By: Kelly Bosetti

Just when you think you’ve got today’s social media almost mastered they create a new innovative platform to jump into.  The latest that’s gaining some speed and predicted to infiltrate the nation is foursquare.  Foursquare isn’t entirely new, it launched in 2009 is gaining momentum, now reporting 450,000 members.  With last week’s announcement that foursquare will soon be connected to bing maps, it’s likely to explode.

What is foursquare?

It is a location-based social network which lets users “check in” to the locations they visit throughout the day to share tips and information via mobile, the website, text messaging or smart phone applications.  Members log in to share insights on their experiences, find friends in the area and potentially earn rewards for their patronage.  Foursquare is a simple-to-navigate platform in which you post recommendations such as “the burgers here are the best, be sure to order the cowboy bleu” or “check out these hot designer handbags, and they’re on sale!” With each post, members add tags to a business that let’s others know what that business is most known for. Examples of tags would be: live music, happy hour, jewelry, coffee, burgers, but the list is virtually endless.

In addition, members that frequent a business the most are recognized as the mayor of that establishment. Clever.  Foursquare members then get points for checking into the places they frequent and even more points for the new places they add.  Let the points competition begin!

Additional foursquare upgrades and announcements are imminent. Beyond the upcoming bing maps alliance, foursquare’s key features make it great for businesses:

• As a location-based platform, foursquare encourages members to log in while they’re at a business and invite friends to join them.  Friends’ phones are then pinged telling your whereabouts.
• It tracks how many times members visit a business so they can reward customers for their loyalty and posts on foursquare.
• It promotes what customers feel a business is best at (golf clubs, cocktails, etc.)
• Members can create a Top 12 list of recommendations for other people.
• Businesses can reward “mayors” with special perks, discounts and offers further supporting their customer loyalty for sharing their experience.
• Foursquare’s “mayor” concept promotes friendly competition via loyal customers who wish to unseat the current mayor.
• Businesses can also post special offers for mayors on the foursquare website.

Last but not least, foursquare allows you to create a to-do list of places you’ve always wanted to go.

Prepare to enter the world of foursquare and get addicted.  Just log on to the foursquare site and sign up with a free and very brief profile which will ask you for your mobile phone number so it can ping you. Then add a photo and find your friends.