Truffle fries at Casa del Mar in Santa Monica.
After Stephanie and I got our fortunes told by Zoltan on the Santa Monica pier, we sought shelter in the luxurious Casa del Mar hotel lounge. 20-foot-high windows allowed us to continue enjoying the beach views in comfort.
I’d been experimenting with Foursquare for a few weeks, however it was here that I realized the tangible value this new mobile social network has to offer its users. For the latecomers, Foursquare uses one’s GPS location (on the Apple iPhone, BlackBerry, or Droid) to bring up a listing of nearby businesses, parks, schools or points of interest. Then, you “check in” at your specific location. In this case, I checked in at the Casa del Mar hotel.
Once I’d virtually checked in using my BlackBerry Curve, I had access to a long list of tips left by previous visitors who had done the same. Several people recommended the truffle fries, which wasn’t an item I saw on the lounge’s menu. In addition, the hotel offered a free cocktail with any order of food.
We decided to order the truffle fries, which we wouldn’t have otherwise known about, and take advantage of the free specialty cocktail as a result. It was as simple as showing our waitress the Foursquare screen with the drink offer.
A large bowl of warm, salty, truffle-laden French fries soon arrived. They were divine — and raised the bar in my mind as to the perfect happy hour snack. A small serving of ketchup sat unused on the table. By the time we were done, I suffered from a severe case of truffle breath. The dish is certainly not one I’d order on a weekly basis, however I’ll be keeping my eye out for it in trendy lounges going forward.
Beyond the opportunity to discover special deals offered by savvy businesses willing to embrace social media, Foursquare offers users a way to connect with people in a new way, based on their whereabouts. This real time tracking of my physical location is why I initially avoided the app, however checking in is always optional, and users have control over whether they make any particular location public to friends, and/or followers on Facebook and Twitter.
As you check into more and more places, you can unlock badges, which exist only as a novelty for now. For example, when you check into four locations in one night, you earn the coveted “Crunked” badge. Your Mom will be so proud.
If you check into a location more than anyone else, than you become the “Mayor” of it, which entitles you to bragging rights, and potential deals from the business. For example, I’m the proud Mayor of The Salsa Room in Arlington (listed by its old name, Cecilia’s).
After using Foursquare for a few months now, I’ve decided to stick with it. Discovering secret deals by checking into places via your cell phone is just too fun to give up. I had a lot more fun with it when I was out and about in Los Angeles, then when I’m doing regular stuff at home like going to the gym and running errands.
At the same time, more than any other form of social media, I’m limiting who I allow to follow me. To pass my Foursquare filter, I’ve likely either met them in person, followed them online for an extended time, or am aware that they live halfway around the world from me.
Do you think Foursquare has the potential to go mainstream, or will privacy concerns prevent its widespread adoption?
About the Author:
Dave is the author of 1573 posts on Go Backpacking.
Dave (Editor-in-Chief) blogged his way around the world from 2007-2009, and then started Travel Blog Success to teach others how to do the same. When not writing, he can be found salsa dancing in Medellin. Follow him on Twitter @rtwdave or look for him on Google+
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Categories: Features, Food, Reviews, Websites & Blogs
Post tags: blogsherpa, california, Food, foursquare, los angeles, review, social media, usa
4 Comments
I think Foursquare will go mainstream with hardcore Twitters, bloggers, and other social media junkies. It's just another innovative way to stay connected with your online contacts. And props to any business that realizes the potential marketing value. My iPhone broke a couple months back, but I should be receiving its out of warranty replacement any day now – I'm excited to give Foursquare a go!
Funny as I just started using 4Square a few weeks back, and been using it for the 'tips', mostly when I'm looking to eat.
I found a place nearby which had sandwiches that were raved about and I thought 2 things: 1) yum food and 2) sounds like a great article to be written. Well turned out the sandwiches weren't my thing so I didn't write the article. That and laziness.
I have a feeling if I'm able to use data service in Colombia, I'll soon be the mayor of dozens of restaurants and beaches.
It's definitely great for large urban areas with a high concentration of people on smartphones, but it'll be interesting to see if it goes much beyond that.
Hey Dave, this post is cool. I like the mix of travelling and location. Nice stuff. If you do like Foursquare yourself then you might like to check out My Foursquare:
http://www.myfoursquare.net/
My Foursquare makes it easy to show off your badges, mayorships and checkins on Facebook, Wordpress and any other site via an embed code.