I jest but social media’s newest trend of geo-location applications have gained pace with Facebook Places being launched in the UK on Friday and start up success Foursquare surpassing the 3 million user marker.
Before I go zooming off discussing how these new tools are going to improve your life and your business let me explain what they do. The premise is easy when you go somewhere whether it is a shop, restaurant or even a park you check in to the location using your smart phone of choice. As with all social media this is about information sharing whether it’s with your friends or colleagues. Why you may ask? Well that one is going to have to wait for another day because as with all social media there is no cut and dry reason why we do it but we do so let’s use it to get more people buying from you.
The interactive nature of these applications is key to the more subtle style of marketing that has equated to success for many companies. It breaks communication barriers allowing users of your products to comment on their love of your business and recommend it to friends. When checking in on Foursquare it will pop up with other businesses near by that have had user comments and reviews written by users providing an invaluable tool for small businesses to raise their profile.
Larger brands have proven successful at utilising geo-location technology as well by offering discounts to those who check in when they are at your business. A good example of this in action is a campaign Gap ran last month offering 10% discount to shoppers who checked in at the store and showed their smartphone to the cashier.
The ideas don’t end at merely checking into a location with Foursquare offering badges to users who have checked in at various locations and Mayorship’s to the most check ins at a single location show the reams of marketing potential. MTV recently teamed up with Foursquare to launch the ‘get yourself tested badge’, which is designed to encourage their market audience of teenagers and young adults to visit a sexual health clinic; trying to lessen the stigma around doing so. With three thousand badges already issued it has already created a stir.
Social media marketing is an accepted part of the promotion process these days and with new tools arriving all the time it is an exciting time to be in marketing. I would love to hear any campaigns or ideas you have had for your business using Foursquare or other geo-location app’s.
Tags: Business, Facebook Places, Foursquare, Marketing
