Promote Your Business with Foursquare

Have you heard of Foursquare? It’s the latest social networking sensation to hit Sydney.

If you are not already a member of Foursquare, simply login to www.foursquare.com and sign up. Similar to Facebook or Twitter, it is a free social networking service with which you can connect with friends and businesses.

People use Foursquare to "check-in" to a venue - which is a way of telling everyone your whereabouts. When you check-in someplace, Foursquare will tell your friends where they can find you, recommend places to go, list special offers and things to do nearby.

The user who checks in the most times to a venue over a 60 day period will become the Mayor of that venue and will then be eligible for special offers only available to the current Mayor.

One of the fun things about Foursquare is unlocking the many badges on offer. For example, the 'Swarm' badge is highly sought after and only unlockable when 50 or more users are in the same venue at once.

Small businesses embrace Foursquare

Small businesses are starting to embrace Foursquare and use it in their online marketing campaigns.  Foursquare is a fantastic promotions tool for small to medium businesses as it is free and provides direct communication with current and potential customers.

Claim your venue

The first thing a business owner needs to do is become a personal member of Foursquare.  Once you are a Foursquare user you can then 'claim' your venue.  This is done by applying for the venue via the business section of the Foursquare website.  After verifyng you are the legitimate owner of the business, Foursquare will give you access to the venue's statistics and allow you to set special offer on the Foursquare network.

A business may only set one special offer at a time via Foursquare which must be approved by Foursquare first.  This is extremely simple to do once you have claimed your venue.

Provide a Foursquare special offer

Foursquare special offers may include:

• an offer for the current Mayor of your venue - this will encourage users to visit your venue more frequently to become the Mayor and gain access to the offer;
• an offer to every Foursquare user who 'checks in' to your venue eg. 'receive a free coffee with your meal when you check in';
• an offer to encourage multiple visits similar to a loyalty program eg. 'on your fifth check in receive a free dessert';
• a Foursquare event such as a Swarm which needs at least 50 Foursquare users to check into the same venue in a three hour period.  This event will enable to Foursquares to obtain the Swarm badge on their Foursquare profile.

Australian small businesses really need to get up to speed with Foursquare as it is fast becoming the next social media trend in the country.

Contact Ideas Into Action if you need assistance with your online marketing.