Foursquare for Businesses

While Twitter and Facebook are asking, "What's happening?" and "What's on your mind?", Foursquare asks "Where are you?".

The number of game points you receive depends heavily on the type of check-in you make (first time visit, first check-in of the day, overseas etc)
Mayorships are earned by checking in more than anyone else at a given location.

Great for allowing friends know where their friends are.

Social Fresh has a great article.

By tagging where you are as you send information, Google allows search results to be filtered by locations - whether by town, neighbourhood or your precise location. So do Twitter and Flickr. Geotagging is an element of mobile phones that allows information to stay relevant depending on where you are.
How Does

Whenever I check in into Foursquare, honestly I often come across shop names I never knew existed. Having your business listed on Foursquare increases visibility and allows users nearby to locate your shop. For example, one might just tell their friend, "Hey there is actually a cafe near by, why not let's check that out?"

Rewarding your first mayor and subsequent mayors of the month is the most straight forward thing to do. People around me have fought it out to become a mayor and it can seriously attract customers to visit more often. Smaller incentives can also be given to customers, as long as they check in and do a little shout out for you on Twitter.

I particularly find this feature most persuasive. Having my friend's To-Do tip popping up when I check in into a nearby location is a great way to get my attention. Just because it is a recommendation coming from someone I know and trust, I am more likely and willing to give consideration. (although not so much on this one below, but you get what I mean!)

You can list yourself as one of Foursquare's official venue partners. Not only can you receive invaluable information and analytics about your customers (frequency, time logged in, gender comparison, etc) it would be an opportunity to establish offline relationships as you identify them in your shop!

Everybody enjoys customer loyalty rewards (Tell me I am not the only one!) Offering promotions are effective in exchange for the attention of your current customers. (e.g. free beer for mayor, add a tip and receive a discount) This is the chance to get as creative as you want!

Also, when users log in to other locations nearby, a yellow post-it looking button "Specials Nearby" will prompt them on the top right of their venue and is hard to miss.

Synchronise your social media activities. You could send a tweet offering anyone who checks in using Foursquare in the next hour will get a discount. Also, Foursquare allows check-in to be published onto Twitter and Facebook - so suggest your customers do that and you would be able to generate more eyeballs on your business.

Have you claimed your venue on Foursquare yet? If you are getting started, read more related posts below! Or if you already have great ideas, share them with us too!