Gone are the days of carrying around printed cards with your contact information, now it’s all about QR codes that direct back to your LinkedIn profile for networking purposes. Most recently, I attended VidCon, a creator conference in Anaheim, California, where I had the opportunity to network with industry professionals, social media executives, and fellow creators. Networking at events like this is crucial for sourcing information and promoting myself shamelessly as I write about the creator economy.
I was introduced to LinkedIn QR codes last June at Open Sauce, an annual STEM conference for content creators. I learned how to locate and utilize my LinkedIn QR code from several individuals I met at the event. Since then, I have encountered many creators promoting their social media accounts using QR codes on their phones or distributing physical stickers with the code.
At VidCon, I used the LinkedIn-provided QR code to connect with people effortlessly. By saving the code to my photos, I could readily share it whenever someone requested my email address or business card. This led to an increase in my LinkedIn connections and followers and has provided me with an easy way to maintain communication with them.
The popularity of LinkedIn QR codes is not confined to creator circles. In a different setting, my editor had a similar experience while attending two sports and gambling conferences. Executives and professionals were seen using LinkedIn QR codes to connect with one another, emphasizing the practicality of this new approach.
In comparison to traditional business cards, LinkedIn QR codes offer a more efficient and cost-effective networking tool that minimizes the risk of losing contact information. To utilize the LinkedIn QR code for networking purposes, simply open the LinkedIn app on your mobile device, tap the search bar, and click on the QR icon on the right. Once there, you will find a QR code linked to your LinkedIn profile, which can be readily accessed or saved as an image for easy sharing.