If you don’t understand what Foursquare is, you’re just like 98% of all Americans. Feel better now? But you probably should know what it is and a bit about how it works, so you can understand its implications for the quickly emerging power of what we call geo-location and geo-targeting services.
Most people know what OnStar is. Or even Lo-Jack. They’re computer and satellite driven resources that know how to find your car in case of trouble. Take that concept and put it on your mobile phone. Then look at your phone as having the capability of being OnStar or Lo-Jack headquarters, where you can see where everyone in your network is. Real time.
But say you have a lot of friends. And you only want to know where those geographically closest to you are. Just use your phone to “check-in”, sharing where you are (i.e. Kung Pao China Buffet). The technology Foursquare offers lets your friends see that you’re there. You can also see which of your friends are there, or at another place close by. Like maybe within four square blocks of where you are. Get it?
Then get the restaurants, movie theaters and retail stores involved and allow them the opportunity to entice you in. They’ll offer free food, special coupons, and even ego-centric virtual power trips like making you the “Mayor of Kung Pao China Buffet” with extra little perks. All because you frequent that establishment more often (or just first). There’s more to it, but this is enough to give you what you should probably understand.
So, who cares you ask? For now, only about 2% of America. But think about the implications of this technology being at everyone’s fingertips. Very Big Brotherish, but also very convenient. Now, think about what will happen when Facebook takes it and runs with it, which they intend to do very, very soon.
Stand by. It’s only just begun.
Good Will vs. Media Dollars. Hmmmm…. So, I thought to myself, how can a business like Kragen take this concept and make it a home run online brand marketing success?
Look at this picture. What does it say to you? To me, it says there’s a woman out there with enough confidence to laugh at herself. That’s humility, and I admire the heck out of her.
OP: I might be daff (lord knows I have been told lol) but you made absolutely no sense…
In your opinion is retail still affected by recession? December sale looked good, however it seems there is cautious optimism with many retail companies in the throes of recession. Wal-Mart has just fired close to 14,000 employees! What is your opinion?
thanks !! very helpful post!
Wonderful piece of writing! This will guide a lot of people find out more about this subject. Are you keen to include things like video clips coupled with these? It would surely help out. Your explanation was spot on and because of you; I will not have to explain everything to my buddies. I can simply point them in this article!
I think it is still affected due to people’s cautiousness, and I doubt it will return to the excessive spending of the previous years for a long time. But that’s ok. We can’t survive in America just by consumerism. These tough times will force bigger changes, hopefully for the better, on our economy. Maybe we can actually become an export country again!