I was pleased to be featured–among others, including my friend Steve Garfield–on page one of the Boston Globe this morning. The Beth Teitell article, “Virtual tracking fosters real-life connections,” takes a look at a few local users of foursquare, one of many growing location-based services (LBS), and how their social check-in routines have created opportunities to meet folks they might not otherwise have encountered. It gave a glimpse at my perspective, and the opportunity and risks the app presents.
In the grand scheme, I was an early adopter of foursquare, and it quickly found a comfortable home among my own personal family of social apps. Like any member of the family, it’s certainly not without its faults and, especially recently, has experienced some growing pains, but still I remain loyal. In the early days, I checked in everywhere I went, and found myself climbing the foursquare leaderboard most weeks. But while some of the gaming elements of foursquare were initially appealing, the minimal draw of acquiring points quickly lost its luster for me. Still, some bizarre sense of pride remained in capturing and maintaining certain mayorships, but even that practice quickly focused only on those establishments that had created foursquare specials of real value to me (i.e. Ben & Jerry’s). So, while I’m a frequent customer of Starbucks, becoming and staying mayor there really isn’t important to me because they have yet to create a special that delivers any real incentive or reward. Should that change, you could see me vying for the crown at my local ‘bucks…or the one near my friend and LBS guru, SchneiderMike.
So, I’ve clearly adjusted my foursquare use over time, but my overall motivation hasn’t changed since I first signed up and logged on. I’m in it for the connections. When I consider checking in, I’m asking myself the following questions:
1. Could I find a friend or colleague at this location?
I’m an independent consultant. So, while I have a home office, my workplace is often mobile. When I work in downtown Boston–usually twice a week or so–I like to find opportunities to co-work or to meet a friend or colleague over coffee or lunch to share ideas or conjure a new project. I might even find a new friend or colleague that’s looking for the same.
2. Do I want my social network to know I’ve been here?
If I visit a location or event that’s related to my business or industry, I want folks to know that. It helps my network know the contributions I’m making and generate some interest in my work. And it helps my network learn a little more about me and my routines, helping to further build those relationships I’ve worked so hard to foster.
3. Will checking in improve my experience here?
If there’s an opportunity for valuable networking, I want to take it. If there’s a foursquare special that would help me save some money, I want to redeem it. If checking in will help me connect with others in my location and turn a routine stop into a new adventure, I’m game.
If I find myself answering yes at least once, I’m very likely to check in. So…”What about the risk of sharing your location so publicly?,” some ask. I say, be smart about it. As a woman, I’m perhaps a bit more cautious about how I connect with people and check in than many of my male friends who are frequent foursquare users. That said, I have friends–male and female–with very diverging opinions on how to connect on location-based apps. Personally, when it comes to LBS platforms, I choose only to friend folks with whom I’ve had some form of previous connection. I’ve either met them personally or have had online interaction with them on Twitter or elsewhere. I don’t see a need to connect further with someone on a service that shares my location until we’ve had at least that much experience with each other first. And I’m thoughtful about how and when I share my location. If there’s any question of security or risk, I just don’t check in. The social experience isn’t worth putting myself or others at personal risk.
By and large, I’ve seen some early benefits of foursquare and other LBS platforms like Facebook Places (which just doesn’t seem to like my Android phone), Gowalla (beautiful and engaging interface), Loopt (promising events feature), Pegshot (share photos and videos tied to location), Scvngr (challenge-based), Whrrl (connects you with friends’ recommendations) and others. But, above and beyond any of their respective functionality, their collective potential is the most appealing feature of LBS.
The location category is hot and growing, but the real success of these platforms will come as more businesses, large and small, recognize their value and start tapping into it. The creation of foursquare specials for check-ins and mayorships is just the tip of the iceberg, though for the record, it’s the relative low-hanging fruit that many need to start picking to catapult some momentum for the rest. As businesses start leveraging location to learn more about their customers’ buying habits, they too will build the connections that I and many others are seeking when we check in. And they’ll reap the rewards…far more than any superusers and their discounted frappuccinos.
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Hi Carissa,
I find it interesting that we both wrote blog posts that actually are the opposite of the article’s premise. We both use Foursquare, not to meet new people, although that has happened, but to let people in our existing network know where we are.
I wrote about it too.
http://offonatangent.blogspot.com/2010/10/youre-fred-how-i-met-fred-white-at.html
Our experience shows how broken news reporting is. Anyone who has ever been quoted in a news article knows how error prone it is.
One more thing, when we were both in Las Vegas this weekend, I checked into the MORE buffet at the Luxor, and Foursquare showed me that you were there with 50 other people, so I joined you for an amazing breakfast.
That place is so huge that I might not have known you were there without Foursquare.
That is why it’s valuable.
Hi Steve,
I agree that the story probably focused more on making new connections than I expected. But, to be fair, I did share my experience with that and also expressed a desire to make those new connections through foursquare. But it’s certainly not my primary purpose for using foursquare. More than anything, I use it to share my location when I think it helps tell part of my story, whether simply a glimpse at my day, or a look at the kind of work or events of which I’m a part. Like you said, I’m more often hoping to connect with friends or colleagues for that quick meetup that might prove productive, or at least fun.
Case in point, our impromptu breakfast meeting at MORE in Vegas. I had planned to be there, but it was great to suddenly see your smiling face walk in the room. Without foursquare, those connections would be virtually impossible. In fact, I’d say foursquare helped me navigate those here-or-there debates all week at Blogworld. Hmm…I could go to that closing keynote, or leave to get to that first meetup…let me see where folks have checked in?…Decision made. It’s a great tool, especially for those of us who know exactly what they want to get from it. And I know you and I do. Thanks again, Steve!
As someone who likes talking with people not only about social media but location-based programs, I was looking forward to reading this article. However, I having read it I will say I’m disappointed. Not in anything either of you had to say, but that the reporter didn’t seem to have a strong grasp of the topic. Maybe for the general audience it seemed appropriate.
At the same time, Steve’s sweeping “how broken reporting is” is unnecessary. There are plenty of reporters who have firm grasps of their topics who quote correctly and put together a well-thought story. Sweeping generalizations are just that, general.
As for the actual topic, I have spent quite some time discussing the virtues of Foursquare. The tips, the specials, the connections. I have yet to run into anyone randomly because of Foursquare, but I know it won’t be long.
And to go one step further… I have had my house broken into since starting to use social media. The two are not at all connected, the guy who broke into the house wouldn’t know what a computer was if one was placed in front of him. However, it does make me more aware of when and where I’m checking in. All things to consider when using these programs.
Good job, Carissa!
Apologies for the late reply, Kara…
I’m curious, unless he or she is a specific beat reporter, doesn’t the media often find themselves in a position of reporting on something they initially know little about? That was my experience when I was in general assignment, and even initially when I started covering a specific space. There’s always going to be a learning curve, but perhaps it’s more pronounced when “traditional” journalism meets new media.
Let me know when you have your first “Are you Kara?” foursquare moment…because it WILL happen and it’s only a matter of time.
Scary to hear of your break-in, which is certainly a reason why I take my check-ins seriously and do so with much thought. It always kills me when I see folks adding their home addresses to foursquare. That alone seems so careless and unnecessary. As long as we’re smart, there’s no need to fear the use of LBS.
Thanks again for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Come again sometime!
Hmm, Carissa. You don’t care that companies can claim their Foursquare locations and offer specials to checking-in customers? You’re on the program solely for people to know where you are.
Perusing through the comments at http://ariwriter.com/why-i-deleted-my-foursquare-account I wonder if you find yourself checking in more at physical locations or events/venues within those locations, e.g. conferences.
Of course I do. I don’t think I said anything about not caring. I’m very interested in businesses’ use of foursquare and how they’ll leverage the platform to create valuable specials for customers.
As for my check-ins, I’d say they are a fair balance of both venues and events. I do plan, attend and work lots of events, so perhaps they amount to about 60% of my check-ins.
Thanks for your thoughts, Ari.
Every time I see blogs as good as this because I should stop bludging and start working on mine.Thanks
Well presented well done, I found your blog under the BlogWorld update yesterday and I am actually checking every one out, which I think is a darn nice thing to do. It’s called social media for a reason.
Carole Sanek
That WAS very nice of you. Thanks for stopping by, and please come again.
Where can I find your blog?