Foursquare is a social networking site that has developed as a social media mobile application. When launched the creators of Foursquare described it as” a friend finder, a social city guide, and the game that encourages you choose to explore their neighbourhoods and rewards them from doing so” The Foursquare application is designed to allow people to “check in” or indicate their whereabouts when they are in their neighbourhood. People can check-in in various types of places which can include restaurants, cafes, offices, parks, bars, homes, and various businesses/

Foursquare allows friends to share their favourite spots in any new places that they may discover. This application encourages word of mouth participation and recommendations of business locations by customers and can be used very effectively for marketing local businesses.

Here are some ways that Foursquare can be used for marketing by local businesses:

Customer Loyalty

Foursquare can be used to offer customer loyalty promotions. For example, to offer a complimentary drink to any customer that checks in three times in a given week, or to a user who writes a positive review of the business on an online review site. Foursquare refers to these types of promotions as “Foursquare Specials” and makes them easy by providing free tools to allow businesses to automatically fulfill or unlock the “Foursquare Special” For example, Foursquare messages to the user -”You have been here three times this week! That means a free drink for you!; For square users get 20% off their order every 10th check-in!”

Points

Foursquare operates like a game. Users collect points in Foursquare by checking in, repeat visits, or adding a new location etc. The points are assessed by venue as well the entire game. Businesses can encourage customers to check-in by providing by providing value for the number of points gained such as offering to donate a nickel per point to a charity, or allowing users to earn discounts in relation to the number of points they collect.

Mayors

A user who collects the most points at a specific venue becomes a “Mayor” at that venue. Many businesses will choose to offer something of a greater value to the member who becomes the mayor of their venue. This might be a gift certificate or a complimentary product. Many Foursquare users are very competitive over the “Mayor” status and of course this competitiveness can mean increased exposure and profits for a business.

“To-Do” Lists

Businesses can create any “to-do” list for Foursquare users that to-do list functions similarly to a contest or a scavenger hunt period of business can create a to-do list that is based on aspects of the business that they wish to promote, such as a appetizers or a new fitness class period when a user completes the to-do list, you can run more reward them in a similar way that you would reward the “Mayor” by providing a complimentary item or service period

Everyone can be a Winner

A business can consider a strategy of creating winners of everyone by offering a free upgrade to anyone who checks in (and demonstrates they did to the cashier), or by offering 10% off to everyone in the store when the analytics show that 100 people have checked in your business. For a local business, participation in a site like Foursquare can be a significant factor in growing the online presence of your business for Internet savvy local consumers.

A successful online marketing strategy includes having your business being found in multiple places on the Internet where local consumers are looking for your product or services. A local Internet marketing consultant can help you create a strategy and implement a personalized online marketing plan for your business which includes opportunities like Foursquare.