Why businesses should pay attention to Foursquare

I’m the Foursquare mayor of Tonyburgers in Centerville, Utah. So what?

Well, for me right now, I get only bragging rights, but I’ll come back to what could be.

And if any of you haven’t eaten there, and you’re in the vicinity, I highly recommend it. You’ve got to be in the mood for a good American burger and fries though. The fires are fresh cut and double-fried in peanut oil. Need I say more?

Microblogging

Remember when business executives and marketers started dabbling with a little microblogging platform called Twitter? Most people would say, “Why do I care that someone just bought a cup of coffee from Starbucks?”

They were only scratching the surface of what Twitter could be used for. Think: reputation management, customer service and crisis management, not to mention inbound marketing.

Location-Based Microblogging

Enter Foursquare, a geographically based microblogging service and game all rolled into one.

Now we have microblogging status updates tied to locations using Foursquare.

Users compete for the most points and fun, different badges that reward them for checking in.

I’ve read some reports lately that suggest that such a small number of consumers are using Foursquare that it’s hardly worth it for businesses and marketers to include Foursquare in their campaigns.

I disagree. And I’ve written about it before.

Why Businesses Should Include Foursquare

Tonyburgers has a “wall of fame” that posts the names of people who eat for free.

If I owned Tonyburgers, in addition to the wall of fame celebrities, politicians and others who are just too popular to ever be seen at Tonyburgers, I’d reach out to the common consumer (you know, the ones who keep me in business).

I’d let the mayor of Tonyburgers on Foursquare get a free order of fries with every order (hint, hint), or something like that.

Think of the competition (i.e., consumption, or increase in purchases) when others catch wind of the opportunity and also begin using Foursquare.

It doesn’t take much imagination for retailers, restaurateurs and other business-to-consumer marketers to see the potential.

What about watching check-ins on Foursquare and when someone checks in nearby, sending them a text offering them a special discount on a purchase in the next hour?

Better yet, how about one-upping your competition by reaching out to their consumer as soon as they check-in at their establishment?

So many possibilities!

Your Experience?

Do any of you have experiences with geo-based social media you’d like to share? Please feel free.