Sophisticated mobile apps are now giving smart phone users a whole host of tools to help them find out where to shop, dine, and find entertainment wherever they are, right at their fingertips. Add to that the ability to instantly share their location and leave behind tips and reviews and you have a powerful combination for consumers, retailers and restaurants.
You’ve probably heard of Foursquare and figured it’s just the latest social media flavor of the month. But while it’s fun to share your travels with friends and family, it’s so much more than a game. From humble beginnings, Foursquare has grown into a crowd-sourced guide to what’s new, what’s happening, and where to shop and dine in almost any community.
Here are the four easy steps for you to take advantage of Foursquare.
1. Sign Up
You can’t play unless you join. Create an account so you can check in to your location and others in your neighborhood. You can also see who else is checking in and what they are saying about you and the other businesses in your neighborhood.
2. Leave to-dos and tips
One of the most popular features of Foursquare is leaving tips and to-dos at check-ins. Consumers can leave mini-reviews and suggestions behind for their friends.
You can use this to tell visitors what makes your venue special and why they should visit. Tips and to-dos are also shared, so if your friends check-in anywhere in your neighborhood, they’ll see what you have to say.
3. See what’s being said and who’s stopping by
Foursquare allows you to claim your physical location so you can offer specials to people who check in at your store. Claiming your location also gives you access to information about who is visiting and how often they come by your shop and allows you to offer deals and specials to your customers who check-in.
You can use Foursquare to track traffic over time, see who’s visiting and when, what they are saying and how often they are stopping by. Historical information from before you claimed your location is also available. You can even track how a special changes traffic over time, allowing you to customize and optimize deals you offer through Foursquare.
According to Foursquare, there are more than 3 million check-ins every day! Imagine how many check-ins might be at your store or restaurant; and what’s being said by the people checking-in.
4. Reward your Mayor
Foursquare rewards the person who has the most check-ins at any location by proclaiming them ‘The Mayor.’ The Mayor of your shop is without a doubt your ideal customer. He or she is the person most likely to tell their friends how much they love shopping at your store or eating at your restaurant.
