A whole new world of Specials

Last year, we introduced the foursquare Merchant Platform to give businesses an easy way to reward their customers and find new ones. We wanted to give merchants a way to learn more about their best customers and start offering Specials to help them get new people into their location.

Now, over a quarter of a million businesses have claimed their business on foursquare. We’ve had everything from mom-n-pop sub shops to thousand-location national chains, and everything in between. And we’ve gotten lots of feedback along the way – about making it easier to create Specials, about different ways people have been growing their business, and about tons of fun ways businesses use foursquare.

With the release of foursquare 3.0, we overhauled everything: we have an all-new analytics dashboard with all your venue’s information; there’s a new Specials management system allowing you to run multiple Specials at any venues you manage; and before, during, and after the campaign you can now see aggregate statistics. Starting Friday, those quarter million businesses who have already verified, and the thousands more that join foursquare each week, will have these all-new tools to build their businesses. Here’s a sneak peak at the new Specials creation process:

And, just as before, it’s all totally free.

At the core of all of this, though, remains the Specials. With the launch of foursquare 3.0, we introduced new flavors of Specials that merchants can take advantage of, and we have some amazing launch partners that are getting started with them beginning this Friday.

Flash Specials
Flash Specials are the typical door buster deals – to the first people who arrive after a certain time. For instance, Sports Authority is running a Flash Special from 3/11 to 4/9. Each store randomly unlocks on one day for the first to check-in after 11am to score a free gift card, up to $500 in value.

Another great Flash Special is happening this Friday at 10am at Barnes & Noble across the country. Just be one of the first 10 people at any Barnes & Noble to check in after 10am to get $10 off a NOOK Color.

Friends Special
A lot of people go out with their friends, and now businesses can reward you all for checking in together. H&M is running an amazing Friends Special: check in with three foursquare friends and get 24% off any item.

 

At Whole Foods, check in with a friend at any participating location (it’ll say ‘Special’ in the app) and score a free cookie!

 

Hungry with a group of friends? Go to any Chili’s nationwide and check in with three friends and your table will get a free appetizer.

 

If fame is more your thing, Toys R Us in Times Square is running a Flash Special for the first five people to check in after 11am, who will all get their photo on a huge screen in Times Square; it’s the Marquee Moments package, and it’s free to you!

 

Swarm Specials
Everyone loves Swarms, and now businesses can reward folks who check in at a location in large groups. For example, when you go to one of over 500 Applebee’s restaurants nationwide you can take advantage of their Swarm Special with everyone in the Swarm getting free mozzarella sticks if 5 people check in after 9pm.

 

Newbie Specials
This is a way for businesses to entice new customers to give them a try. Starting this Friday, Radio Shack is offering 20% to all customers who check in for the first time at any of the over five thousand locations nationwide.

 

Starting a bit later this month, Coffee Bean is also running a Newbie Special nationwide, where all first-time check-ins get a dollar off any drink starting on March 23rd.

 

Interested in trying something new and never checked in at Arby’s? This Newbie Special gets you $1 off the new Angus Three Cheese & Bacon at over 3,500 Arby’s across the US!

Check-in, Frequency, and Loyalty Specials
Some businesses want Specials that are all about loyalty. For some businesses, they’ll set a Special to unlock at every check-in.  For others, its like a coffee shop punchcard where you might get something free on your tenth check-in.  For other merchants its about increasing visits – running a frequency Special inviting those who check in 3 times in 7 days the ability to unlock their Special.

Mayor Specials
We’re foursquare, and Mayors are us. So we still have Mayor Specials, too, for the royalty of foursquare.

So go out and redeem some Specials! With over a quarter million businesses using foursquare today, and thousands more getting on board every week, it’s the perfect season for Specials.

– Eric Friedman - Director of Business Development