Fourquare Application Promotions for Bars and Restaurants

Using Foursquare to promote your Bar, Club or Restaurant

Want to increase traffic through mobile promotions?  There is a mobile application gaining some ground here in Chicago that could be a solid solution to mobile promotions, without costing a dime!  Let’s take a minute to really review the benefits to mobile promotions before we get into this application’s benefits and features.

First of all, the average Chicagoan uses their mobile phone on an average of 3 hours per day.  This does not include phone calls; it includes, texting, video, music, application and downloading or reviewing photos. eMarketer 2009.

We also know that there are now over 100 million mobile internet users in the United States as reported in eMarketer at the end of 2009.   Compared to 165 million home based internet users.

So we know people are on their phones.  We know application downloads are a topic of conversation with any iPhone, Blackberry and Android user.   As we have discussed in previous reports, we know social media is massive and we have discussed the growth of social media gaming. Well, Foursquare has definitely proposed a solution to combine all three trends in the current market:

1. Social Media and profile interaction
2. Mobile Applications
3. Social Media Gaming: Using a point system to create competition between a user and their friends.

Foursquare Screen Shots

Let us review the following: Are people using the application?  How does Foursquare work?  How can I use Foursquare to help promote my bar, club or restaurant?

Foursquare user base?

Foursquare currently has over 500,000 users nationwide with a business check-in every second, reported by Mashable.  There was also a report of 100,000 check-ins within a seven day period.  That is a staggering number, as you can measure the actual usage to users.

So how does it work?

Foursquare allows a user to create an account and link the profile to both his/her Twitter and Facebook.  It will also create a separate Foursquare account for you to follow other Foursquare users.   The application will then locate your position by GPS and display a list of surrounding businesses.  The business can range from retail, restaurants, bars, medical and even CTA bus stops and “L” stops  (400+ check-ins at the Belmont Blue Line stop in Chicago).   The locations are actually built by the users or the businesses, so any type of check-in location can be created.

Once you have located the business you are entering, Foursquare allows you to then check into that business by clicking on the “Check-in” button.  This will then announce your location to your friends, rank you with points and award you with badges for reaching point levels and goals.  Example: Newbie Badge is awarded on your first check-in.

Newbie Badge

Users can also become mayors of your business.  The Foursquare user that checks into your business the most will become Mayor and received the Mayor badge.  This is where you can create special discounts for the Mayor of your business and let the Foursquare users battle it out for the Mayor status to receive that special discount.

Foursquare Mayor Badge

Foursquare also allows users to leave feedback and tips to be  viewed by other Foursquare visitors.  It could mention the service  or to try the steak sandwich, even give a tip on a special deal.   Tips help Foursquare users communicate local deals with each other through the program.  Businesses and tips are only displayed within a users location zone, which seems to be about a one or two mile radius within a users position.

So how can I use Foursqaure to promote?

First of all, the biggest benefit of this program is when Foursquare users check into your location.  The check-in announces to all of the users friends on Foursquare and Facebook, and followers on Twitter.  Massive referral marketing on your business projected within a seconds time.  Second, their visit is then announced to your business, giving you the opportunity to welcome and thank the patron for stopping by your location.  Excellent opportunity for a personal interaction with a customer, visible to all viewers.

Foursquare also allows you to display deals for your business to all Foursquare users in the area.  As the application displays a list of businesses to the user, it will highlight that their is a deal in the area.  Once clicked, it will show the info for your business and list the deal.  Example: All check-ins receive a free soda and the Mayor receives 25% off their bill. The deal is also visible to all visitors to your location before they check-in,  giving them an incentive to announce their present to the business owner and return to your establishment in the future.  Track-able results!

How do I get started with Foursquare and how do I sign-up my business?

Foursquare allows business owners to go to the Foursquare website and claim a business’s location/venue.  Here are the simple steps:

1. Go to Foursquare and search your business
2. Click on your business to display its detailed information
3. Within the business profile page, Click on “Are you the manager of this business?”
4. Follow the steps to claim your location and set-up your discount to be displayed.

Foursquare only lets you list one specific deal but with specific parameters (example: Discount given on every third check-in).  Make sure in the specials description area to list the specific deal for the Mayor of your business too.  (example: Free drink for every third check-in, Mayor receives 50% off their bill, anytime).  This is very important and should be a huge incentive to attract users to your business.  Remember, there can only be one mayor of your business, so give them something to fight over!

Once you register, Foursquare will contact you for final details to your registration and how to change your deal/special at anytime.

If you should have any other questions or need some assistance in any type of online promotion, especially mobile promotions, please e-mail me direct at mikej@myclubcrawler.com.

Thank you for reading and hope you found this article helpful.  Please leave a comment below if you have any questions or feedback.  I love to know what is needed to help build your bar or restaurant’s business, please list any questions so I can help report on those topics.

Thank you again!

Related posts:

1. Interactive Mobile Marketing Systems Its coming, will you be ready? Social Media has begun...
2. Bar Promotions Using Twitter – Part 2 of 2 How to Tweet up your event to gain more than...
3. Bar Promotions Using Twitter – Part 1 of 2 Part 1: #Hashtagging Your Events In Twitter So you...
4. Illinois Bars to Install Video Poker Machines Video Poker Machines to Install in Chicago land Bars...
5. Top 10 Ways to Promote Your Social Media Sites Top 10 Elements to Promoting Your Bar’s Social Media...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.