Foursquare Launches New Offering Called Local Updates

Foursquare Introduces Local Updates for Businesses That Want to Use Mobile to Attract New Customers

By Jamie Turner, Founder, 60 Second Marketer

In Go Mobile (affiliate link), the book I co-authored with Jeanne Hopkins, one of the many mobile marketing tools we discussed was foursquare, which is a mobile app that businesses can use to attract new customers to their locations.

It’s one of many tools that fall under the Location-Based Marketing category and it’s also one of the most well-known. If you’re in business — particularly in the retail business — you should be all over foursquare since it’s an easy-to-use service that can help you attract new customers.

On Wednesday, I was contacted by a representative for foursquare who let me know about some of their new features. They sounded pretty interesting, so I thought I’d share what she said to me.

“Starting today, we’re rolling out Local Updates, a new tool that will allow you to see all of the latest news from the places where you’re a loyal customer when you’re nearby. It’s a great way to keep up with things like new specials, pictures of the latest shipment of shoes at your favorite boutique, or a serendipitous food truck appearance.

Here’s how Local Updates will work:

Easy: If you check in at a place frequently or you’ve liked a place on foursquare, you’ll start getting updates from them automatically when you’re in the same city. If you want to stop receiving updates from a particular business, you can easily do so with one tap.
Personalized: Your favorite places can share their latest news with you, so you know when your favorite restaurant is offering a special, or a nearby bookstore is hosting a reading with a famous author. Updates can include new specials, photos, and any other information your favorite places want to share with you.
Local: You’ll only see updates from businesses in your city, when you’re close enough to stop by. There are several nationwide businesses (H&M, Togo’s Sandwiches, Outback Steakhouse, and Wolfgang Puck restaurants, among others) and NYC-based businesses (Luke’s Lobster, Northern Spy Food Company, New York Public Library, and NYC Parks Department) that will be starting to use Local Updates right after the tool becomes available today.”

The bottom line is that foursquare continues to upgrade their service as a way to improve their offering. It’s a terrific tool and one of many that you should check out, particularly if you’re in retail. (Other similar tools include LivingSocial, SCVNGR and WHERE.)

Oh, and by the way, if you enjoyed learning about foursquare in this post, you might also enjoy “How To Attract Local Customers Using Mobile” which has more cool tips and tricks for people who want to get into mobile.

Posted by Jamie Turner, Founder of the 60 Second Marketer and co-author of “How to Make Money with Social Media” and “Go Mobile.” He is also a popular marketing speaker at events, trade shows and corporations around the globe.