Top 10 places where you don’t need to check-in with foursquare, +explanation.
1. At the office: Media people love to check-in everywhere. It’s no surprise that the mayor of an ad agency is actually an employee. But foursquare is for customers. How can customers ever compete with the 1500-ish something check-ins and become a mayor of a venue to receive rewards? Thanks for checking in!
2. Your grocery store: They want you to use your credit card so THEY get rewarded. Please show your VISA-connected Safeway and Walmart card. Foursquare? For… what?
3. At the golf course: You already paid your annual fees. Don’t ever think they will give you back a portion of that. It already “grows” in the form of hourly sprinkled grass in the deserts of Saudi Arabia.
4. At the grave yard: You will never become the mayor of a grave yard, unless it is yours, or your name is Dracula and you are able to wake up from the dead.
5. At the coffee shop: Apparently, I should give rewards to coffee shop owners and thank them for using their internet, having great people, offering free magazines, space, art, music, etc. etc. etc.
6. The White House: For some reason Aya M. is the mayor of this location with 1516 check-ins. You’re never gonna beat that. And you will also get no medal from B. Obama.
7. Conferences: Why make your fingers do the extra yoga touch pad act? They give away their stuff for free anyway. Apropos yoga, Zzzzzz!
8. On the moon: Try it.
9. At grandmas place: Well, let me rethink that. Never mind, that may just escalate into a family crisis.
10. At home: The guys (or followers) from “Rob-Me-I’m-not-@home” won’t give back your personal belongings. No, it’s not their way of doing business.
So, question is: Where do I have to check in?
Starbucks: You can earn customers rewards. Although there is no financial incentive or free coffee to begin with. Why did they just update their facebook fan page where you now can reload your Starbucks card? … See above (no1)
Tasti D-Lite: They already have an reward program where you can earn additional points with your check ins, but you need to sign for their MyTasti website as well.
BART San Francisco Public Transportation: They offer a special badge and $25 rewards to randomly selected users.
BRAVO NY: They gave away special gift bags to forsquare users. Now, the venue is closed.
Carrabbas Italien Grill, Glendale, AZ: Get a free desert.
Montis La Casa Vieja, Tempe, AZ: Get a beer or wine for 5cents.
Pinkberry, ButterLane and AJ Bombers give away free food.
Invoke Media: They actually work in the media industry and must know how it works. So they thought of a great bonus for their customers: Half price websites every 3rd check-in. Tip for future clients of Invoke Media: 1st check in - just say hello and chit&chat about your project. 2nd check-in; you talk about requirements and your budget. Let’s say you are a big player and can easily spent 500k. Save 250k on your next check-in when you actually sign the contract. Put a lid on it: Media people are quite moody. You don’t wanna miss the last check- in no 4, were you sit together and laugh … (well, now I’m getting nasty).
There are more, all listed on foursquare.com/businesses. 35 in total. vs. 600k-ish users. Makes it kind of challenging to become mayor and get rewarded - doesn’t it?! Well, it’s probably good to know that the status updates are being accepted as a valid alibi in court cases in the US. At least take advantage of that.
