Looking for a new way to boost your business and engage your increasingly mobile customers? Learn more about foursquare.

By:  Laura LeBrun, Communications and Marketing Manager

What is Foursquare?

Foursquare is a location-based web and mobile application that allows users to connect with friends and update their location. Users "check-in" at venues using a mobile website, text messaging or a device-specific application.  They are then awarded points and "badges" for visiting establishments.  Users can choose to have their check-ins posted on their accounts on Twitter, Facebook or both if they choose.  Badges are rewarded for checking in at locations with certain tags, for check-in frequency or for other patterns such as time of check-in.

If a user has checked-in to a venue on more days than anyone else in the past 60 days they will be crowned "Mayor" of that venue, until someone else earns the title by checking in more times than the previous mayor. Users can also create a "To Do" list for their private use and add "Tips" to venues that other users can read.

As of June 2010 the website had 1.3 million users.

What can Foursquare do for my business?

Foursquare encourages people to explore their neighborhood and frequent local establishments.  By offering the rewards of mayorship, badges, etc. users are encouraged to return again and again.  Additionally, users' posts are public for their foursquare friends to see, as well as on facebook and twitter, therefore spreading word of mouth even further.

As a business owner, use foursquare to entice your customers with foursquare "Specials."  These special can include discounts and prizes offered to customers when they check in on foursquare at your venue.  Special prizes for your business' Mayor are also a good idea.  Offer a discount or a free item with purchase to your Mayor. By encouraging the competition you'll increase your customer's desire to return.  Additionally, businesses that offer foursquare specials to their customers, will be able to track how their venue is performing with the site's free venue analytics.

Learn more about using foursquare for business and creating specials by clicking here.