Yesterday afternoon I was on a geo / location-based twitter rant due to various market research reports and blog post about the value of location-based services and the adoption of them. I’m not saying the research was inaccurate but I think the main message that was being delivered to marketers about the current state of location-based services could have been delivered better. If you have no clue what I’m talking about read the following post:
Study: Foursquare, LBS Apps Have Narrow Audience, Prime For Early Adopter Marketers
Foursquare for Marketing: Location Based Apps Unknown by 84% Surveyed – Forrester
The Case for Early Adoption: Why Forrester is Wrong About Marketers and Location-Based Services
Forrester: Why Most Marketers Should Forgo Foursquare
@waynesutton Wow. Someone is on a location apps kick. Love it. What if I told you I’ve never used ’em. Convince me in 140 chars?
DJ Waldow
djwaldow
Regardless after my little twitter rant, my good friend @djwaldow posted a tweet saying “What if I told you I’ve never used ’em. Convince me in 140 chars?”. So I went I posted two tweets, a little over 140 characters to convince him to join at least one location-based service. Here’s my response: 6 Reasons why you should check-in using location-based services:
1. Checking in is an additional relationship channel. Everyone loves social media/networks especially Facebook because it builds relationship and connects people right? By checking in your friends can easily see your frequent places and can join you and/or have the opportunity to perictipte in in
2. Location endorsement: When you check into a location and broadcast via twitter or facebook it’s like an endorsement saying I’m here and you recommend the location. What happens in terms of customer engagement/your experience can be easily shared making the location space another valuable social channel not only for businesses but for marketers as well.
3. Exploration when Traveling: Yelp is probably one of the best at finding new places and reading reviews from your social graph or the local community. Then I would say foursquare but if you’re in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area use TriOut. Checking into locations while traveling is not only a great way to meet new friends but you can easily see the most popular recommended locations from the community.
4. Mobile social story telling: My friend @schneidermike calls this the “post check-in experience” (PCE). With location-based apps such TriOut, PegShot, Whrrl, Birghtkite & Gowalla you can add additional social content outside of a text based message like a tweet. By uploading pictures or videos after checking in your friends can see more of what you’re experiencing at a location.
5. Tracking/Stalking: If you’re comfortable with random people showing up just to say hello or joining you for coffee, feel free to check-in everywhere. Also depending on your family or work, you can check-in and use it as a way of confirming that you’re where you’re suppose to be.
6. Customer rewards: This by far is one of the most popular reasons many are joining location-base services and why not? You’re already visiting a location, why not check-in and be rewarded for it. It could be 5 to 10% off your purchase or a free drink or a coupon or cash with apps like @WeReward. But the problem right now is that many businesses have yet to offer a customer loyalty location promotions and the growing geek herds are getting impatient. Give the location-based space some time and you’ll have more customer loyalty check-in promotions that you can use.
Do you use TriOut, Foursquare, Brightkite, Whrrl, Gowalla, Scvngr, PlacePop or other location-based services to check-in? If so why or why not?
Do you think this is enough to convince @djwaldow to join a location-based service?
