Foursquare

Yet another new social networking tool that has become utilized more often by small businesses within the last year is Foursquare.  The "checking in" app has allowed businesses to attract new customers and offer discounts to frequent visitors.  Here are a few reasons why this app is very useful for small businesses, and should be adopted more often.

Tech Savvy Individuals Have Influence
Foursquare user are people that really love their neighborhoods, getting out and evangelizing the businesses they love. This tech savvy, early adopter is exactly the kind of consumer business should desire, because they can often times have a large influence on others. Embracing Foursquare and giving these tech leaders the tools to promote your business is just plain smart.

Online, Offline
Foursquare is another way for local business to use the efficient online tools to drive more in-person, offline activity. People are physically checking in to your business and talking about online in what can turn into a tremendously effective one-two punch.

Ability to Make Offers
Currently Foursquare allows just about any business to use their platform to offer deals and promotions to users. You can visit the Foursquare business page to get your business signed up. It’s free for now, but I’m it shoudl probably be a big revenue piece for them in the future.

Track and Reward
Foursquare’s gaming functionality allows businesses to create special promotions for mayors and badge earners and in effect setting up a competition among their most loyal fans.

The Game Aspect
One of the most intriguing aspects of Foursquare is the game. It’s amazing what some folks will do in order to win a game, come in first or, in this case, be the mayor of a popular spot. Gaming and entertainment are huge money winners and any small business that can find ways to add gaming elements tied to patronizing a business may just find a real competitive edge.

Automated CRM data
So many small businesses have little of no way to track customer behavior.  Every business should find ways to capture everything they can about a customer.  Foursquare can provide business owners with check-in stats for users. What this means is that the customer that comes in every day can now be tracked and even incentivized to get a free cup of coffee for every tenth check-in. It’s like the social version of the loyalty card.

Sync with Twitter and Facebook
Like all good social media platforms Foursquare understands the need to integrate with platforms that others already use. Foursquare users have the option to tweet or add a Facebook status update every time they check-in. What this means is that a Facebook user with a few hundred friends might expose your business by way of a Foursquare check-in to thousands of Facebook walls.