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What is foursquare? | An Introductory Guide
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Just when you think you've created as many social networking accounts that you can handle, along comes Google Buzz. Before Google's Buzz, though, there was foresquare. Along with Google's Buzz, foursquare is one of the most recent contenders for people to share the mundane and exciting happenings in their lives. With foursquare, your friends can follow your entire day on their phones, knowing your every move.

Unlike other social media tools like Facebook and Twitter, foursquare is focused primarily on sharing places we've been and that we would maybe recommend to others. While this may seem somewhat trivial, it appears to be catching on. foursquare was made live exactly a year ago; it appears to be just now gaining more momentum and popularity, however. That growth can be seen now in the numerous Tweets going on about their new mayoral status and places they've been. Moreover, they now have over 500,000 users (including myself) who are busy sharing their locations. Since Twitter and Facebook can easily be connected with foursquare accounts, it is easy to update all three accounts at once.

Here are some basics to getting familiar with foursquare.

1. Create an account. This can be done in two ways: with your email address and password, or through your Facebook account (Convenient!). This step takes seconds, especially if you use your Facebook account to log in. All of your numbers will be at 0 when you first log in, but being active and checking in will change that in no time.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Upload your picture. This is important for a few reasons: your friends can recognize you; you can become a mayor of places you've visited; and you can look at yourself every time you log in. (Ok, the last reason isn't as important, but if you ever want to become the mayor of a place your frequent, you'll need a picture.)
   
   
3. Download an app. If you have a Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or PalmPre, you can now download an application to make checking in even easier. If you don't have one of the above phones, don't fret; you can still check-in from your phone using their mobile site or by sending an SMS (text) to their number. For more information, check out their helpful FAQ page.
   
   
4. Sync your Twitter and Facebook pages. If you didn't do this when you first set up your account, you can do so at any time. (You can also disconnect your accounts at any time, so don't worry if you change your mind.) Simply click on Setting at the top of the foursquare homepage and scroll to the bottom to update your Facebook and Twitter options.
   
   
5. Check-In! Use your phone app or mobile browser to check-in to your location. Depending on your application, it should be pretty self explanatory with buttons and links for you to follow to update your location and see the updates of your friends.
   

Now that you know how to do things, here are some definitions:

• Check-Ins: These are simply your check-ins that you've updated foursquare with. These include all of the locations you've been to. You can hide your location, however, by using "Off the Grid", which allows you to check in for points while keeping your location hidden. This can be good for stalkers or friends you didn't invite.
  
  
• Mayors: Becoming a mayor doesn't equate to any real mayoral rights, but you do get to brag about being the person who comes to a specific location the most. (Be careful where you check-in though; there may be some places you won't want to be mayor of.) Every time you check-in at a place through your mobile phone, your tally of check-ins at that place goes up. If you are the person who visits that location (and checks-in) the most, you become mayor.Remember, you need a profile picture to be mayor.
  
  
  (source)
  
  foursquare says places have created "Mayor Specials", but at this stage in its life, that seems somewhat unlikely. (Edit: See image.) Either way, being mayor could be a cool way to show your loyalty to brand or company.
  
  
• Points: Like in Whose Line Is It Anyways, the points don't mean much. Yet. foursquare is currently accepting ideas for where points can be applied and what they can mean. In the past, they've used points to help charities, which may be something they do again. If you've got a great idea, let them know; they appear to welcome feedback. (Who doesn't love crowdsourcing?)
  
  
• Badges: These are exactly like what they sound they are: badges. Though you don't earn them for knowing how to build a fire or helping the elderly, you can earn them by using tags, reaching goals, performing tasks, etc. These are activity based, so if you'd like to fill up your sash wall, get busy!
  
  
• Friends: This term is somewhat self-explanatory; they are the people you've "befriended" online and who you would like to share your updates with. You can search for friends by their name, city, or by following them elsewhere (like Facebook).
  
  
• Tips: These are, well, tips. Like a customer review, these are made to help others discover the things people like best or least. Share items on a menu, a sale at your favorite store, or an event going on at a park with others. Leave any tips you think others may benefit from here. The cool thing about these tips is that foursquare will notify you (after checking in to a location) of tips relating to your area or location.
  
  
• To-Dos: This is a list of things to do, or a large "note-to-self" to remind yourself to visit the new park down the street or to see the new shirts at the boutique next door. Coordinate with friends who may also want to visit these places, or simply use is as a reminder to yourself. Once you mark off things you've done from your to-do list, your counter on your home page goes up.
  

For a company looking to increase their presence in the real world and the online world, monitor whether or not people are checking in at your location. To encourage people to leave tips about your company or to become mayors of your location, offer specials and offers like the foursquare website suggested some companies are already doing. This is free WOM for you and your company and can help to increase your ability to remedy issues if someone offers a negative tip in regards to your company.

As with any aspect of social media, monitoring your online WOM and presence is vital to a successful online identity and brand. Use this feedback to offer your customers something of use and use this as an opportunity to avoid a crisis or offer something your competitors may not be offering: a better customer experience. Customers love being rewarded for simply frequenting places they love; better yet, the basic act of recognizing that they are "regulars" can better your relationship with them and encourage them to come back.

So, now you know. Any tips you have for someone just beginning their foursquare journey?