Connecting with customers through Foursquare
December 22, 2011 By Dave Koehler

If you've never heard of Foursquare, Wikipedia offers this definition:

Foursquare, stylized as foursquare, is a location-based social networking website for mobile devices, such as smartphones. Users "check-in" at venues using a mobile website, text messaging or a device-specific application by selecting from a list of venues the application locates nearby. Location is based on GPS hardware in the mobile device or network location provided by the application. Each check-in awards the user points and sometimes "badges".

While this may seem like a silly mobile phone game for teenagers, it actually has potential as a tool for businesses that have a store. With Foursquare's Merchant Platform, you claim your business, and then they verify your listing either by phone or mail. Once that is complete, you can set up specials (for free) where you reward customers who check in by giving them a discount or exclusive deal of some kind.

If you are interested in trying it out, or learning more, head over to the Foursquare Website.