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Posted on September 5, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

This Week In Location: The return of the old school, Brightkite + Loopt deals & InCrowd launches in the 1.8 billion industry

Location-Based Apps Names

If you read the same old tech blogs you’ll think it was a light week in the location space. It was light compared to the last two weeks as everyone catches their breath and move forward from the Facebook Places announcement but the location industry was very much active this week as ever. Over the last seven days two of the very first location-based services announced check-in rewards/specials. Brightkite teamed with McDonald’s and Visa and Loopt announced a deal with Virgin wich equaled their fifth largest day ever. Also this week the creators of MyTown, Booyah’s new InCrowd iPhone app was released. InCrowd was first announced during the Facebook Places announcement. My thoughts so far on InCrowd? It’s not for hardcore check-in users. It’s more like an avatar game made for kids who want to check-in, IMHO. Perhaps the biggest news last week was a report saying Location-Based Marketing To Reach $1.8B In 2015 and you wonder why we started TriOut? Speaking of TriOut founder @LawPower posted this week about the future plans for the service along with more version two features. So was it a slow week? No, to catch up here are 41 location-based articles from last week that you may have missed.

Video: Shopkick CEO: Here’s What Sets Us Apart From Foursquare

Posted on September 3, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

Follow Friday: Seven upcoming location-based events you should follow… I mean attend

Location-Based Apps Names

It’s Friday and that means it’s Follow Friday on Twitter but like last week I’m going to do a blog post instead a follow Friday tweet but with a little twist. This week I’m listing events and not just any kind of events but location-based conferences/meetups events. Here are seven upcoming location-based conferences/meetups/events/summits you should follow… I mean attend.

1. NYC Geo/Mobile Hack Day
Friday, September 10, 2010 at 9:00 AM – Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 7:00 PM (ET)
RSVP

2. Location Business Summit USA
September 14-15 2010, Crowne Plaza, San Jose,)
RSVP

3. Social Media Week LA: Location-Based Marketing: To Check-in or Not to Check-in?
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (PT)
RSVP

4. Location Based Marketing Summit
New Yorker Hotel, New York · September 29 – September 30, 2010
RSVP

5. Geo M – The Future of Geo Marketing and Technology
Microsoft New England Research and Development Center · Monday, October 4, 2010
RSVP

6. BlogWorld LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION! Panel
October 14-16, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
RSVP

7. Internet Summit, Location Panel
November 17-18, 2010, Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC
RSVP

I’ll be attending a few of the conferences above, please check-in and say hello if you’re planning to attend. Enjoy your Friday and have a safe weekend.

Posted on August 28, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

This Week in Location: SCVNGR says they will win, Foursquare helps you become the mayor, Foodspotting $ & more

Location-Based Apps Names

Looking back at the last seven days there was no where near the amount of location-based news as there was last week due to Facebook Places announcement but there still was plenty of buzz floating around the location industry. One location-based service this week did stand out over the rest, even the blog/media giant Foursquare and that service was SCVNGR. From the Techcruch post about their secret game mechanics playdeck to their new AT&T partnership. SCVNGR is one LBS to keep an eye on. Not to be left out of the spotlight this week Foursquare updates their Mayor algorithmic and Foursquare founder @Dens was misquoted saying Facebook Places is boring. Yelp also made a little news this week by announcing their group deals as they try to keep up with not only the other location-based services but Groupon too.

Another location-based service called Foodspotting received funding this week and TriOut continues pound away with version two of their much anticipated iPhone app with another video sneak peek. Also this week we saw two location twitter hashtag community chats launched. One called #GEOChat and the other @LBSChat. GeoChat is held on Tuesday’s at 2:00 P.M. and #LBSChat on Thursdays’ at 9:00 P.M. Here are 52 location-based articles and videos you may have missed from last week.

Videos:
Seth Priebatsch runs SCVNGR,

TriOut version two beta video uploading features

Really!?! with Mike and Eric: Facebook Places

Location Based Real Time Stalking w/ FourSquare, GoWalla, HTML5 vs Flash CageMatch (Warning profanity used)

SCVNGR

Facebook Places: Google-backed SCVNGR Says It Will Win

SCVNGR’s Secret Game Mechanics Playdeck

AT&T Teams With Location-Based Game SCVNGR To Help Launch Samsung Captivate

SCVNGR Launches Support For Facebook Places

Checking in While Driving? Zipcar Partners with SCVNGR

Foursqure

There is Toyota and there is BMW

Looking into the foursquare crystal ball: 10 things “coming soon” to foursquar

Foursquare building self-serve tool for brand profiles

Facebook Places ‘boring’ says Foursquare chief

In Response to Foursquare’s New Mayor Feature

London’s FourSquare Location Data Mapped

How I Became A Cyber Stalker…On Foursquare…

People Magazine points you toward celebrity hot spots on foursquare

7 Awesome Foursquare infographics showing how users are collecting badges and checking in.

How beneficial is Foursquare for businesses and individuals?

TriOut

5 recent check-in specials from local businesses using TriOut

TriOut v2 Dev Journal: Photo and Video Sharing

New 3rd Party Integration: TriOut

Other Location-Based Services and news

Foodspotting & Zagat Partner to Share Restaurant Photos and Guides

It’s Still Too Early to Value Location Services, Businesses Say

TIME’s 50 Best Websites 2010: Gowalla Picked over Foursquare?

Start Location-Based Conversations With Qilroy

Sneak Peak at Yelp Deals

Facebook Places: What are Facebook users saying about Places one week later

Amid LBS Storm, Booyah’s MyTown Hits 3.1M Users With 15M Checkins Per Week

Why Loyalty and Mobile Marketing is the Future for Retail

Location, Permission, and Receptivity

The Price Isn’t Always Right: How Courting Customer Loyalty Through Discounts Fails

Geo-location and Privacy: A Subtle Balance

Grindr – A Gay Location Based Service

the race to 1,000 rewards

Yelp Officially Testing Yelp Deals

The Booty Call Goes Mobile

Facebook Places: The McDowell’s of LBS

Location Based Real Time Stalking w/ FourSquare, GoWalla, HTML5 vs Flash CageMatch

Foodspotting Investors Put Their Money Where Their Mouths Are With $750K Seed Round

Why the future of mobile is hyper local

LBS for Close Friends and Family Only

Facebook Launched Places to Bore Me Silly

Exclusive interview with the AARP: How the 50+ crowd sees geolocation and social media

Why Location-Based Social Media Needs to Get “Passive” Aggressive

Two Types of Consumers Are Using Check-in Apps: Hyperactive and Hyperpassive

Beyond Foursquare: 5 Location-Based Apps for Your Small Business

What location-based services, brands and marketers need to know from 11 tweets of #GEOChat one

9 location-based infographics showing how and why the mobile world is checking in

TappLocal Ads Coupons & Rewards To Existing iPhone & Android LBS Apps

Follow Friday: The Location Edition. 15 twitter users to follow who’s all about location

House Hunters Stickers from HGTV

Should Hollywood Begin Rewarding the Most Frequent Moviegoers?

Waze Review and $25 Gas Gift Card Giveaway!

GetGlue, Miso and Philo: Check-in apps for couch potatoes

Posted on August 27, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

Follow Friday: The Location Edition. 15 twitter users to follow who’s all about location.

It’s Friday and you know what that means! Follow Friday on Twitter. Millions are tweeting with the hashtag #FF or #followfriday. There are so many people to suggest to follow on Twitter I usually avoid it. But this week due to all of the location conversations between #GEOChat and #LBSChat I decided to post a Follow Friday location edition blog post. Hat-tip to Chris Brogan for the blog idea.

Follow Friday the Location Edition:

If you’re looking for Twitter list to keep up with the growing list of location-based apps and other geo related news here are 10 geo location Twitter list to follow.

http://twitter.com/ericleebow/geo-location-services by @ericleebow
http://twitter.com/Scobleizer/geolocation by @Scobleizer
http://twitter.com/lawrencecoburn/geolocation by @lawrencecoburn
http://twitter.com/jeffcarroll/location-checkin by @jeffcarroll
http://twitter.com/jasonbirch/geo by @jasonbirch
http://twitter.com/GeoEntelechy/geo by @GeoEntelechy
http://twitter.com/tlists/gis-geolocation by @tlists
http://wefollow.com/twitter/location by @wefollow
http://wefollow.com/twitter/geo by @wefollow
http://mashable.com/twitterlists/tech-science/gis-geolocation by @Mashable

Who are your favorite person to follow on Twitter for location-based news?

Posted on August 26, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

7 Awesome Foursquare infographics showing how users are collecting badges and checking in.

Earlier this week I posted 9 location-based infographics showing how and why the mobile world is checking in, not including a series of Foursquare infographics I’ve seen around the web. Foursquare data and how people are using the platform ranges from how many checkins are created by various communities to what if President Obama used Foursquare. It seems people who love createing infographics love Foursquare too therefore I deiced to have a separate post for Foursquare infographics. If you’re a data and/or Foursquare fanboy/lady here are seven awesome Foursquare infographics showing how users are collecting badges and checking in.

1. Foursquare Check-In Analysis: July 11th through July 17th

Via: Trendrr

2. London’s FourSquare Location Data Mapped [Infographic]

Via: thenextweb

3. Top 10 Most Popular Foursquare Badges [Infographic]

Via: Hubspot

4. INFOGRAPHIC: If Obama Used Foursquare

Via: ReadWriteWeb

5. Ogilvy On: Foursquare For Business

Via: ogilvyprworldwide

6. Foursquare & Central London Transport [Infographic]

Via: Advertising Aphasia

7. Foursquare vs. Gowalla: Who’s Winning the Geolocation War? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Via: Mashable

You can find me on Foursquare here: http://foursquare.com/user/waynesutton

Posted on August 26, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

Facebook Places: What are Facebook users saying about Places one week later

Uploaded with plasq‘s Skitch!

It has been one week since Mark Zuckerberg along with the Facebook Location team stood on stage, told us scary stories about sharing life experiences around locations and announced Facebook Places. The announcement sent ripples through the location space as Foursquare, Gowalla, Yelp and MyTown each had a moment to share how excited they were to see Facebook launch Places and how they we’re early beta testers of the places read/write API. After months of rumors and dealing with a backlash of privacy concerns from previous updates Facebook Places was now live. You can now visit touch.Facebook.com or launch the Facebook iPhone to preform the following seven core Facebook Places task and more.

1. Create a location
2. Check into a location
3. Tag a friend and check them into a location
4. Like a location
5. Comment on a location
6. Claim a location if you’re a business
7. Mark a location a duplicate or inaccurate

As expected some have called Facebook places a Foursquare killer, others have said Facebook Places main target is Google and Yelp. It was misquoted that Foursquare founder @Dens called Facebook places boring although a lot of people tend to agree with the statement and more have said, Facebook Places just misses point altogether. Regardless Facebook Places is hear to stay and being used by early adapters, geeks and users who would never checked in before via another location-based service. I asked via a Facebook Status Update the question “Has anyone stopped using other check-in/location based apps since Facebook Places was announced”? Here are a few of the responses:

Adam Holden-Bache Nope and don’t plan to. Just add it to the list of check-in apps. Wondering how this category is going to play out. I figure we’ll start seeing some services merge, others drop off, etc. Anyone have any projections?
Anjuan Simmons Nope. Foursquare is still my location based service of choice.
Herb Hernandez No still using multiple. But I’m seeing people who NEVER used Foursquare or Gowalla (for example) now checking in on Facebook.
Ryan Boyles No. still haven’t tried Place yet. I just got my new iPhone 4 last night. Using Triout only for now.
L Curtis Muldrew Still using Foursquare
Roger Benningfield I quit messing with Foursquare and Gowalla a long time ago, since no one I knew actually used either. But having similar capability in FB means checking in actually has an impact on people who might care.
Corvida Raven No in fact I forgot to use both of them today.
Anjuan Simmons ‎@Corvida: You raise a great point. Location based services won’t be adopted by the masses until they become easier to use. There is no reason why these services can’t automatically check me into places I frequently visit. They should also recommend nearby places to visit. Smartphones know where I am and apps need to do a better job of using that information.
Niguel Valley I still use nope Gowalla.

Also here a six must read blog post about Facebook Places

Since the launch of Facebook Places how are you using it and do you see value in checking in?

Posted on August 25, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

What location-based services, brands and marketers need to know from 11 tweets of #GEOChat one

Original graphic by Jess3!

Yesterday kicked off the first #GEOChat about all things location on Twitter. It started at 2:00 P.M. EST and lasted to 3:00 P.M. During #GEOChat I asked four different questions and received a lot of great feedback from location-based fanboys/ladies and a few from existing location platforms such as Pegshot and TriOut. You can read a full archive of #GEOChat via the TriOut blog here: #GEOChat one Archive .

Below are the four questions I asked during #GEOChat:
1. Who’s using Facebook Places as their primary location-based service?
2. What is your number one concern about privacy using location-based apps & what apps has the best privacy features?
3. What will drive the success of location-based services in the future? Gaming or group buying or coupons and why?
4. What features not in your favorite location-based service you would like to see implemented?

There were a lot of great tweets/feedback from the #GEOChat participates and if I was location-based service, brand or an agency I would pay close attention to what users are saying about the location space. Here are a few highlighted tweets from #GEOChat.

What I want is real-time, geo-specific, personally-relevant information (content) about what’s happening around me #geochat @MomentFeedTue Aug 24 18:26:22 via TweetDeckMax Gladwell
maxgladwell

A3: Gaming is only sustainable for a small subset. Discount promos and long-term customer engagement will drive growth. #geochatTue Aug 24 18:29:04 via TweetDeckCarissa O’Brien
CarissaO

Consumers don’t care about the app or technology. They care only about the value and relevance of the deal! #geochatTue Aug 24 18:31:47 via TweetChatAsif Khan
AsifRKhan

I anticipate a tradeoff Privacy for Relevance via mobile shopping. Mobile banking will change the meaning of loyalty #geochatTue Aug 24 18:51:19 via TweetDeckDeanna Lawrence
DeannaLawrence

@waynesutton I’d like to be able to private message people on Foursquare via the Android app. Don’t think I can do that now. #geochatTue Aug 24 18:57:32 via TweetDeckMatthew Gallizzi
notixtech

I’ve seen many of my non-tech friends trying Facebook Places where they hadn’t used any other LBS before #geochatTue Aug 24 18:05:17 via TweetDeckMomentFeed
MomentFeed

@HarrisonPainter @ripsup and value for the masses is discounts, coupons or cash rewards…virtual “dukedoms” only lasts for so long #geochatTue Aug 24 18:57:40 via TweetDeckShannonRenee
ShannonRenee

@waynesutton Places is pretty lame as is IMHO, I don’t plan on using it. Will stick with @gowalla, @foursquare, and of course @trioutTue Aug 24 18:08:37 via TweetDeckLucas Myers
unthunk

Q5 biggest “features” missing from LBS? real value, non-gimmickable need, 1000 more experiments to see what sticks #geochatTue Aug 24 19:00:34 via Seesmic twhirlDan Rockwell
floozyspeak

RT @AsifRKhan Brands need to think LBS in the context of a multi-channel media buy that’s location-centric. #geochat [savvy guy]Tue Aug 24 19:01:44 via Tweetie for MacGregg Morris
greggvm

Q1: Foursquare is still my primary LBS. Facebook’s “places” database isn’t as accurate. #geochatTue Aug 24 18:06:01 via TweetChatMike Templeton
miketempleton

@waynesutton Shopkick has carved out a nice niche. But it will be limited by implementation & adoption. Still powerful #geochatTue Aug 24 18:52:38 via TweetDeckMomentFeed
MomentFeed

Again, thank you to everyone who participated. Next week we’re going to cover a slew of new location-based apps, QR Codes and mobile coupons during #GEOChat.

Looking for more location-based conversations on Twitter? @LBSchat will be starting this Thursday at 9:00 P.M. and/or join us for #GEOChat two next Tuesday.

Posted on August 25, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

5 recent location-based check-in specials from businesses using TriOut

TriOut: Places to Go, People to Meet and Things To Do in the Triangle

TriOut For Business (TFB) is a location-based check-in analytics dashboard for businesses who would like to communicate with their customers. TriOut for business also works as a GEO customer relationship management (CRM) platform that allows businesses to set up first time check-in specials, loyalty programs and coupons. I like to call it “Google Analytics” for people. TFB was launched in July, via the TriOut blog post here “TriOut for Business is Now Live” and since then we have worked with several companies launching location-based promotions.

One of the goals of TFB was to make it a self-service platform so businesses large and small with little time could easily verify and manage their location page on the TriOut platform. We’re really excited about the platform and looking forward to see more local businesses offer check-in/loyalty programs to their customers. Here are five recent location-based check-in specials from businesses using TriOut.

1. Electric Beanz Coffee Bar – @electricbeanz
“Show us that you checked in and get 10% off your order”

2. Market Restaurant – @MarketRaleigh
“Every 3rd check-in, get a free glass of wine or bottled beer”

3. Ruckus Pizza Pasta & Spirits – @RuckusCary
“Every 5 times you check in you get a free slice of Key Lime Pie!!!”

4. Martin’s Curry Rice – @MartinCurryRice
“Every 5 times you check in your drink is on the house”

5. Carole Hoffman, CNDP Holistic Health – @carolehoffman
“Just for checking in, we’d like to offer you a 10% rate reduction off of your first visit.”

Creating a check-in special is simple with TriOut, take a look at the TriOut for business video demo:

If you’re a business and would setup a coupon or first time check-in special for your customers using TriOut visit http://trioutnc.com/business/. To see other TriOut specials visit: http://trioutnc.com/specials

What are your favorite geo/location check-in specials/coupons you have seen?

Posted on August 24, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

#GEOChat Starts today on Twitter at 2:00 P.M. EST, Discussing all things location

Original graphic by Jess3!

Topical Twitter hashtags conversations started a few years ago with #journchat by @prsarahevans. Now we have #b2bchat, #aptchat, #smchat, #blogchat and more. Today I’m pleased to announced #GEOchat starting today at 2:00 P.M. EST on Twitter. #GEOChat will cover all things location/geo related offline and online. The discussion will cover your favorite location-based applications such as Foursquare, whrrl, brightkite, Gowalla, TriOut, Facebook Places, MyTown and more. Other topics we’re going to cover will be privacy, API application mashups, offline marketing of location-based campaigns, and how does the entire GEO spaces affect businesses today.

To participate in #GEOChat setup your Twitter search for the hashtag #GEOChat at 2:00 P.M. EST and I’ll start the conversations off with about three questions and depending on your answers the chat will last for 30 minutes. If the conversation last longer, we’ll continue to 3:00 P.M. EST. In the future there will be guest host from other location-based platforms and marketing agencies leading in the location-based marketing space.

Kicking off #GEOChat here are a few of the questions we’re going to ask during #GEOChat:

1. If you’re a longtime user of other location-based apps are you now using Facebook Places as your primary LBS?

2. What is your number one concern about privacy using location-based apps?

3. What will drive the success of location-based services in the future? Gaming or group buying or coupons and why?

4. Outside of Facebook Places what new location-based service has impressed you? Ex. ShopKick, BarCode Hero, Hotlist, Picplz?

5. What features not in your favorite location-based service you would like to see implemented?

If you have suggestions/questions/topics for #GEOChat please let me know in the comments and I’ll tweet you at 2:00 P.M. for #GEOChat

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Wayne Sutton helps individuals, startups and businesses succeed in understanding how to communicate on the social web via brand strategy, social networks and location-based services. Wayne is the business development/marketing strategist for TriOut and partner at OurHashtag.