Why Do You Foursquare?
I’m a social media geek so I guess the first reason is: “I have to.”
I wasn’t intrigued by Foursquare until I checked in at the Ben and Jerry’s in Harvard Square and got a great deal. Now I check in pretty often – who doesn’t love a discount? I also like seeing real-time tips from other people, engaging with people on Twitter about things I’m doing in real life and spending time with my real life friends who are nearby thanks to this technological serendipity.
The first time I heard about geolocation tools I asked a lot of the typical questions I hear now: “What if you get a stalker?” and “Do people know where I am right now? Creepy.” Despite my hesitation and theirs, I see a lot of potential for geolocation tools to expand beyond retail to other industries or even employee engagement.
Of course, like using Facebook or other social media sites, there’s a downside too. I’ve read enough Foursquare horror stories to “practice safe Foursquare” now. What do I do?
- I don’t use the same avatar that I use on other social sites like Twitter or Facebook. I feel that people who don’t know me shouldn’t be able to spot me in a restaurant.
- I check in to locations with no deals after I leave (I typically will look for deals in my area before I go).
- I don’t check in to hotels I stay at.
How do you practice safe Foursquare? Why do you use Foursquare at all?
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Kat Kibben View All →
Kat Kibben [they/them] is a keynote speaker, writing expert, and LGBTQIA+ advocate who teaches hiring teams how to write inclusive job postings that will get the right person to apply faster.
Before founding Three Ears Media, Katrina was a CMO, Technical Copywriter, and Managing Editor for leading companies like Monster, Care.com, and Randstad Worldwide. With 15+ years of recruitment marketing and training experience, Katrina knows how to turn talented recruiting teams into talented writers who write for people, not about work.
Today, Katrina is frequently featured as an HR and recruiting expert in publications like The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and Forbes. They’ve been named to numerous lists, including LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Job Search & Careers. When not speaking, writing, or training, you’ll find Katrina traveling the country in their van or spending some much needed downtime with the dogs that inspired the name Three Ears Media.
I just started using foursquare and linking it to Facebook to help tell better stories. I don’t just check in at home — I check in at Scrubby’s Rafter house. (My cat has a house. Here it is. http://foursquare.com/venue/9798952)
And when I check in at interesting places, I can tell a story and engagement goes up.
I dunno. I don’t always use it — and I don’t want to be spammy — but it works out in some situations.