Facebook Places v Foursquare

What are the benefits of using Facebook Places for Business?

My personal opinion is that Facebook are trying to copy what Foursquare have achieved so quickly. To the extent that Facebook Places logo is a “4? in a Square…….um! I will leave you to make up your own mind on that one!

So lets break down the benefits for business for using Facebook Places:-

1. Facebook Places lets people share where they are.
2. Facebook Places lets people see which friends are in the area.
3. You can provide special offers & discounts for your business.
4. Promoting your business. Word of mouth is one of the best forms of advertising. Encourage customers to share their experience with your organisation on your Facebook Place of Business.
5. Rewarding Customer Loyalty with Facebook Places.
6. You can check in directly from your smart phone.

At the moment, I personally still prefer Foursquare. Foursquare is much more sexy and has an element of fun involved. Foursquare does all of the above, but in addition:-

1. You can link your account to Twitter (not just Facebook), instantly from one check-in, without having to set up an automated tweet with Facebook (I hope that makes sense?)
2. I have fun by “ousting” people as Mayor of various places, and it stimulates competition between colleagues, friends and clients.
3. You can check-in and remove the option to tell the world about it, but still gain points on the leadership board. (Its not always good business practice to tell the World that you are Mayor of Burger King!)
4. The mobile app on the iPhone is excellent and you can check out your friends and what they are up too.

I am sure there are a lot more pro’s & con’s for using both platforms. But at the moment, I certainly prefer Foursquare. However, it is certainly worth creating a Facebook Place and a Foursquare Place for your business, then people have the option to check-in on both.

Check out my blog to find out "How to Claim your Facebook Place" on www.green-umbrella.biz/blog