Social Media DIY Workshop » Foursquare

Get A Dog Snack With A Check-In

Charlene Kingston — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:07:51 +0000

Often, seeing what big brands are doing on social media can inspire your business to try new things. While most businesses are not able to create a social media event like GranataPet, use this idea to brainstorm creative ways your business can think outside the box and create a memorable social media event.

Before You Start: You have a business Twitter account.
Learning level: 4 | Creating Solutions
Article Last Updated: Sunday, December 4, 2011

Brilliant Foursquare Check-In Event

German pet food manufacturer, GranataPet, has a clever new promotion that uses social media. They created a street-level billboard that offers a sample of their dog food each time someone checks in on Foursquare at the billboard. It’s an effective way to let pet owners sample their food, and it has increased the demand for this brand in local pet food stores.

Here’s a 2 minute video that explains the project.

The check-in also posts on Facebook, so people are sharing their experience with the Check In! Snack Out! billboard with their friends.

Your business may not be able to create a sampling billboard, but have you thought about ways to reward people for checking in at your business on any of the check-in services?

Your turn: What innovative social media have you seen? Have you borrowed an innovative idea and used it for your business? Share your experience here.

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Is Foursquare Becoming Mainstream?

Charlene Kingston — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:00:41 +0000

Check-in services are becoming very popular with big brands, especially Foursquare. If your business has a physical location where customers visit you, there are many advantages for incorporating Foursquare into your social media plan. Here’s some ideas for how big brands are using Foursquare.

Before You Start: You use social media for your business. You are considering using a check-in service with your storefront business.
Learning level: 4 | Creating Solutions
Article Last Updated: Sunday, December 4, 2011

Big Brands Using Foursquare

Foursquare, one of the most popular check-in services, has been in the press a lot lately. There are many new business partnerships they have announced, along with enhancements to their product and services.

Here are just a few of the recent tidbits (April 2010):

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger uses Foursquare to let his constituents know about his activities.
Jimmy Choo is doing a promotion in London to promote their newest shoes.
Foursquare now makes it easy for businesses to claim their business on the service and add promotions.
Wall Street Journal has created three badges for financial related check-ins in New York City.
Foursquare offers window clings and stickers for businesses to promote that they are Foursquare friendly.
VH1 is adding tips to Foursquare locations to provide pop culture background about specific locations. Also, Foursquare tips are starting to show up in on-air programming like What Chili Wants.
Zagat has created special foodie badges for 5 American cities.
Bravo! television has created a series of badges and a special partnership with Foursquare.
The History Channel is providing tips for special locations to support its new series, America, The Story of Us.

I have used Foursquare, Whrrl, and Gowalla, and of these three, Foursquare has the best business owner support (so far). I’m not surprised to see them adding more business owner services or getting public attention.

If you are ready to take advantage of the check-in craze, this is the perfect time to start using Foursquare to promote your business. Learn more about the check-in services the mobile internet revolution, proximity marketing, and Foursquare on my site today.

What are you waiting for?

Your turn: Have you tried Foursquare or any of the check-in services? Are your customers checking in at your business? Share your experience.

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Foursquare And Your Business

Charlene Kingston — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:00:06 +0000

Foursquare is one of the most popular of the location-based services that allows customers to check-in at your business using a mobile device. It provides you with valuable information about your customers and offers many advertising opportunities.

Before You Start: You have a business that relies on walk-in business. It helps to have a business Twitter account, but that isn’t required.
Learning Level: 2 | Getting Started
Article Last Updated: Sunday, December 4, 2011

Foursquare Basics

Foursquare is currently one of the most popular service that combines social networking and location-based services. Launched in spring 2009, it includes businesses in more than 100 cities across the United States with more than 300,000 users. Foursquare allows customers to check-in when they arrive at your business. This becomes a game as users compete against each other to have the most check-ins at your business to become the mayor of your business. In addition, Foursquare users earn badges based on their level of involvement and consistency in checking in. Foursquare has mobile applications for the iPhone, android phones, and the BlackBerry, and allows other users to check in using their mobile website.

Here’s a short video that explains how Foursquare works.

How To Unlock Your World With Foursquare on Howcast

Your Business Details And Activity

You don’t need a Foursquare account to access information about your business. Do a search on your business name. Skim through the search results to find your business. Click on your business name to display a page about your business. The page includes a link to Google Maps but doesn’t provide access to your Place Page (if your business has one).

If your business isn’t listed in Fourquare, you need a free account to add it. One of the options for a place search results allows you to add a new business. The form is simple and collects basic location information. When you add your business, you can add your Twitter account, a smart idea for reaching your mobile customers.

The most valuable information here are the statistics that show you the number of people who have checked in at your business and the names of these users. Most people have a photograph avatar, so you can start to identify your Foursquare customers when they arrive. You can also see your current mayor.

Foursquare wants to help your business advertise to its users. They will help your business set up a special badge for your business that users earn by meeting a criteria you set (number of visits, etc.) They will also advertise your current mayor promotion to people checking in at your business or at nearby businesses.

Your turn: Have you been monitoring customer check-ins at your business through Foursquare? Have you used any of their advertising or promotion services? Share your experience.

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Geolocation, Geolocation, Geolocation

Charlene Kingston — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:00:33 +0000

If your business relies on walk-in customers, you can now use social media tools to find local customers on the internet. Thanks to smart cell phones and the growing dependence on the mobile internet, it’s easier than ever to find people in your neighborhood online.

Before You Start: You have a business that relies on walk-in business.
Learning Level: 1 | Social Media Basics
Article Last Updated: Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Geolocation Means Business

Social media is turning the world upside down. The old real estate adage “Location is everything” has taken on a new meaning with the latest trend, geolocation. It’s a big word and it means several related things, but the bottom line is this: Your business can benefit from adding information about your business’ physical location to various internet services.

Cell Phones And The Internet

In the early days of the internet, businesses grew because they could reach out to customers in distant locations through an online connection. Today, the internet is helping businesses that rely on walk-in traffic to connect with the users located in the neighborhood. You can pin-point your geography online and target people who live and work near your business, include people whose daily commute takes them past your business.

The reason for this change? Cell phones, especially smart phones. Cell phones are always tracked for location because they rely on cell phone towers to send and receive messages. In other words, your cell phone always knows where it is located on the planet. People today use their cell phone to connect with the internet while they are mobile. The marriage of cell phones and the internet means that your business build your local customer base through the internet.

Geolocation Services

Your business has an opportunity now to jump into the social media tools that use geolocation to help local customers. Here are some things you can do this week to start tapping into the local customers through social media tools.

Get your business listed on Google Maps. Update you listing to include important customer information like your hours, services, products, and even photographs.
Find local people who use Twitter. You can follow them, and even schedule a meetup at your business with your local Twitter community.
Check out the various check-in services like Foursquare, Gowalla, and MyTown. See if your business is listed with each service. Start making a list of people who regularly check-in at your business and meet them on their next visit.

Want to learn more about the check-in services? We’ve got a series of articles to help you tap into them to build and reward your local customer base.

Your turn: Are you already aware of these check-in social media tools? Are you using them to connect with your customers? Share your experience here.

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