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Foursquare, launched in 2009, is a social application that encourages people to discover interesting things around them. This application asks users to “check-in” to their current location(s), in order to show foursquare friends where and when he or she has checked in. There is also an “off the grid” option that allows the foursquare user to check in to the application, without making it known to their foursquare friends where he or she is. 

Businesses are utilizing this social application in an attempt to encourage more foot traffic and promote customer loyalty. For example, a person may enter Starbucks and check into Foursquare, making his or her location known to their foursquare friends. Starbucks might then issue a $2.00-off coupon to that person via cell phone. This coupon rewards the Foursquare user for going to Starbucks, thus encouraging others to do the same (whether to get the coupon or because their friend went there).

Site traffic on Foursquare increased between January 2010 and July 2010 from 200,000 to almost 2 million monthly visitors (compete.com). However, as of August 18, 2010, Foursquare met a substantial competitor, as Facebook launched a similar feature to their site. The feature is called “places” and allows users to check into a place. By checking in, users see where their Facebook friends are checked into and whether they are at that same location or a place nearby. Watch the video below to learn what this application can do for you:

As we move forward in the world of social networking and its benefits, Facebook Places and Foursquare are two items you might want to keep an eye on. They keep people connected to friends and, more importantly, people connected to your business; sharing their real world experiences in the online social world. It’s true what they say: Everything happens somewhere. And you don’t want to miss what’s going on.