When people want information, they don’t have to fire up their laptop or log on to their computer. Nope, information is even more accessible now thanks to 3G cell phones that give users an instant Internet connection. If you’re a brick-and-mortar business and want to tap into a new client stream, look no further than the 280 million people who use their cell phones to tell them everything from what to buy to where to eat. If you’re a local merchant and want to reach out to visitors in your area, there are some new applications that make it very easy to join the local online scene.
Gowalla and Foursquare
Gowalla and Foursquare are 3G phone applications where users add locations and tell their friends about their real-time location. The applications are structured as online games, where users earn virtual badges or points for posting and using the services. In Foursquare, you can become “Mayor” of a certain location by posting regularly; on Gowalla you can be named the “Founder.”
Your business can benefit from adding its location to the application because locations within the services are searchable. When someone from out of town is looking for a place to eat, for example, the app lists local restaurants that have been added to Gowalla, along with the tips and recommendations posted by users who have eaten there. Geotagging capability is even more useful giving you the ability to reach out to shoppers in your vicinity.
For example, let’s say you own the clothing shop around the corner from a restaurant where someone is eating and checking in on Gowalla or Foursquare. When they check in you can generate an invitation that lets them know that while they’re in the area, it’s a good time to stop by your clothing shop and see the latest styles. You can even offer them a discount for coming in. If someone is the Mayor or Founder of your location, you can offer them special discounts because of the frequency of their visits to your location and the marketing service they are providing you. Getting started is easy.
Step One
Create a free account at Gowalla.com and Foursquare.com and check in from your business location to put it on the map. Gowalla requires you to enter an address; Foursquare relies on GPS information to pinpoint your location.
Step Two
See who else has visited your location and what they’re saying about you and check out what other nearby locations people are visiting. Reach out and invite; eventually, you’ll be able to buy advertising that specifically targets people based on their location using these geographically oriented applications.
Step Three
Set up your Gowalla and Foursquare accounts to automatically update your Twitter and Facebook, broadening your reach. The key to success in every business is visibility. Whether you’re a brick-and-mortar retailer catering to a small, local community or an online merchant, people are most likely going to find you first through web-based applications. Gowalla and Foursquare simply take advantage of GPS and 3G technology to make it happen.
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Photo credit: Jason McArthur
