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How to promote your business on Foursquare?

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If you aren't sure what Foursquare is, check our what is Foursquare guide.

check-in Foursquare gives your users the ability to check into your venue, write reviews, post messages about your place to their wider network and find out other places nearby that might offer value for money.

Foursquare has therefore placed the power squarely in the hands of the consumer. They can freely share information about your business, and they can notify others nearby about your place.

That makes Foursquare a force to be reckoned with. But it is a force that you can use for good. Below, we'll share some tips on how you can grow your business with Foursquare.

Growing your business with Foursquare

Give your Mayor special perks

As mentioned previously, businesses give their Mayor's special perks, such as a free coffee, free entrance tickets and more. This adds to the competitive element, as anyone can snatch the title "Mayor" from the existing mayor. All they have to do is visit your place more often than the current mayor. Clearly advertise the benefits you'll give the Mayor in your establishment.

Give incentives for people to mention you on Foursquare

Offer a small discount to users who show you they've checked in.

Create a virtual Frequent Customer Card

Foursquare will tell you how often someone checked into your business. You can offer them a special offer, similar to what you would already be offering on your Frequent Customer Card on their 5th of 10th check-in.

Reward customer number x

Some businesses have a special reward for the one millionth customer (replace one millionth by whatever number you target). Some businesses offer a free tidbit to the first 10 customers who check in that day (something other than what they usually order, e.g. offer a free cupcake to go with their coffee). This will create a race amongst early birds, create more positive reviews of your business that will create awareness amongst users in the vicinity of your business.

Attract new customers

You can offer a free beer/soda/fries or whatever to the customer who tries your place for the first time. That gives users an incentive to come over and try out your establishment.

One of the best features on to drive new business is the "specials nearby" function. When a user checks in at an establishment near you, they are also notified about any deals offered in places nearby. This hands you a great opportunity to get new clients who might have otherwise checked in somewhere else.

Fill your business on a slow night

If Tuesdays are your slow days, you can offer a check-in special or discount. Or do what AJ Bombers did and play on users desire for hard-to-get-badges.

Encourage customers to come back

If someone hasn't checked in for a while, you can send them a special offer if they come back.

Sponsor the leaderboard

Foursquare's leaderboard is often checked,m as it shows the people who have earned the most points in any given city that week. Sponsoring the leaderboard will gain you plenty of exposure. One example of a business that sponsored the leaderboard is Pepsi.

pepsi-leaderboard-sponsor

Benchmark your progress

Foursquare offers tools that give you information about your customers. You can see who's checking in, what times are the busiest for you business (in terms of users) and what the ratio of male vs female users is. You can also offer instant promos, e.g. offer a customer who hasn't come by for a while a special discount.

Check out what your competitors are doing

Foresquare's page for businesses allows you to see what others, including your competitors are doing.

Start appealing to the Web 3.0 Generation

These tips should put you in perfect position to start competing for more customers from the Web 3.0 generation. For businesses that offer excellent service, word of mouth marketing has never been this easy.

More info on Foursquare for business.