Is POKEN, YOUR Social Networking Business Card Yet?

“Open-API-based Poken technology will become the standard for connecting people in the real world and enhancing their interactions online.” Art of Technology

Yesterday I attended the PRSA Miami event (public relations society) where Dayna Steele, Peter Shankman and Murray Izz spoke. It was exciting and filled with great information.  In fact, I could write at least 3 blog posts about all the great tips and resources these presenters shared. But today I want to talk about only one.  POKEN.  Okay you are thinking this is a new kind of card game, right? Something like Poker for Nerds or something… NO. NOT IT.  If you haven’t yet heard of POKEN, don’t feel bad. I had heard the name bantered about a couple of times, but didn’t really know what it was or meant. Until yesterday when Peter Shankman spoke, and held up the little device and talked about how KOOL it was and that if we had one he’d like to connect. And if we didn’t he had them available right then and there. I was excited! You see I was sitting next to my good friend Jessica Kizorek (Celebrated Author and Video Expert) and she showed me hers. I could not wait to get my hands on one.
  
So guess who was first in line to get one when he was finished speaking?  No I didn’t move fast enough (but I was third *SMILE). 

Let me tell you what a POKEN is.  It is a handy little networking creature (tool) that shares uploaded social media contact with anyone else that has one.  In fact, when two POKENS get close, they light up!  Makes you wonder… but I digress. The reason they light up is that they are getting a signal from another POKEN (these could be fun on a date!).  Time to make their move! And by make their move I mean, HI 4 them ~ touch one another (which may be why POKENS have a fact and a ‘hand’) so they can exchange information. And if the two POKENS are from the same tribe, look out.  Mine is a “Rock Star” POKEN. You can choose from several styles including Ninjas, Vampires, Geishas, Tigers and many others.  Mine suits my personality *SMILE.

But I digress… again.

The purpose of a POKEN is to do away with exchanging business cards and carrying paper back to the office to then transfer to some other database device.  In fact, it is really quite simple. You buy your poken (For under $20), take it apart (the hand has the  USB port) and plug it into your computer.  If all is working you get a prompt that takes you to the Do You POKEN website ~ www.doyoupoken.com (your computer should recognize what’s been plugged in and auto-launch the website ) and there you set up an account so you can start imputing your social networking information including all the sites you belong to.  You input your FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, TWITTER, MYSPACE, etc. ID’s, your physical contact information, upload your picture and viola’!  Instant POKEN!

It’s that simple! Once you’ve shared connections, you are ready to start chatting with your newest POKEN buddies online.  It’s that instant. No more having to search for her or him on Facebook or Twitter or XING or whatever. They are in your little POKEN hand! And in your list of friends, fans and followers.

The Good news: you are doing your part to save the planet … totally green (as long as they work and don’t end up in some landfill somewhere ~ but that’s another subject). BTW, POKEN’s  battery lasts around six months depending on how often it’s used.  It is a Lithium CR1632, so it’s rechargable and recycleable.

The Bad News: you can’t put these on bulletin boards and staple to flyers or even leave on windshields (or maybe that’s the good news).  But you can get creative with them.  Use them as incentives and giveaways (be sure your contact info is already on them) or for other types of marketing and advertising campaigns.  Let me know how you use or would use a POKEN!

You can get your POKEN at POKEN GIRL or do what I did and go to a live social media event where they are selling them.

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WE magazine for women » Nice to Meet You! Do You POKEN? said,

September 3, 2009 @ 5:22 pm

[...] you want to know more about POKEN here’s an article I wrote about it Is POKEN, Your Social Networking Business Card Yet?    And two other interesting articles on the [...]

Boomer Diva TV » Blog Archive » WHAT THE HECK IS A POKEN ANYWAY? said,

September 3, 2009 @ 5:46 pm

[...] Here’s an article I wrote that better explains it: Is POKEN, Your Social Networking Business Card Yet? [...]

Heidi Caswell said,

September 4, 2009 @ 11:38 pm

I’d never heard of a Poken. Kind of cute. Quick and easy.

Would I use? Depends of others are using it too.

Eileen Williams said,

September 5, 2009 @ 9:13 am

What will they think of next? I am constantly astounded by technology and the POKEN is no exception. What a handy little device that most everyone can afford. It would be so simple to bring to conferences and other gatherings and exchange information. I remember the old trick of wearing a jacket with pockets so you could keep your card in one pocket to hand out and another pocket was free for incoming business cards. Great plan but I gathered so many, I forget to whom they belonged. The POKEN would solve that problem!

Heidi said,

September 5, 2009 @ 9:20 am

Heidi,

That is so true. Unless or until the masses are using POKEN it is just another geek tool. However, I do predict it will hit mainstream in the next year or so. It is just too easy not to. You will never again have to search the recesses of your mind to match a face with a business card. Poken stores that for you. What I like is that you can share as much or as little as you want. It literally took me 7 minutes to set up!

Heidi

Heidi said,

September 5, 2009 @ 9:24 am

Eileen,

You are so right! What WILL they think of next! I am having fun with mine and love being ahead of the curve. And remember the Tipping Point. A handful of influentials CAN and do change the world. If enough of us have them we will start the movement and pretty soon no one will be able to live without one. Think of the cell phone as a perfect example. My hubby said he’d never have one (that was 25 years ago). Today he has 2 cell phones, a blackberry and I think he is going to get the new PRI. CRAZY!

Its almost impossible to get a cell phone without a camera these days… so perhaps the POKEN will be the next BIG (or little thing).

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to see Boomer Diva TV for another great video on the subject – it gives a simple step by step how to for POKEN.

Heidi

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