ThingLink – Create Interactive Digital Images

ThingLink is a tool that people can use to make their digital images come alive. The creation and discover application makes it possible for its users to add movement – in the form of videos, text, and links – to the images they post online.

Add dimension to your digital images by joining ThingLink. Upload an image from your hard drive, or import it from a photo-sharing site like Facebook or Flickr. Once your image is loaded into the ThingLink platform, you can start adding content. Copy/paste a streaming video URL from Hulu, a map URL from Google Maps, an audio URL from Spotify, a poll URL from PollDaddy, or a product URL from Best Buy, and click on the spot on your image where you’d like the content associated with that URL to appear. When people look at an image you’ve created with ThingLink, they’ll see white dots layered on top of the image with symbols representing the type of content that has been linked. Viewers who click on those symbols can view the associated rich media content (like videos or audio clips, for example) directly on top the ThingLink image.

In addition to being a creative tool, ThingLink is also a discovery engine. Follow image channels or specific users whose work inspires you, and comment on any content that’s shared in the ThingLink gallery. You can also embed ThingLink images on popular social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr.

Practical Uses:

• Use an interactive image in your next business presentation
• Tag any of the products shown in a photo you took
• Promote your band by posting an image with links to your music downloads
• Give your viewers insight into the back-story behind the most memorable photographs you’ve taken

Insider Tips:

• Bloggers who add ThingLink’s code to their sites can enable user photo tagging
• Tag your friends’ Twitter handles in the photographs you post
• People can add dozens of different types of content to their images
• Images can easily be shared on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or by email

What we liked:

• ThingLink can be used by individuals, publishers, and brands
• Brands can tag the products featured in their advertising campaigns
• Any person who can point and click can add content to a photo
• People can browse images that have been added to the ThingLink gallery for inspiration or entertainment

What we didn’t like:

• ThingLink requires that people create accounts and login before commenting on gallery images

Alternatives:

• GumGum – http://gumgum.com
• Luminate – http://www.luminate.com
• Stipple – https://stipple.com

Company Info:

• Launched: 2010
• Privately Held
• Headquarters: Helsinki, Finland
• Founded by: Ulla-Maaria Engeström
• Web site: http://www.thinglink.com

Costs:

• Free