Level Up Your Networking Game with LinkedIn's QR Code Feature

Next time you’re at a conference or other in-person networking event, try using the LinkedIn QR code feature. This cool feature allows you to connect quickly and easily with other attendees. It’s a tech-savvy way to bypass the typical business card exchange—or to bring your business card into the digital era by including your QR code. 

You can even take a page out of my friend Libby Griewe’s book and use your LinkedIn QR Code as your phone lock screen at an event. (She walks through how to do that in this short video). Alternatively, if you’re speaking at an event, consider using your LinkedIn QR code in your presentation to give your audience an easy way to connect with you from their seats. 

Follow the steps below to find and share your LinkedIn QR code or to search by QR code and connect with someone. 

How to find and share your LinkedIn QR code: 

1. From the LinkedIn mobile app, tap the search bar at the top of your home screen. 
2. Select the QR code icon that appears on the right side of the search bar. 
3. Tap “My code.” 
4. Save your photo to download your code to your phone’s native photo library. On iOS only, you can also tap “Share my code” to share your LinkedIn QR code with someone else via email, message, or a third-party messaging app.

How to find a profile via QR Code and connect on LinkedIn:

1. From the LinkedIn mobile app, tap the search bar at the top of your home screen. 
2. Select the QR code icon that appears on the right side of the search bar. 
3. Tap “Scan.” 
4. Hold your phone in front of the QR code of the person with whom you’d like to connect. Alternatively, you can scan a code from a saved photo on your phone. 
   Note: If you aren’t able to scan, first select “Enable Camera Access” and allow LinkedIn to access your camera. Then return to this step. 
5. Once the person’s profile populates on your app, tap the “Connect” button to send a connection request.

QR codes can be a fun and efficient way to connect with someone in person. Keep in mind, however, that when you search via QR code, it’s easy to simply click the connect button in someone’s profile and not add a personalized invitation note. Normally, I always advise adding a note, but connecting in person is an exception to the rule. Still, it’s important to remember that personalizing your LinkedIn connection request will trigger an unread message in your inbox—which is your cue to follow up with that person. 

To avoid this, try this workaround. Ask the person you’re connecting with to accept your request while you’re standing there. Then, you can quickly follow up with a simple direct message like, “Great meeting you!” Now, you have a message to return to later! You can sort your messages by most recent connections for an easy list of people to follow up with after your event. 

LinkedIn offers so many ways to make networking more efficient and effective. Sometimes, all you need to make great connections is already at your fingertips. For some professionals, an upgraded toolset makes sense. To find out if a premium LinkedIn subscription is right for you, check out my free Should You Pay for LinkedIn guide. In it, I compare all the paid LinkedIn options and break down the differences between each so you can make an informed choice.