by G. Sax (@gsax)
Check-in. Find your friends. Unlock your city. These are the simple phrases of today's newest new, Foursquare. The cool kids are all talking about it online just like they were talking about Yelp a few months ago just like they were talking about Twitter half a year ago just like they were talking about Facebook last year just like they were talking about MySpace…oh, you get the point.
Chasing the latest and greatest is a sport for some, present company not included. I like to try things, sure, but if it rings untrue for me, then I move on. But Foursquare has me stopped long enough to feel its potential.
Not only does Foursquare cater to my interest in onliney things (I'm furiously anti-paper), but it attaches itself to my geography lobe and allows me to tinker with my St. Paul vibe.
The basic deal with Foursquare: "get out and do stuff." The only way you can get the full effect of this tool is while you're out being social, not just "in front of your computer" social. Foursquare on your mobile device gives you a surprisingly satisfying way to explore cities, including our little burg of Saint Paul.
With Foursquare, you earn points and unlock badges for experiencing new things. If you'd rather revisit the tried and true, you can become the "mayor" of a place with frequent check-ins and offer up tips on places that others may enjoy.
Just like Twitter, Foursquare sounds ridiculous, even banal, to the uninitiated, but it's gangbusters in New York and San Francisco, and it's definitely catching on in the Twin Cities. I'm honestly using it to get new ideas for places to go around town, and I enjoy promoting my usual haunts through regular check-ins that my Foursquare friends and Twitter followers will see.
Think about that now. I'm willingly and actively promoting local businesses for fun. It takes very little time to do this, and it gives me little pings of civic pride each time I do. Bringing this closer to home, St. Paul Real Estate Blog writer Erik Hare has me wanting to enjoy a morning coffee in Irvine Park because of Foursquare. Pre-Foursquare, Teresa had me wanting oatmeal and raisins at the Downtowner for breakfast thanks to Twitter. Same idea, different social/mobile tool.
I don't expect any of these "social media" things to exist as they do in their current formats for all that long, but I do believe that the ideas are here to stay, because they empower individuals in unique ways and some people kinda like that feeling, present company included.
I have foursquare but I keep forgetting to use it. Maybe I should.
And just like that, T has accepted my Foursquare friend request! And this morning, I rec’d notification that Erik went to Irvine Park and Dunn Bros (that morning park/coffee combo makes me jealous every time!). I think it’s the perfect tool for active, around-the-town people that claim to know their city, and an excellent way for people to be introduced to a city. In both cases, user AND city win!