Can Geolocation Tools Work for a Service Business?
April 24, 2010 11:45 am 3 Comments
Geolocation is HOT! FourSquare and Gowalla have us checking-in, earning badges, and ousting our friends for Mayorship at our local stops. These new tech games allow people to open the program and using GPS built into their phones they will see local businesses that are near by. If you are downtown Denver, for example, you might open up Gowalla or Foursquare and see that Wynkoop Brewery is 20 meters from where you are standing. When you get there you can “check in” and get points. After so many points at this location, you are crowned the Mayor of Wynkoop Brewery (probably not real great for your professional image, but…).
If you have a brick and mortar business you can immediately see how these so-called games can be of use. You allow people to find your location, encourage them to come back often and you collect some data to see habits of those who are checking in. Small businesses can create their own card-less loyalty programs by offering discounts to those that check in often, and “valuable prizes” going to the Mayors,” but what about those of us who have a service to sell. Are geolocation tools for those of us who have chosen to forego the brick and mortar model?
Here are some of my ideas: Let’s assume that, hypothetically, I am a technology enthusiast, I could check into the Apple store and give 2 tips for using the new iPad, or check in at Staples as I share a tip on buying a great USB headset for conducting Skype calls. If I am a professional organizer I could give tips on shredding documents as I check in at Office Max, or as I check in at The Container Store, I add a tip on organizing your office.
Maybe you are a freelance writer and you are providing tips for better copyrighting. Check in at your library, bookstores, or your favorite stationary store as you venture around town giving those tips for another dimension.
These tools can allow your community to tag along with you. To see all the places you go…well you may want to keep that Mayoral status down at the Pub to yourself.
@GinaSchreck
How else do you see Geolocation tools playing a role in your business as we serve a growing mobile nation? I would love to hear your thoughts.
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Tags: Foursquare, Geolocation, Gina Schreck, Gowalla, Social Media, Social Networking, Technology Speaker
Categorised in: Geolocation, Social Media, Technology
This post was written by GinaSchreck
3 Comments
I think that the “broadcast” geolocation services are more about fun and games but they do NOT satisfy the personal and private needs – the ones reserved for your actual friends, family and co-workers.
If I’m trying to co-ordinate lunch with important people, I don’t want to give them some flakey post with “oh I’m 10 minutes late”.. I want to use something that sounds and feels respectful, exclusive and professional.
For friends, dating etc.. I want something that is also respectful and polite.. no matter what my FB profile says or how many friends I have on there, I want my real close network to know and feel special… SO for that you want to have permission-asking and easy to use format so that your parents can follow it.
In that format, only 2 exist (echoecho and glympse) and of those, only one is really sleek, easy to use and reflects the kind of difference I want between my public and private life…
I think ALL geolocation services will have to choose whether they are a FUN ONLY or PRIVACY RESPECTING kind of service… while it’s fun to broadcast a la celebrity where you are and what you’re doing, you want to reserve actual access to you to the people you WANT to be there too.
I think of the ones out there, Echoecho is the way to go. (and I prefer Brightkite to the other public ones mentioned above)
i was a former employee and now i am making my best effort to start up a small business.;”‘