Find ... Follow ... #WTF?! Guide to Location Based Social Media
Friday, March 26, 2010 at 2:55PMSOOO first you got on the myspace. Then someone asked if they could find you on the Facebook ... and then you heard about this thing called the Twitter .... when all along, you were just wondering how this was any different than the google?
Trust me, we're not any smarter than you. This is just our passion, and the nerdy folk just don't stop. So now, you're hearing all about the Foursquare. We should find you on there? So we can follow you on Twitter? ... stop scratching your head, and here's a quick 411 on only the bits you need to know.
Foursquare is location based social media. It is an app you can download on your smartphone, or an SMS you can send that enables you to "check-in" at various locations you visit throughout the day via your GPS signal and leave tips.
Why is this cool?
Because of these reasons ...
- It is information when you need it. No really, you don't even realize how cool the tip feature is until you use it.
Perfect example, I went to Urth Cafe a few months back and was debating between an Americano and Latte. When I arrived at my location (Foursquare picks up your GPS) I checked in, and viewed via the tips screen that the foam at Urth was out of this world. What did I order? The latte ... and it was AH-MAZING
It is information when you need it, while you need it. You don't have to sit there and remember back from two month ago someone said you needed to try something while you were at somewhere and bahhh!! Nope, you remember the place, and Foursquare stores the tips!
- All your friends are on your radar screen - LITERALLY
Think of how many times you've talked to your friends and heard, wow dude (er, dudette) I had no idea you were over there. I was right next door ... blah blah blah ....
WELL! Even if you didn't think of inviting your friend by checking in, you can enable a notification to be posted as a tweet or Facebook status update. Translation: All of the people you dig will know where you are, and you save a crap ton of text messaging time. You can also view who else has checked in at any given location enabling a pretty cool introduction to meet new peeps.
I can only imagine that Pick up Line O' el Dia ... Dude: hey baby, did you I'm the mayor of this establishment. Chick: no you're not .... Dude: oh not (insert club name) I meant my pants.
*drumroll and cymball*
This is all pretty cool stuff guys. And I know, I know, you'll always have the freak a leaks who think the boogie man is going to come and get you, or the hamburgler is totally about to rob you of all your burgs chillin in the fridge. Get over it guys. Back in the 70s people were also afraid of printing funeral notices due to the fact that it meant the entire family would be attending. What a JOKE! BAH!!
This is a revolution guys. Information when you need it, while it is applicable to you - oh yeah AND you advertise your location enabling pretty cool advertising for businesses that may not otherwise be able to afford it. Think about it, social media has turned advertising into an even playing field ... location based social media only magnifies that.
Good stuff guys. Oh yeah, and you get BADGES!!!!!!!!!!!!! What nerd doesnt LOVE BADGES!!!!!! BAH!! AND if you check in enough times to a given location, you can even be named the Mayor! Only you better keep coming back, or you could be ousted. *DOH!*
Find me on Foursquare, and you can track me on the Unapologetically Awesome Spring/ Summer 2010 tour. Oh yeah folks, we're like a kid eating spaghetti ... all over your face and dribbling down your shirt.
