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The Rules and Etiquette of FourSquare

Recently, I went on a FourSquare binge, which included check-ins to my local grocery store for four straight days. On the fourth trip somewhere near the produce section, I checked in only to see that I was still 7 days away from becoming mayor on FourSquare. Unfortunately for me, it was the fourth straight day of being told I was 7 days away from achieving mayorship. My frustration encouraged me to start asking the question nearly everyone I know using FourSquare does not know, and that is, “How does someone become mayor of a place on FourSquare?” Before Herbie, Erica and I begin laying out the rules and etiquette of FourSquare, it’s worth reading FourSquare’s rules on how mayorships are awarded:

 

“We calculate mayorships based on the most *days* with check-ins in the past 60 days (so 2 check-ins to the same place in one day just count 1x). Look out though – if someone else comes along who has checked in more days than you, they will steal the “Mayor” title back from you.”

 

So now that we know the ground rules, here is our take on the rules and etiquette everyone should consider when using FourSquare:

 

1.  Employees of retail stores should not be able to check in while on the clock. Not ever. The point of FourSquare is for there to be competition. And competing against people paid to be at a certain location defeats the platform’s purpose. In fact, stores should assure their customers the mayorship is theirs for the taking when specials are on the line.

 

2.  Driving by a location and checking in is not in the spirit of how FourSquare was intended and tarnishes your precious (and questionable) mayorship. As with the first rule, unless you step into a retail establishment with the intent to do business, you shouldn’t check in because you are not a legitimate customer. Go ahead and continue driving by your favorite coffee shop to hold on to your mayorship. Just know you will be judged when others discover you sit on a throne of lies.

 

3.  Leaving tips is encouraged. Spamming us with your local business or services is not. One of our favorite features of FourSquare is the option to leave tips. But as with everything, some users use this option to peddle their products and services. More people that use FourSquare should share their own favorite features, menu items and quirks about their favorite establishment. Pictures, too.

 

4.  So you’re the mayor of your own house. So what? It’s cool that you’re the mayor of the place you call home. But in addition to revealing to nearly everyone where you keep your valuables, you’re also laying claim to a place that you already own or rent.

 

5.  It’s great when you find obscure places to check into. Keep it up. Part of the value of FourSquare for retailers is allowing people to know you exist. The FourSquare experience is enhanced when friends check into unique places like landmarks, sports venues, airports and local favorites.

 

6.  Check in publicly. Private check in are ok sometimes, but since the objective of FourSquare connect with your friends and favorite businesses hiding all of your checkins goes against the purpose of social networking.

 

7.  Help encourage more businesses to join FourSquare by frequenting locations that offer special and tips, and share these deals with your friends. Ritz-Carlton is a great example of a national company using FourSquare effectively to connect with their clients. The Ritz has posted tips about local destinations and landmarks from concierges at its 75 hotels destination information to allows users to connect and interact with the brand. Some of our favorite locally-owned Tallahassee businesses that offer great FourSquare specials include: The Crepevine’s free coffee, Lucy and Leo’s half off a cupcake and Andrews 228′s drink specials.

 

8.  Think before you sync. Don’t automatically send checkins to every social media page you have. Different social media sites, serve different purposes, be selective when linking FourSquare with Facebook and Twitter. Friends may get annoyed if you “spam” their Facebook newsfeed with dozens of FourSquare checkins a day. If you do post your checkins on Twitter, be aware of who is following you because you may not want your boss knowing you were at a bar at 2 am.

 

9.  Make sure you personally know your FourSquare friends. Connecting with strangers on Facebook and Twitter is common, but since you are disclosing your location on FourSquare make sure you know and trust the people who you add as friends.

 

10.  If you enjoy using FourSquare, share info on great deals and encourage your friends to log on and start checking in. We love finding deals through FourSquare.  You are helping your favorite business by sharing those deals with your friends.

 

Are there any other rules of FourSquare etiquette you would add to our list?  Post them in the comments below.

 

- Ryan D., Erica V. and Herbie T.

326 days ago 3 Comments Short URL

Sachs/Mason-Dixon Poll: Americans Embrace Social Media During Natural Disasters

According to the results of the latest Sachs/Mason-Dixon poll, social media is playing a large role in communications during and after natural disasters.  Among the poll’s key findings:

•  72 percent of Americans belong to a social network such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace and 45 percent said they will rely on social media to communicate with friends and loved ones in the event of a natural disaster.

•  Social media use is more prevalent among younger Americans, with 91 percent of those 18-34 years old active on a social media platform and 63 percent saying they will use those platforms to communicate in a disaster.

•  Even among those ages 35-59, 75 percent say they are on a social media platform and 44 percent say they will use social media to communicate in a disaster.

•  Women are more likely to use these platforms than men, with 75 percent of women saying they use a platform compared to 68 percent of men, and 51 percent of women saying they will turn to these platforms to communicate in a disaster compared to 39 percent of men.

A breakdown of those who report they are a member of a social network shows gaps in generations:

While emergency managers can utilize social media to reach victims during natural disasters, more than 50 percent of Americans said they would rely on a cell phone or home phone to communicate with family members in a disaster, even though these tools often are not often operational in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters such as hurricanes and tropical storms.  The poll found that only 8 percent said they would rely on text messaging, although this has proven to be one of the most reliable forms of communication in a disaster.  Although social media is gaining acceptance among older demographic population segments, the poll makes clear that one size won’t fit all and emergency managers need to employ a variety of strategies to reach all age groups.

Follow the discussion on our poll at #hurricane on Twitter or via @GetReadyAmerica and Get Ready, America! on Facebook.

 

333 days ago 3 Comments Short URL