No, that's not a desperate cry for help (though it could be, if you want it to be). I need friends for Foursquare!
Back in December, I asked whether people thought I should join Foursquare (no, not the church). Didn't get a lot of response, and nobody chimed in and said "Cool! You should! I'm on it too!"
However, after further thinking about it, I decided to take the plunge and join, just to test it out.
So what do I need help with? As the Mashable article I quote in the original post says:
"Using Foursquare by yourself is like playing tennis alone. The fun lasts about three seconds. In geekier terms, it’s like having zero followers and following no people on Twitter. To get value from Foursquare, your friends need to be in on the action, too. Then you can use the app to meet up, share tips, and find stuff to do with when you’re bored, among other things."
So I need friends to join so that I am not talking to myself. What is Foursquare, you might ask? To quote the Foursquare page:
"People use foursquare to "check-in", which is a way of telling us your whereabouts. When you check-in someplace, we'll tell your friends where they can find you and recommend places to go & things to do nearby. People check-in at all kind of places - cafes, bars, restaurants, parks, homes, offices.
You'll find that as your friends use foursquare to check-in, you'll start learning more about the places they frequent. Not only is it a great way to meet up with nearby friends, but you'll also start to learn about their favorite spots and the new places they discover."
As you travel around, you'll find tips that other users have left for restaurants, hotels, and the like. For example, if you go to Red Robin and check in, you can leave a tip like "You have to get the Banzai Burger! It's to die for."
The cool thing about it is that businesses are starting to catch on. If you become the "mayor" of some places (that means you've had the most check-ins from that place over the last two months), you might get a discount. Some businesses offer deals just for those who check in. When I checked in at the theater the other day, I received a notice of a Foursquare deal at a Thai place a couple of blocks away. It was only good in the afternoon, but if you checked in there, you would get the discount.
You can download the Foursquare app for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry, so you can always be connected.
It's all quite interesting, but I'm lonely. I need friends.
Can you come out to play?
Also, any tips from other users would be greatly appreciated.
Oh, and just to add: apparently Foursquare is available "everywhere" now. So those of you in small towns have no excuse.
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wow, what an interesting concept. Not much use for me in regional Australia but I get it. Something else to store away in my mind for later.
ReplyDeleteYeah... posting on the internet about where I like to hang out is, in my situation, like ASKING to have a stalker. I don't think I'll be joining Foursquare anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteSee, that's why you have to choose your friends carefully. Only your friends see your check-ins, though I suppose if you do it enough to become mayor, then it becomes obvious. :)
ReplyDeleteHere's a great article, written when it first started, that gives a lot of the perks of the program:
http://mashable.com/2009/07/25/foursquare-app/
I hadn't ever heard of this. It's a smart marketing tool for local businesses, I'll say that much. Being one of the last holdouts against becoming absorbed into the dreaded BlackBerry Nation, it isn't something I'd be likely to embrace. It would be just one more thing hanging over my head to click on and keep track of.
ReplyDeleteI can see how certain people would really enjoy it though. It's a good networking opportunity and gives you a chance to meet new friends. I'd be hesitant to broadcast my activities for the same reasons Jenn mentioned. That aside, it sounds like it's a popular idea.
Dave, I hope you get some new peeps to join in with you!
~ Dawn
I have foursquare - you can add me as a friend. :)
ReplyDeleteMelissa! That's what I'm talking about. :)
ReplyDeleteNow, question:
How do you do that? LOL Especially because I just did a "find people" using my Facebook friends, and you didn't show up as a choice.
Help? :)
And Dawn, the cool thing about it is that you only broadcast where you are to your friends. The only thing you might broadcast to the world at large is where you have been in the past. If you leave a tip at Red Robin on December 18, for example, they only know that you were there at that time.
But I understand the reluctance.
Melissa
ReplyDeleteFound you, through my Gmail contacts, though it didn't through Twitter or Facebook. You probably have a better idea than I do for why that is. :)
Dave, I would love to help,and it does sound like a great idea, however I live in a very rural area, and don't really think it would hold much value for me. Not to mention the fact that, with living in a rural area, when I do leave and go to other larger places, the appeal for me is that people don't know my every step. lol
ReplyDeleteBest of luck for you to find other friends to help you out though. :)
Thank you for the comment, Quiet Waters (Can I call you Quiet? LOL)
ReplyDeleteI completely understand.