4 Ways Foursquare Is Better for Business Than Facebook
If you run any kind of brick-and-mortar operation and you're not using Foursquare, you might be missing out on one of the cheapest and most effective marketing solutions on the planet.
In case you're not familiar with it, Foursquare asks users to "check in" when they visit a physical location. The service offers rewards in the form of badges, which are good for bragging rights, and "mayor" status to the person with the most visits.
As you may recall, Foursquare launched in 2009 to great fanfare. It was the "it" service for a couple months, but then seemed to get lost in the twin shadows of social-media powerhouses Facebook and Twitter.
But suddenly people are talking about Foursquare again. The service hit the 10-million-user mark last month and now claims more than half a million registered businesses -- twice as many as it counted back in March.
Let's look at four ways Foursquare can do more for your business than any Facebook page -- or even Groupon promotion.
1. It brings people in the door.
Anyone who uses Foursquare regularly knows how addicting it can be. You tend to make an effort to visit Foursquare-registered businesses just so you can check in there. Thus, it's like the modern-era Yellow Pages, but with incentives. People can "like" your Facebook page all day long, but how many of them will actually walk through your door?2. It encourages customers to return.
Many businesses that run Groupon campaigns report good success with the initial promotion, but little repeat business. FourSquare's badges, games, and "mayor" system give people a reason to return to your shop, if only for prestige among friends (and even strangers). Granted, not every user will chase after such ephemeral rewards, but some will -- and they're nothing but bonus foot-traffic for you. Facebook, for its part, offers no such rewards.
And speaking of rewards...
3. It enables you to run dirt-cheap promotions.
This is the biggie. Foursquare lets you reward new and loyal customers alike just for walking in the door. It can be something like a free cup of coffee, a 10-percent discount, or even just a special table for whomever wins "mayor" status for the week. Even a perk that costs you nothing will give you an edge over a nearby competitor offering no specials.Contrast that with Groupon and other daily-deal sites, which typically take 50 percent of the already heavily discounted purchase price. Facebook, for its part, is now offering check-in deals as well, but the implementation isn't nearly as good. Indeed, while perusing the Facebook app on my iPhone, I couldn't find a reference to a single deal.
Back in March, Foursquare introduced a wealth of new "specials" that businesses could offer. I like the Swarm, which rewards a group of people for checking in at the same time.
4. It supports "tips."
Want to let customers know about a cool new product that just came in? Or the best time to arrive to beat the rush? Just leave an Official Tip or Behind the Scenes Tip. It's a great way to communicate with customers and improve their overall experience.If all this doesn't have you convinced, that's fine -- I'm not saying you should use Foursquare in place of Facebook, Groupon, and the like. But you should definitely make it a part of your marketing arsenal. It's free, easy, and potentially a game-changer for any business looking to attract more walk-in customers. Heck, use Foursquare properly and customers might just run in.
What are your thoughts on Foursquare versus Facebook? Or Groupon? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments!
More on BNET: