So, people have asked me what is the next thing on the horizon. What will be the next Facebook or Twitter??
Well, the answer is becoming more and more clear as 2010 progresses with two companies trying their very best to be the first on your iPhone, Blackberry or Android device.
Their names are Gowalla and 4Square, both are GPS location aware applications that run on your mobile phone. These applications allow users to “check in” at places around town and rewards them for the frequency and detailed information users input about the location with cool looking avatars as well as the ability to become the “Founder” or “Mayor” of the establishment. But there are differences between Gowalla and 4Square that are meaningful and something you may want to consider before downloading and using them.
GPS Coordinates – Gowalla requires a precise GPS destination or it will not allow you to check in there. 4Square on the other hand allows you to use fuzzy location data, or entirely false data “Yea mom, I was studying at the Library!” — As Junior is actually playing XBox at the Big Robot Game Cafe. If you really want to share with others where you are at.. Gowalla is the reliable tool. If you want to pretend you are at work and are not.. 4Square is the app for that.
Pins and Badges – Both Gowalla and 4Square have cool virtual geo caching tools that allow you to place items at a location. For instance, I dropped a stack of books at the Tipp City Library, a napkin at Hinders (dirty wings fingers) and a watering can at Spring Hill Nursery. While I am not a huge fan of the pins and badges, the icons that they use are sometimes humorous.
‘Mayor’ or ‘Founder’ – The 4Square application allows the person with the most check-ins at a location to become that location’s ‘Mayor’ (Sorry Dee Gillis). You can get knocked from your role by anyone who checks in at that location more than you. The same goes with becoming a “Founder” of a location with Gowalla, however Gowalla always remembers who the original founder was. This makes Gowalla win in my book because I will always be the ‘Founder’ of the Tipp City Government Center, forever. Muahahaha! <evil laugh> This way, both applications build a competition amongst their users. Beware, if your boss or wife logs onto either application they may draw a conclusion if you are ‘Mayor’ of all 7 different bars in town. Don’t worry.. it’s not a secret.
Friends Import and Management – Both applications allow you to import your friends who are using the cool phone tools, and you can invite ones that don’t. Please don’t fret though, if you don’t want to receive a person’s updates on your phone you can always hide or “quiet” a friends’ updates.
Why are these tools so special?
Both Gowalla and 4Square lay out locations on a map for the user and highlight the business, organization or buildings that have been “checked-in” by other users. Some people use Gowalla and 4Square to warn others “Don’t eat there! They undercooked their fish!!” or let others know what a great time they had there “had the ribs and chicken meal, excellent food and service!!” These tools are infinitely better than other review sites like Yelp for customer recommendations as you definitely have had to be there to “check-in” and be a patron. As a restaurateur the last thing you want is someone to criticize your food or your service on a review site who has never stepped foot in your establishment. Can you say “level playing field”??
$$$ Discounts! – I have seen many businesses (none in Tipp however…) extend special discounts or free food to those patrons that “check-in” using Gowalla or 4Square. Why would you give a customer a discount who checked in using Gowalla or 4Square? Simple. If I am in my car and headed to Tipp City, and one of the patrons state that they were given a free appetizer for checking in… I would definitely pick that one over all others! Why? That business already has shown me that it cares that I am there!!
Super if you are single – If you are single and looking for someone to spend time with.. You must use these tools! You can find people who frequent those places that you frequent. Easy Peasy. Now just because I am ‘Mayor’ of Harrison’s doesn’t mean that I can marry you off to your Gowalla buddy there.
Updates Twitter and Facebook – Yes, you can always know when I leave home because of my unmistakable “check-in” somewhere else. While I don’t tag friends homes and such, I always tag businesses, restaurants and public buildings. Both Gowalla and 4Square allow you to update your social media profiles on Twitter and Facebook. I have personally built meet-ups where I “check-in” at Harrison’s, post to Facebook and not 10 minutes later friends start to pour in, wanting to grab a bite to eat or a tasty adult beverage.
It serves Community – You guys have heard it time and again from me. In fact it is the title on my business card. Community Manager. These applications allow you to build Community by providing evidence about how popular or not popular a place is. It demonstrates “hot-zones” of activity for people with Smartphones, many of which you could use to be your customers. You are able to not only meet people you know using Gowalla and 4Square, but also find possibly a new friend who also frequents your favorite bar or restaurant. Give it a try! You can find me using both, and please feel free to “Friend” me. I am always looking for other great Tipp City individuals to know!
Gowalla – Gowalla.com Available for the iPhone and Android
4Square – foursquare.com Available for the iPhone, Android and Blackberry
Happy Geo-Tagging Tipp City!
