Foursquare is a location-based social network, where mobile users “check-in” to
FourSquare users unlock badges based on their check-ins. Becoming “mayor” of a particular venue is the highest honor.
different places, such as stores, restaurants, and events, collecting and unlocking badges that are a sign of influence among peers.
The network is still developing an audience and a full feature set, but early adoption by several news organizations have provided some insight into how others can benefit from the service.
Most news organizations dedicate their accounts to serving as a travel guide, events calendar and news outlet, often posting reviews, upcoming events and breaking news related to specific locations. Others use the site to encourage engagement through games, contests and targeted content.
Some of the most active media organizations on Foursquare include:
Check-in with the FourSquare app for iPhones.
Foursquare Best Practices
Foursquare can be useful as a research tool for journalists.
As users check in to locations, they begin to populate those locations with details and tips, or suggestions for other users who visit the location later. Similar to Yelp.com, Foursquare can provide information on the popularity of a location and show you individuals who may be checked-in in real time. It will also show you the most frequent visitors. The “mayors” of each location could be useful sources during your reporting.
Be careful, however, as Foursquare is used by a more tech-savvy audience and the social media checkins and reviews might not represent the broadest population.
By following active users with several check-ins and badges, journalists can curate a community of active local socialites that could provide on the ground insight into businesses and locations. This could be especially beneficial to arts, entertainment and business reporters.
Checking out tips left by users can also provide additional insight into the location.
When following a subject or preparing for an interview, Foursquare can provide insight into the subject’s recent activity, keeping in mind that check-ins are done manually and can be manipulated.
Foursquare can also be a valuable promotional tool.
When stories involve a particular location, reporters and editors can check in and tweet links to the stories. This promotion technique can work well for public events, entertainment venues and restaurant reviews. Editors can also geotag stories so snippets and links appear on the location’s wall.
Register your news organization under its name, rather than under individual reporters or editors. The thumbnail should include the organization’s logo and sync with social media accounts operated by the news organization.
Foursquare regularly partners with businesses, media and other brands to create custom badges.
Badges are an effective way to get followers involved and can be based on check-ins at a location or around certain themes, contributions to a project, or completion of a set of tasks.
As of early 2011, it appears that only Foursquare can create badges, but anyone can suggest them, through this part of the company’s website.