A new feature on Foursquare allows one user to check-in several friends at your business. This week, a Foursquare update to the social media app introduces the “I’m with …” button. By tapping the button, a customer checking-in at a business can include the names of connected friends joining them there. After hitting the button, a drop-down menu appears. Each friend selected from the menu will get a notification requesting permission to allow the check-in.
Foursquare announced the new feature on its official blog earlier this week.
On the blog, a company representative explained:
If they say yes, they’ll get checked in (and you’ll be able to check them in in the future; one approval and the feature is good to go). If they don’t want to be checked in, we’ll just ‘mention’ them as usual.
More check-ins makes it easier for businesses to attract more customers and easier to engage with returning customers, writes Jason Fell at Entrepreneur.com. The latest move is another attempt to revitalize the social check-in site and create more engagement with businesses.
By allowing one user to check-in their friends on Foursquare, the Foursquare update feature would seem to make it more likely those friends will check-in and follow the same business in the future.
Earlier this month, Foursquare announced sponsored posts for small businesses in a pilot program aimed at competing with other social networks offering comparable features. Initially available only to select large brands, the new sponsored posts allow small businesses to better promote themselves locally. The feature adds sponsored posts to a user’s feed when that user is in close proximity. It also allows businesses to reach out to Foursquare users who might not yet be regular customers.
Shawn Hessinger
Hi Josh,
Great overview. I think it’s still too early to count Foursquare out of the race in social media. The community may not draw as much press as Facebook and Twitter, but my suspicion is that location-based applications will continue to become more important as local businesses look increasingly at connecting with customers in specific regions.
Though I liked the concept but it would be very much annoying to get suggestions for the place across the street. I normally check reviews and comments from users about shops, restaurants and other places that attracts me but I would rather ask my close friends in real world than using this new app. No harsh feelings, it’s just that I will do.