Track Your Customers with Foursquare Analytics

If you’re not familiar, Foursquare is a Web 2.0/Social Media site that presents a game-like interface to allow its users to “check in” at local venues using their smart phone. Foursquare lets you “announce” your location to all your friends using their site, Twitter and Facebook.  You can look to see who has been to that spot before, tips they offer, what’s good for supper, etc.

Going out to dinner?  While you’re out, pull out your phone and check in at Foursquare to let them know you’re there.  Visit frequently and you just might become the Mayor of your local spot.  And as silly as it seems (until you start playing yourself that is!), people are into this and really want to become Mayor of their favorite places.

So what does this mean for businesses?  How can you capitalize on this phenomenon? Businesses that are actively using Foursquare often offer their Mayor a free drink or appetizer.  Between the freebies and the prestige involved, folks are jockeying to be Mayor of their local hangout and that is GREAT for business.  If you know you’re “vice-Mayor” of a bar and you’re going out tonight, wouldn’t you stop in at that bar for a drink and another check-in?

And now the real fun begins for the business owner as Foursquare recently announced that it is offering analytics to business owners.  According to The New York Times’ Bits blog, “Business owners will also be able to offer instant promotions to try to engage new customers and keep current ones,” and, “there will also be a Staff page available to each business that will allow employees to interact directly with customers using social networks.”

Think of the possibilities this presents in knowing who your target customer is!  You will be able to track if your checkins are predominantly male or female, what time they visited (before dinner, late night,etc.), if they were new or a repeat visitor, etc.

So if you’re not currently marketing your business with Foursquare, you might want to consider adding Foursquare to your marketing plans.  My prediction is it’s growing and coming to your city in a big way.  Get involved!