Check into Events with Foursquare
As I’m sure you are already involved with Foursquare in some shape or form with your small business or just for personal use, you may not be aware that you can now check into events with Foursquare such as movies, sports, games, and concerts. According to VentureBeat, Foursquare now allows its users to check in at specific events, the company announced today on its blog. This allows you to share exactly what specific event you are attending on your Foursquare status. This is revolutionary for businesses as well, because now that users can check into events, you can promote special events at your particular venue that may be exclusive to you. This sets you apart from the rest of your competition and puts you on the cutting edge.
Check Into Events with Foursquare | How it Works
In addition to picking a specific venue, you can now easily check into events with Foursquare. For example if you are going to see “Harry Potter” at the AMC Theaters in Austin, TX, you can now select the specific film in addition to the venue and this information will be included in your update.
This is something that Facebook has been doing for a while, you know where you can select whether or not you will be attending an upcoming event. Well now that new level of interaction will be present with the ability to check into events with Foursquare.
“The company said it will enable event check-ins for over 50,000 venues, and each event will appear a few hours before it begins. Foursquare already has partnerships set up with ESPN, Movietickets.com and Songkick.”
http://venturebeat.com/2011/08/18/foursquare-adds-event-check-ins/
Check Into Events with Foursquare | Where it Leaves the Competition
A lot of people are asking where this leaves companies like Miso and GetGlue, who really specialize in check-in services for at home entertainment viewing now that you will be easily able to check into events with Foursquare. Miso’s CEO, Somrat Niyogi, said the following in an interview with VentureBeat about just that:
“Our service is centered around more than just checking in,” said Miso CEO Somrat Niyogi. His company provides a service (which has about 200,000 users) that allows people to check-in, rate, comment and complete quizes while watching things on television, or as he calls it “the second screen at home”.
“In terms of our space (business), I don’t think Foursquare’s new feature will affect us at all,” Niyogi said, adding that Miso is less concerned with the experience when people are out and about — more focused on the experience while sitting at home. “For GetGlue, where all they do is checking in and giving our rewards, I think they’re going to have more of a challenge.”
While fewer people may end up using services like Miso and GetGlue when in the movie theater, ultimately it’ll come down to how innovative those companies are in the future, Niyogi said.
“For the companies that are just strictly relying on check-ins of movies and such, they are probably screwed,” he said. “You’ve got to differentiate your service.”
Check Into Events with Foursquare | Funding
Well Foursquare realized that it would have to raise a lot of money in order to be able to successfully check into events with Foursquare and they’ve put their money where their mouth is by raising a total of $71.4 million to date. Watch out!