Why brands should engage in managing Foursquare accounts!

I just recently created my personal Foursquare account and am excited every time I get to check-in to a new venue.   When I check-in upon arriving, I often face questions from friends regarding Foursquare.  I take this opportunity to tell them about the positive effects of getting involved with the new network and the thrill of it being a competition among consumers.

 Foursquare automatically sets up accounts for venues, but often venues do not actively manage their accounts.  This is unfortunate for customers because in order for a discount to be activated, the business must get involved.

 So why is NOW the best time?

If consumers are now learning about Foursquare, companies need to be actively maintaining their Foursquare presence.  Businesses can encourage involvement among users and compete to be the most ‘checked-in’ hot spot.

 What can this do for your venue?

As consumers compete to be the most loyal customer at your business, you can reward them for their loyalty.  For example, award “The Mayor” (customer who has checked-in the most) with a free appetizer on Fridays or a free side of fries with their meal.  Use incentives like this to create competition among users and encourage visits to your business.

 Now, Take action.

Heard about ‘Foursquare + Your Business’?  This is a free program developed by Foursquare to record the statistics of customers checking in to your venue.  It sends messages with information about your most loyal customers and allows you to set and manage the special offers you create.  Check it out: http://foursquare.com/businesses/

Don’t miss this opportunity to be actively engaged with your customers. The fun in this is the competition, so keep those specials rolling and the most loyal customers will never let you down!