You may be starting to hear buzz about this thing called Foursquare. Remember just a few years ago when people started yapping about Twitter? What IS it?
Foursquare is a location-based application that works on the iphone, android and blackberry smart phones. It creates a game out of being in places (businesses, restaurants, museums, wherever) and checking in while you are there. The more times you check-in at a location the more badges you have the ability to unlock, if you have the most check-ins at a location you become the Mayor of that location for however long you continue to have the most check-ins.
The gist is that your location is being or will soon be ranked by popularity for no apparent reason other than people are interested in playing this game. Again, it’s about customers carrying on conversations and sharing experiences about your brand with the world. You have the opportunity to listen in. Digital eavesdropping, fantastic!
It’s your new loyalty (FREE) program….
Here’s how you can do more than just listen. So far customers (and these are all customers, because they are IN or have been in your location) have be participating in foursquare for fun. What happens if you get in there and give foursquare users a special offer or coupon? If they are vaguely close to your location they’ll receive a notification that there is a Special Offer nearby. Even if foursquare users who have never been in your business, if they are steps away from your “50% off double mocha lattes for foursquare users” what are the chances they will pop in and check your business out? This is a fantastic engagement opportunity for existing businesses, and could be a massive boost for new businesses.
SEO – Here’s where it gets even more interesting…
Google maps and Bing maps are displaying Foursquare venues when people search locally. Google is beginning to use tips and shouts from Foursquare venues for citations about your business. These citations are used in the rank algorithm, which is why Yelp and Google Local reviews are so important for your SEO efforts. Cost = zero.
Here are a few great articles that go further into Foursquare and it’s potential uses:
Local Search Marketing using Foursquare
Ignore Foursquare at Your Peril – An Analysis of Potential
As always, we welcome your comments!
