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Social Media Savvy: Foursquare

Thanks for looking at another installment of Social Media Savvy! We’ve previewed Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook so far, and we took a break last week to look at TED.com as a resource for creativity. This week, I want to introduce you to location-aware social networks.

Gen Y is really starting to adopt these types of applications to let their friends know where they are, leave tips on great restaurants or connect with other social media contacts in real life. Today, we’re going to look specifically at Foursquare so that you’re aware of another way Gen Y might learn about you and your company.

Foursquare hit the scene in March 2009 at the famous SXSW conference in Austin, TX and received rave reviews. Mashable, a go-to site for all things social media, has even proposed that it might be the next Twitter. Dennis Crowley created the application for users to earn “badges,” check into locations, add tips and become “mayors.” In Foursquare, it’s all about personalizing your daily routine and sharing it with the world.

Badges, Tips and Mayors…Oh My!

So, what is all the commotion about badges and becoming a “mayor”? Each Foursquare user has a profile that is generally linked to their Twitter or Facebook feed. They go to different locations and “check in” using the application on their phone. For instance, say I go to Starbucks at a specific location a lot. As I grab my grande, skinny, no foam latte, I can open up Foursquare and it populates a list of locations that are close to where my phone’s GPS says I am standing. I click “Check-in” and opt to tell my friends on Twitter where I am.

Once I select my location, I can view tips from others who have visited that restaurant or museum. Users often post something as simple as “don’t get the chai-latte here- it is weak” or “make sure to get a frequent buyer card.” These tidbits of information can prove to be very helpful if you’re trying out a new restaurant and want reviews.

Once I have my Starbucks drink in hand and have selected the exact Starbucks store I’m in, I can add a tweet to my Foursquare check-in, such as “Afternoon pick-me-up.” When it posts on Twitter, it has my description and also says my location and gives a map that displays where I am. It also tells me if other people have checked in at that same location. So, if I want to connect with people who also frequent that coffeehouse, I can.

Your final product is a tweet like this:

Afternoon pick-me-up. I think I need the coffee more than ever. (@ Filter Coffeehouse & Espresso Bar w/ 2 others) http://4sq.com/ckd4n5

The Game

Foursquare does turn into a bit of friendly competition. You get a certain amount of points per check-in and then, if you register yourself at a specific location most, you become the Mayor. For Gen Y’ers, this concept plays to their competitive nature quite easily.

Watch Out for Privacy

Because Foursquare is a location-based social network, it opens the gamut of possiblities for privacy problems. As with any social network, be safe. Users are encouraged to decide whether or not they should broadcast their location. If you are social media manager at your company and your employees are using Foursquare, advise them with caution knowing that users can track where other users can be found.

This isn’t your typically elementary school game – it’s a whole new phenomenon. For employers, it is best to be aware of this social network and be able to talk about it when Gen Y asks. If you want to join in the game, jump on in!

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