Location-Based Services: Foursquare vs. Facebook Places
Ask any marketer about trends for 2011 and you’ll undoubtedly hear the phrase “location-based services.” However, among Foursquare, Facebook Places, SCVNGR, Gowalla and many others, marketers have a lot to choose from.
In this article we’ll cover the two major players—Foursquare and Facebook Places—and see how they stack up.
What are location-based services?
Location-based services allow users to connect with others based on their current locations. In most cases, people use their smartphones (iPhone, Android, Blackberry) to “check in” to businesses like restaurants, bars and stores they visit. These locations are then broadcasted to their online friends. 
Introducing Social Media Examiner TV
Welcome to the pilot episode of Social Media Examiner TV with our host Mari Smith!
In this episode, Mari reviews Flipboard—a hot new way to consume social media news from your Facebook and Twitter contacts—along with her thoughts on Facebook’s 500 million users and a look at how Foursquare could help your business.
Share your feedback, see the show notes and discover how you can be part of a future show below!
Foursquare vs. Gowalla vs. MyTown: Which Is Better for Business?
You know the location wars are heating up when a simple search for “Foursquare vs. Gowalla” returns millions of results. And then there’s MyTown. Which of these is right for your helping your local business?
The two hottest location-based social networks—Foursquare and Gowalla—are taking different approaches to the market, and seeing unique uptake patterns as a result. While these companies have repeatedly said they don’t view each other as competitors, the activities on networks are similar.
What’s more, several other companies are making the case to be included in the discussion about the top location-based network, including Booyah’s MyTown, which has more users than Foursquare and Gowalla combined.
Let’s take a look at how the location wars are unfolding and which of these services might be ideal for your marketing strategy.
The Biggest Social Media Mistakes (a Jay Baer Interview)
In this video I interview Jay Baer of Convince And Convert. Jay provides social media consulting to leading businesses.
In this video, Jay offers social media tips to help businesses succeed.
You’ll learn why Jay talks of “Noah’s ark” in social media and why Twitter and Facebook are not a social media strategy. He shares a wealth of information. Be sure to see the other takeaways below.
Why Foursquare Drives Business: What You Need to Know
For the first time in history, the Internet is focusing in on local business in a major way. And Foursquare is leading the trend.
Instead of competing in a “global marketplace,” local business owners now have access to geotagging, local search, and location-based services. All of which make the Internet more useful to small business than it has ever been before.
Imagine being a hotel owner with several rooms available at 8 o’clock one evening. You know there are a couple of big events happening in town and people are going to be looking for rooms to “sleep it off.” Because of location-based services like Foursquare and Gowalla, you can now advertise a special for those rooms to people who are close enough to take advantage of it.
