Foursquare: Better than Twitter? - Why Foursquare is More Useful than Twitter

(Page 4 of 4 )

On the social media news site Mashable, Crowley did an interview in which he perfectly encapsulated why Foursquare is not only the perfect LBS, but also why it’s better--and more useful--than services like Twitter.

It seems as if the secret to Crowley’s success is the fact that he and his partner have taken Foursquare further than most. “Other similar applications are all about location and saying, ‘Ok, I’m here,” Crowley said. “The point of our service isn’t ‘I’m here,’ it’s ‘I’m here, so now what’?”    

It’s the “now what” part of the equation that really seems to be resonating with users. Unlike Twitter, where a useless ramble goes off into cyberspace to no effect, Foursquare users' check-ins and other activity actually help other users. We touched on this earlier, but the “tips” feature on the service is a key aspect, as it allows users to spread the word on places that are worth checking out.

Users can share key things about a venue with other users, friends and strangers alike. If you favorite pizza joint has a killer special on Thursday nights, those near you can see the tip, save it on their to-do list, and then visit next Tuesday. It sounds insignificant, but this could prove to be very helpful to small, local businesses struggling in this economy and striving to compete against major chains and big box retailers.

Plus, once your specific city sees a major increase in Foursquare users, it will be even easier to use these GPS-aware tips to take advantage of dining discounts, drink specials, and sales, among other things. So, Foursquare allows you to stay in touch with friends, offers a fun, insanely addictive game, and has the potential to help small businesses flourish. What’s not to love?

blog comments powered by Disqus