Foursquare Checkin

With hopes for a black, Black Friday, well known retailers such as Toys R Us and JC Penney are testing the waters and encouraging customers to play the game and reap the benefits with location based services.

But how many people are currently using these mobile apps such as Foursquare, Gowalla, Brightkite, Whrrl and now Facebook places? Pew reports a number as low as 4% of online Americans use location based services. Is this an accurate picture, and/ or can we expect a rapid change?

For example Gap Inc. earlier this month gave away 10,000 pairs of jeans to people who “checked in” at stores using Facebook Places. In today’s WSJ article: A High-Tech Edge on Black Friday they reported that in many of the Gap locations, they gave away their limit within minutes and offered all other check-ins a 40% discount. Seems like a good response to their test, however free is an offer that is hard to refuse.  Gap’s latest promotion for Black Friday  includes a fund raising component and discount. Check in and receive 30% off any one item and Gap will donate $1 to Camp Interactive in the name of foursquare co-founders Dennis Crowley and Naveen Selvadurai.  Still a good deal as well as heartfelt, but will it be good enough?

To me, Check in seems to be ready for a 2010 Black Friday. It’s fun and has a friendly viral component to it. Perhaps retailers like these on the About Foursquare rundown list, which is a list of every national foursquare Black Friday deal, could edge that 4% percentage up a bit, or a lot.

What are your predictions?

Happy Thanksgiving from the iTwitterCoach team!

Hilary JM Topper, MPA Guest Blogger

Many people fear social networking sites that include a GPS, like BrightKite and the latest one, Foursquare, for fear that their safety may be in jeopardy.  However, like with most social media sites, you can tweak the settings so only certain people know of your whereabouts.

Foursquare is a great site for both marketers and consumers!

The way it works is, consumers sign up and can check in to different locations no matter where they are.  Interestingly, the consumer may even find herself in the same vicinity as a friend or co-worker and have an opportunity to connect.  And in terms of security, the only people who can see your entries are those who you are friends with on Foursquare.  You also have an opportunity to link Foursquare with Twitter and Facebook, but this is only an option.

Every time a consumer checks in to a restaurant, bar or business, she unlocks information.  For example, if she went to a restaurant and logs in, she may find that there are particular items on the menu to order or to avoid.  The consumer also has an opportunity to give a tip on a restaurant or attraction. Then, everyone who frequents that restaurant or attraction can read what she said.  This is a powerful tool, especially if the business is given high ratings.

There is also a gaming element to Foursquare as well.  When a consumer checks into various places, she earns points and eventually can become the “mayor” of the place, which can get her freebies – free coffee, free ice cream and even free hotel stays.

For restaurants and business owners, Foursquare is a great way to promote your business.  Owners can offer free products or incentives to customers using Foursquare to lure them into the establishment.  Once you have a Mayor, you can offer something really special!  The best part is, it’s free!  There is no cost for a business to sign up and it gives a lot of exposure across a host of networking platforms.

Foursquare is used primarily on your mobile phone but you can easily see stats, your history and even your friends on your PC or Mac.

When preparing your social media plan, consider incorporating Foursquare.  As more and more people get on to the site, your audience reach will expand and you can expand it even more by offering giveaways and promotions.  It’s a great site for anyone who owns a business!

Hilary JM Topper, MPA, has nearly 30 years of public relations, advertising and marketing experience, having worked at the leading PR/Ad firms in the country including Ogilvy & Mather/PR, Ruder Finn/PR and Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmpolus/PR.  In March 1992, Hilary founded HJMT COMMUNICATIONS, LLC, a boutique Public Relations, Social Media, Event Planning & Graphic Design Agency.   The agency is located in Manhattan, Long Island and in Rochester, NY.

She has received numerous awards and honors for her accomplishments within the industry from PRWeek, Long Island Business News, Newsday, Girl Scouts of Nassau County, the Communicator, International Association of Business Communicators, Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women, Diversity Business.com and the Stevie Awards.

Hilary is committed to giving back to the community and is a board member of several not-for profit organizations and local community organizations in her hometown.

She is a published author and has given numerous speeches and seminars across the country. She is a blogger, entrepreneur, wife and mother of two. Hilary received her Bachelor of Science degree from Hunter College and her Masters in Public Administration from Baruch College. In her free time, she likes to ski, play golf and go cycling.