How to Use Social Media to Become Mayor (of Starbucks)
In my blog on 7 websites worth 2 minutes, one of the websites I recommended is a new social media service called “Foursquare”.
Their motto is “We’re all about helping you find new ways to explore the city.” and that’s actually right on the money. Basically FourSquare is a social city-guide of restaurants, bars, parks etc., where you get rewarded by trying new things in your city.
Foursquare started its life in a select few cities, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin and Chicago, but can now be used all over the world: However since FourSquare is dependant on its users to check-in, write recommendations etc, it works best in major cities at the moment.
How it works
Through your iPhone, Android or BlackBerry (or just by using their mobile website) you can “check-in” to the social media website, whenever you’re hanging out at your favorite restaurant or bar. When you check-in, FourSquare can locate you via your mobile GPS and the action itself is usually just one or two clicks.
Your Foursquare-friends (and Twitter and Facebook friends too, if you want) get a live update when you check in and can see exactly where you are (should they feel like dropping by). It’s also registrered on your FourSquare profile, so people can see where you like to hang out.
You also have the possibility of writing tips and recommendations on a specific restaurant/bar/etc., like “Try the special, you won’t regret it” or “Tell the bartender that Peter sent you and you’ll get special attention”, whatever you like. Anyone on FourSquare (friend or not) can then read your recommendation, when they are near or in that place.
The extras that make it fun
When you complete a given action on FourSquare, you receive points and badges for your adventurousness. For example checking in after 3 a.m. on a weekday somewhere will get you a “School Night” badge, checking in 3 times in one week at the same place will get you a “Local” badge, etc.
You can win a “Majorship” and become major of a given place. The one who checks in the most times at the same place will be major, so if you ever wanted to be major of your local Starbucks or favorite bar, now’s your chance.
There are a lot of other features and new features added regularly, so there’s plenty of fun stuff to do on this social media site.
Setting up a profile takes you a few minutes as you don’t have to write much information about yourself. Just upload a photo, write your name and email and you’re good to go.
Go to FourSquare now and set up your profile. I’m positive that it’s not going to be just another social media website that you’ll never log in to.
If you want to add me as your friend, here’s my FourSquare profile.
The “foursquare logo” is copyright of foursquare, 2010
