QR Codes and this linkedin thing looks great.

    best regards,
    Raul

    • http://dannybrown.me Danny Brown

      Not sure what BlackBerry you were using Raul, but we’ve always found that BlackBerry is one of the leading platforms when it comes to QR codes. We’ve done a ton of mobile campaigns and the BB has always been a huge part of the analytic information.

      • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

        Danny,

        Can you suggest any good Blackberry applications on the QR Code side that work. I had the Blackberry tour till a few days ago. I tried a few applications that I could not get working.

        It is so much easier to install and have them work on the Iphone and Droid that I just changed phones.

        It is great if I can provide a BB option for most people around me. Thanks for replying.

  • http://ClimbingEveryMountain.com Mary E. Ulrich

    Chris, What is the benefit of using this Ping tag? It makes me think of scanning a can of soup at the grocery.

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  • http://twitter.com/TheTiniestTiger Gracey

    Chris, Thank you. I like this idea.

  • Gary

    Thanks, Chris! Doing a presentation at a local college next week and had a QR code inked onto a t-shirt for a demonstration of how to use for marketing. Starting to see them more and more.

    Have a great day!

  • http://www.justinrussell.com Justin Russell

    That’s pretty great, Chris. I’d never thought about using a QR code on a business card, but it makes a lot of sense. The LinkedIn idea is perfect for people who want to make it easy to connect easily.

    I could see a lot of other uses for QR codes on a card or at a conference, too. Maybe you could make a code that points to your company’s mobile site. You could even make a customized card for a conference (or just slap a sticker on the back of your normal card) with a QR code that brings up a coupon at your company’s convention booth or your check-in history so that people can find you if they want to reconnect.

    If you’d rather stick a QR code to a different address than your LinkedIn profile on your card, there are a couple of sites that let you do that. http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/ is a pretty basic generator that will create a QR code for your business card, handouts, or whatever you like; it will take any web address, or you can put in your contact info, a phone number, or more. QR Stuff ( http://www.qrstuff.com ) makes it really easy to print out a page of stickers or order products that have your QR code on them (I’ve tried the stickers before; I haven’t ever ordered any of their products).

    Thanks again, Chris!

  • http://www.justinrussell.com Justin Russell

    That’s pretty great, Chris. I’d never thought about using a QR code on a business card, but it makes a lot of sense. The LinkedIn idea is perfect for people who want to make it easy to connect easily.

    I could see a lot of other uses for QR codes on a card or at a conference, too. Maybe you could make a code that points to your company’s mobile site. You could even make a customized card for a conference (or just slap a sticker on the back of your normal card) with a QR code that brings up a coupon at your company’s convention booth or your check-in history so that people can find you if they want to reconnect.

    If you’d rather stick a QR code to a different address than your LinkedIn profile on your card, there are a couple of sites that let you do that. http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/ is a pretty basic generator that will create a QR code for your business card, handouts, or whatever you like; it will take any web address, or you can put in your contact info, a phone number, or more. QR Stuff ( http://www.qrstuff.com ) makes it really easy to print out a page of stickers or order products that have your QR code on them (I’ve tried the stickers before; I haven’t ever ordered any of their products).

    Thanks again, Chris!

  • http://www.solopreneursllc.com Donna Amos

    I have used the QR code on printed material to drive traffic to a mobile page that encourages folks to join my mailing list. What I have found is that few people have a reader downloaded to the smart phones. But I believe that will change in the near future. The same type of code is available for your profile on Google Places.

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  • http://www.ferreemoney.com/blog JNFerree

    I’ve been using QR Code generators mostly from Goo.gl and Bit.ly for ahile now. Like Donna said, few people have the reader installed on their smart phone device (Droid, iPhone, Blackberry etc.) Being able to “push” a visitor to any URL using a QR Code is quite handy. Being able to TRACK how active a QR Code is, let’s you know if your marketing mix is working as well as it should?

  • http://scrapsofmygeeklife.com scrappinmichele

    Thanks for pointing this out. I’m just starting to really use QR codes. It was just fun at first. At CES, I found it really helpful because I scanned in anything that I found interesting and wanted to remember. I now have it all on my phone and can go back to see it rather than carry around another stack of papers.

    I’m planning on adding a QR code to my business cards when I update them next time. I will probably have it go directly to my profile page on my blog because I can update that as things change so it will always be current. I could have it go to my LinkedIn page too. Hmmm…I guess I have to think about it now.

  • http://pennyonthefloor.com mike

    wow. very cool technology.

  • http://twitter.com/AgentMagnetic Jason!

    Conceptually this is cool idea. Great for trade shows, etc. Microsoft tried something similar “Tags”. Never really took off for some reason.

  • Michael Durwin

    I’ve used a few different QRCode sites to generate codes for various sites of mine since I saw them uses to great effect at SXSW last year. As someone who is a big fan of developing integrated campaigns, it’s a great way to tie real life marketing, specifically print, to digital. It’s a great way to say “we get you, our bleeding edge, early adopters and we know how to show you the secret geek handshake even in old school channels that the rest of our audience consumes.
    The best part about QR Codes is they’re an easy take-away that doesn’t take up space. I used on in a recent ad in e-Forex magazine for my company. If you didn’t want to keep to magazine or couldn’t take it with you, you could still take our landing page in your phone.
    They’re also great to add to your nametag at networking events. I’m looking for someone like Moo to start offering them as a sticker.

  • DaraBell

    Hi,

    Whats the point if I can check your Linked In profile on my phone (in the bathroom) when I meet you. Why do I need to scan a card into my phone. I think there is already a dearth of information. This is too much for me. I think the concept lacks a clear unique selling point.

    DAra

    I suppose that begs the question how important is novelty. I doubt though that with the sheer ammount volume. I remmebe of P information and

  • DaraBell

    Aftethought
    Wish Pingtags well though.

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  • http://twitter.com/KateDavids KatetheRunner

    I love the idea of QR codes, though some of the others pointed out that QR code readers are not as common as they should be, at least in the US. In Japan, I think they come standard on every mobile. Maybe that is the best way to get them to work in the US, too?

    But seeing as I already have my Linked In URL on my business cards, this is the next step. One click is better than typing in a string of letters any day. Thank you, Chris!

  • http://twitter.com/KateDavids KatetheRunner

    I love the idea of QR codes, though some of the others pointed out that QR code readers are not as common as they should be, at least in the US. In Japan, I think they come standard on every mobile. Maybe that is the best way to get them to work in the US, too?

    But seeing as I already have my Linked In URL on my business cards, this is the next step. One click is better than typing in a string of letters any day. Thank you, Chris!

  • http://decori.st Decorist

    I put a QR code on the back of my business card. I know not a lot of people have readers, but it actually works great as a conversation piece. People look at the card and ask what it is if they aren’t familiar with them. For those who have seen them before, they’re happy to see them being used because they’re clearly the early adopter type who believe in the technology. It’s a great conversation starter and a way to start a “What do you think?” conversation with someone you don’t know.

  • http://mikelopez.info/ Mike Lopez

    Ok! Just added QR code to my blog! Thanks.

  • http://mikelopez.info/ Mike Lopez

    Ok! Just added QR code to my blog! Thanks.

  • http://TheTouchMarketing.com Kathy Hogeveen

    Love it, what a great move for both Ping Tags and Linkedin. I’ve been encouraging Contact QR codes, but to have it tie to your Linkedin profile is an excellent opportunity to connect offline contacts with your online presence.

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  • http://twitter.com/AbsoluteBrand AbsoluteBrand

    Danny,

    Agreed. Our QR Campaigns have shown higher use/adoption by BB users. If you’re thinking about crafting a QR Marketing campaign don’t worry about those who DON’T have/use it, and focus on those that do! BTW, I referred Chris to this tip : D

  • http://twitter.com/AbsoluteBrand AbsoluteBrand

    Danny,

    Agreed. Our QR Campaigns have shown higher use/adoption by BB users. If you’re thinking about crafting a QR Marketing campaign don’t worry about those who DON’T have/use it, and focus on those that do! BTW, I referred Chris to this tip : D

  • http://www.poweredbysearch.com Dev Basu

    This is a neat idea and I’m going to setup a campaign via Google URL builder just to see if anyone actually uses the QR code.

  • http://raulcolon.net Raul Colon

    Danny,

    Thanks I will provide this to a few people who have asked me about it. Very helpful!

  • Hillary

    That is just too frackin’ cool!

  • http://twitter.com/JohnBunka John Bunka

    This is super easy, I am going to recommend this to my blog readers asap.

  • http://twitter.com/JohnBunka John Bunka

    This is super easy, I am going to recommend this to my blog readers asap.

  • http://danieljohnsonjr.com danieljohnsonjr

    QR codes seem all the rage now. Saw one that can be used for the connection to a public or secure wi-fi. I can’t help but think this is a fad for the time being. I saw one on a billboard in Cincinnati. Seriously! I have enough trouble right now getting my reader to read a card from 2-3 inches away when I’m standing still – how can someone be expected to read a QR code at 55+ mph from 50-100 feet away.

    Even so, Chris, I see what you did there. ;-)

  • http://danieljohnsonjr.com danieljohnsonjr

    QR codes seem all the rage now. Saw one that can be used for the connection to a public or secure wi-fi. I can’t help but think this is a fad for the time being. I saw one on a billboard in Cincinnati. Seriously! I have enough trouble right now getting my reader to read a card from 2-3 inches away when I’m standing still – how can someone be expected to read a QR code at 55+ mph from 50-100 feet away.

    Even so, Chris, I see what you did there. ;-)

  • http://publicimagedesign.com Daryl Woods

    I was in the process of redesigning my business cards and struggling with a way to accommodate the lengthy LinkedIn link. Problem solved. Now it just says LinkedIn under the code. Tested. Works. Cards ordered.

    Thanks for sharing Chris. Bet you’ve heard that before.

  • http://publicimagedesign.com Daryl Woods

    Follow-up note here. PingTags doesn’t seem to link to your current LinkedIn profile. Updates don’t change what the QR code links to in my experience.

  • Moporadio

    I think it’s not working.

  • http://twitter.com/roberge Ariel Roberge

    Pingtag is a fail… does not work…

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  • Wendell Hall

    My PingTag LinkedIn profile looks nothing like my profile on LinkedIn.  All the copy runs together with no separations between sections or between paragraphs.  Why?  How do I edit the look of my LinkedIn profile on PingTag?  The look on LinkedIn is fine.  Only the PingTag looks crazy.

  • Maranda Gorrdiaz

    As you change your linked in, do you have to keep making a new pingtag QR Code?

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  • http://blog.wardelldesign.com/ Wardell

    You have to wonder why LinkedIn doesn’t provide something like this natively , the profiles on their mobile site look very slick, just like their mobile apps, but you have to sign in to view them.

  • Anirban Sen

    I’m impressed.

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