In a world where social media is so crucial to promoting businesses, it's no surprise that the mobile app, Foursquare, has made such a splash. If you're a business owner who isn't familiar with Foursquare, it's not too late to get the ball rolling.
Foursquare is a mobile app which enables customers, or players, to check in at various local businesses to earn points, badges and the title of mayor. Because it is a geo-location app, users interact in real time so both friends and business owners can see their location. Although Foursquare is a highly beneficial app for consumers to find local businesses, it is just as favorable for business owners.
Why should you integrate Foursquare into your sales strategy? Let's break it down:
It's free advertising: You may be thinking, well, so is Facebook and other social media outlets. But Foursquare offers a new way to advertise. For instance, if you own a deli in a small town, customers most likely won't visit your Facebook page unless you personally make them aware of a coupon or deal. However, people on Foursquare are actively looking for businesses; therefore, your presence alone on the app will only improve sales. Once your business is listed on Foursquare, there are many ways to generate more business.
It shows that you care about your customers: Any successful business owner will tell you that business-customer relations is one of the most important factors in maintaining or expanding sales. Simply put: customers want to feel a sense of comfort and community, and businesses that frequently interact with customers give them exactly that. A presence on Foursquare not only spreads awareness of your business, but it also shows customers that you want to know them. By utilizing one of the most up-to-date forms of social media, customers see that you are progressive and well-connected to popular social trends.
It increases sales in a game-like manor: Other than the fact that your presence creates a sense of community, there are also opportunities to offer deals that will keep people coming back.
The title of mayor: In order for a customer to earn this title, they must be the most frequent visitor of your business in a given period of time. Businesses can entice people to pursue the mayor title by offering mayor-only deals. If you own a coffee shop, you could give the mayor a free cup of coffee once a week, or even present them with a larger prize. This will not only urge customers to become the next mayor, but also spread business awareness by word of mouth. If your friend is the mayor of a bar downtown and gets free beer all weekend, chances are that everyone in your circle of friends will hear about it.
Specials: Business owners can also offer specials for different customers. There are newbie specials for first-time customers, loyalty specials for customers who visit X amount of times, friend specials for those who come with X number of friends, flash specials which are limited-time offers and swarm specials, which require a minimum number of check-ins during a certain time period to unlock the special. Each of these specials encourages customers to visit your business, while increasing customer loyalty with the deals and freebies they'll receive. The competitive nature of the specials keeps customers engaged with both friends and businesses in a completely new, innovative way.
Badges: Customers can earn an array of unique badges for not only visiting businesses, but performing certain tasks. Restaurant owner Joe Sorge is a perfect example of Foursquare utilization to the fullest. His restaurant offered the "I'm on a Boat" badge, which required customers to check- in and sit in a kayak. As simplistic as the event was, Sorge's restaurant acquired more than 231 check-ins in one day. Similarly, the days following the event were also highly-populated. Badges not only drive sales, but also create a fun environment for customers and friendly competition for friends.
It helps you learn about your customers: Foursquare offers a dashboard which holds information regarding customer statistics. The dashboard shows the number of daily check-ins, most recent visitors, male to female ratio, sharing of location on other social media sites and the time of day people check in. This information is invaluable because it gives business owners the power to pinpoint their customer demographic and create deals and specials that will appeal to their target consumers. It also provides businesses with the information necessary to expand their customer base by offering specials that will appeal to different parts of the population.
In conclusion...
Foursquare is the epitome of progressive social media marketing. With free advertising, business-customer interaction and a little friendly competition, Foursquare is a brilliant way to give both customers and business owners the optimal sales experience.