Do you Poken?
I do… now. Until this morning, I have to admit I didn’t even know what the thing was. I’d never heard of it. I know, I know… this is my job. I’m supposed to know what this stuff is ahead of time and put it to good use. I guess this one slipped through the cracks. Regardless, here’s my take on it.
For those asking themselves what it is, a Poken is a handy-dandy little networking tool that effectively swaps digital business cards with anyone else that has one. When they come within a certain radius of another one, they light up. This tells you to wander the room, meet, greet, and chat, all the while scanning those people head-to-toe for a little device that’s about 2 inches long that can be concealed as one of many pseudo Japanese figures. Mine’s a ninja for example.
Once located you need only hold them together and your pre-determined contact information is transferred to theirs and vice-versa. When you get home, simply plug your Poken into a USB port and all the contact info you can into contact with is transferred to your account. This info can then be downloaded as a vCard, nice, or kept on their server… handy. Set up is simple and cost is minimal at around $20. You can pick one up here. http://www.pokenplace.com/shop/
So you’ve bought your Poken and you’re ready to set it up. Here’s how you do it:
Step 1: Open the box, pull the figure off the hand and pull the little paper tab out to activate your Poken.
Step 2: Plug your Poken into your computer’s USB port and wait. Most of the time, your computer will recognize what’s been plugged in and auto-launch the website. If not, open the new folder and double-click on Start_Poken.html
Step 3: Set up your account with a username, email address and password, then enter your contact info, picture, and any Social Media networks you’d like included. You get a sample view of what your new friends waiting to be met will see. Once you get that looking the way you like, save and you’re all set.
Step 4: Go out and start Poken.
Bah. I want one for BlogHer! I swear I entered every contest possible to win one but they just recently closed and I never saw my name announced with “Congrats!” Alas, I’ll be Pokenless at BlogHer.
Sorry to hear that! keep up the good fight though and we’ll see you at BlogHer. Are you coming to BowlHer on Saturday?
You can also buy Pokens at PokenZoo.com where they come in singles as well as packs of two, four, six and twelve. They can also print your company’s logo on the Poken itself.
Jay: I’ll make Nicole the winner of a free geisha poken if you can put me in touch with her. Nobody should be Pokenless!
Man that’s great! I’ve contacted Nicole and asked that she email you. Watch your email and Thank you SOOOO much for making her Poken dreams come true!
Everyone check out http://www.PokenZoo.com for all your Poken needs!
Jay
Weeeee! Giggle giggle giggle. Snort. Giggle Giggle.
Thank you, Jay and Steve!
Sweet! Thanks Steve!
I’ve got every intention of posting again soon on all the ppl I met over last weekend at BowlHer but in in the meantime, I did get to meet Nicole and her new Geisha Poken. So cool to put pulses to posts and lay eyes on the freebee hardware complements of Steve at PokenZoo.com.
Thanks so much to Steve for hooking up my people and everyone stay tuned. I’m going to give something fun away for BlogWorld, I just haven’t figured out exactly what. Any suggestions?