I’m not a game person but FourSquare caught my attention since the beginning. Some call it a game but I see it as a location-based application that works with most smart phones.
Nashlah started using FourSquare on its first moments. She just loves it. Even though, right now, there are a lot of professionals saying they know all about it and are super users, you should take a look at what she’s done in a small place like Salt Lake City: Nashlah on FourSquare
Most social media gurus focus on tactics and telling people how to use the tool, but they seldom talk about business strategy.
Let me show you how businesses can benefit from Foursquare. Have in mind that the application is addicting because users will compete for mayorships and badges which is something that ends up benefiting businesses. The app promotes exploring the town and trying new things which is great in itself. It will tell you if a place is trendy by the number of check-ins, and if you accomplish some requirements that vary from business to business you may win a badge.
Why is all this important to businesses: visibility, popularity, more customer loyalty, more business.
Why do people do it? They like to compete, they have ego, it is fun and they can promote your business even though you might not be aware of it happening.
Have in mind that people want to become mayor of locations and oust previous mayors. When this happens they get posted publicly to twitter and Facebook with your business name and a link to your business’ profile page on foursquare.com. The same may happen when they arrive at your business.
Well, there are already savvy businesses using Foursquare to promote their business. A bar in San Francisco gives free drinks to the mayor of their location, and gives $2 off any performance night for those that show the phone and prove they checked in. This obviously motivates people to come back to the business and to use even more the application. In Las Vegas if you become the Mayor of the Miracle Mile Shops you’ll get your face and name on the 126-foot LED video screen. Big companies like Brave network, Pepsi and the New York Times are also using Foursquare. AJBombers a restaurant, did a Foursquare party and increased business in 110%.
Foursquare is already working on showing banners with the promotions.
The other day we were checking in at the movies and a message popped up telling us to try a restaurant around the corner with a coupon for us to use. What a proactive way to promote businesses in nearby locations!
The application allows people to recommend the place and suggest favorite dishes. It allows businesses and people to connect, bring foot traffic to the place and recommend to others. What more can a business wish for?
Badges for your business and badges to sponsor events is another possibility. For the users the more badges they have the more fun it is.
So, to put it into perspective, here are a few things you can use Foursquare in your business for:
I always say that the gold rush today is for being found, and getting attention.
About the being found part: Google and Bing maps are showing Foursquare venues when people search locally. Foursquare pages rank on search engines which means your business name, phone number and link come up.
Foursqare has the potential to revolutionize social media and turn it into a form of currency.
Out of the over 1.4 Million venues, only about 1200 venues have special offers. Less than 1% of businesses are going after this amazing opportunity. It is free.
Remind me how much you’ve spent with advertising that didn’t work? So what are you waiting for?
Yea, another social media opportunity. I will have to check it out!
This is the first I’ve heard of FourSquare! It sounds exciting. I’ll have to check out where you have been Nashla.