Making badges a real reflection of your real-world expertise

Nov 14th

Some badges are fun and some are frivolous, but the ones that get us most excited are the ones that reflect real-world feats, like mastering the pizza circuit or keeping print alive. Those are the badges that represent who you are and what you know best. And, the more you unlock, the more your Trophy Case becomes a reflection of your real-world expertise. That’s why we’re introducing expertise badges (that level!) – badges that show off who you are and what you know.

Over the next day our core 24 expertise badges will start leveling up the more you go out and explore.

The rules are the same for all your areas of expertise:

  • You hit Level 1 for checking in five times to a place in a category, or three unique places.
  • Level 2 is for five unique places.
  • And from there, every level up is five more unique places, so you get rewarded for exploration!

Take a look at the new Expertise section of your Trophy Case (click on ‘Badges’ to see yours) to see where you stand today. You’ll see what level you’re at, what you need to do to get to the next one, and what level your friends are at. And, in the near future, we’re going to add other ways to level up, like having your tips be done by many people. Your actions within foursquare should help you build a true, rich representation of your expertise about the things you love to do.

We’ve already got all this great data on your expertise from your past check-ins, so the exciting part now is identifying the ways we can use it to help people make decisions in the real world. For instance, if you’re at a wine bar, it’s much more useful to see a Tip from a Level 8 wine expert. Or, if a karaoke buff always goes to a specific place, we can make sure that it comes up first when you’re looking to sing your heart out. There are lots of ways to use the community’s expertise to make the world more interesting, and foursquare will keep getting more useful the more you and your friends use it.

Check out your Trophy Case now to see where you’re at!

We’re also going to start building more and more badges for different types of expertise, including three new ones launching today: Herbivore, Hot Tamale, and Bento.

Check in, level up, show off to your friends, and let us know what you think in the comments!

Posted in Badges Foursquare

98 Comments

  • http://tykaplan.blogspot.com TexKap523

    Thanks for adding this cool new feature. Another check in service used to have challenges that were similar, but this is MUCH cooler. Keep up the great work!

  • http://tykaplan.blogspot.com TexKap523

    Thanks for adding this cool new feature. Another check in service used to have challenges that were similar, but this is MUCH cooler. Keep up the great work!

  • http://tykaplan.blogspot.com TexKap523

    Thanks for adding this cool new feature. Another check in service used to have challenges that were similar, but this is MUCH cooler. Keep up the great work!

  • http://twitter.com/geetarchurchy geetarchurchy

    Awesome! Will this apply data retrospectively or will the levels only apply as the update is applied?

  • http://chameleonmagic.tumblr.com/ Nicolette Michelle

    Excellent!!! I can’t wait ^___^ I’ve always loved using Foursquare with my friends so it’s cool to constantly see it evolve.

  • http://chameleonmagic.tumblr.com/ Nicolette Michelle

    Excellent!!! I can’t wait ^___^ I’ve always loved using Foursquare with my friends so it’s cool to constantly see it evolve.

  • Thaddaeus Edwards

    Excellent idea and cool new feature!

  • Thaddaeus Edwards

    Excellent idea and cool new feature!

  • http://twitter.com/ptrrrrrck Patrick / ptrrrrrck

    Nice! I only got a few badges higher than level 1 but my ”Baker’s dozen” is currently at level 9 and I think only a few bakeries away from 10, hahaha. I really love it, thanks

  • http://twitter.com/GeekAaron Aaron

    I just checked my badges, and one of mine is already at x3. I am assuming that they are applying this retroactively.

  • http://www.jamaipanese.com Jamaipanese

    Excellent idea, lets see how it works and develops

  • http://christiant.me Christian Turkoanje

    Hmm, don’t see it.

  • http://twitter.com/matthewverygood Matt A.

    I’m super proud to be a 5x Wino. Thanks guys, keep up the awesome work.

  • Behradb

    This is awesome, I love it. At first glance it looks like Level 9 is the max, is this correct?

  • http://blog.davidciani.com David Ciani

    looks like it does. check out your trophy case.

  • http://blog.davidciani.com David Ciani

    looks like it does. check out your trophy case.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=680842891 Tim Ogden

    I’m guessing herbivore is for vegetarian restaurants, hot tamale is for mexican places, and bento is for japanese/sushi spots….

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=680842891 Tim Ogden

    I’m guessing herbivore is for vegetarian restaurants, hot tamale is for mexican places, and bento is for japanese/sushi spots….

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=680842891 Tim Ogden

    I’m guessing herbivore is for vegetarian restaurants, hot tamale is for mexican places, and bento is for japanese/sushi spots….

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=680842891 Tim Ogden

    I’m guessing herbivore is for vegetarian restaurants, hot tamale is for mexican places, and bento is for japanese/sushi spots….

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=680842891 Tim Ogden

    I’m guessing herbivore is for vegetarian restaurants, hot tamale is for mexican places, and bento is for japanese/sushi spots….

  • Anonymous

    Umm im not seeing this? (In the UK)

  • Anonymous

    Umm im not seeing this? (In the UK)

  • http://twitter.com/Ancoti Andy Coticchio

    Level 9 Fresh Brew. No wonder I feel so jittery all the time. Love this, absolutely love this!

  • http://twitter.com/Ancoti Andy Coticchio

    Level 9 Fresh Brew. No wonder I feel so jittery all the time. Love this, absolutely love this!

  • As

    how to unlocked this new badges? Herbivore, Hot Tamale, and Bento, i love it so much, i   love japaneese food,

  • As

    how to unlocked this new badges? Herbivore, Hot Tamale, and Bento, i love it so much, i   love japaneese food,

  • http://www.facebook.com/nico.danneberg Nico Danneberg

    I do not see this, too! :-(

    [ Germany ]

  • http://www.facebook.com/nico.danneberg Nico Danneberg

    I do not see this, too! :-(

    [ Germany ]

  • http://twitter.com/ptrrrrrck Patrick / ptrrrrrck

    I’m german and I see it. Just wait a bit, it appeared after I refreshed the badges page

  • http://twitter.com/ptrrrrrck Patrick / ptrrrrrck

    I’m german and I see it. Just wait a bit, it appeared after I refreshed the badges page

  • http://twitter.com/ptrrrrrck Patrick / ptrrrrrck

    I’m german and I see it. Just wait a bit, it appeared after I refreshed the badges page

  • http://twitter.com/akaCarioca Carlos

    Real use of market data driving business! I Like it!

  • http://twitter.com/akaCarioca Carlos

    Real use of market data driving business! I Like it!

  • Moe Dexler

    I love this idea! Nice Job 4Square.

  • Anonymous

    Love this! Turns the act of collecting badges from a one-time event to an on-going achievement.

  • http://twitter.com/nikspeed renne_rahmschnitzel

    this is awesome!!!!
    so fucking awesome :)
    got my expertise tab in my profile at that very moment :)

  • http://twitter.com/nikspeed renne_rahmschnitzel

    this is awesome!!!!
    so fucking awesome :)
    got my expertise tab in my profile at that very moment :)

  • Anonymous

    Wicked!

  • Anonymous

    Wicked!

  • Ryan T

    Gotta stay ahead of Oink!!! Good feature!

  • http://twitter.com/billybarker billybarker™

    I love this idea. 4sq rules! Others drool… and stuff. :)

  • Evangelos Tselentis

    Great update and I already see how it can be used for marketing purposes! Nice job 4sq!!

  • Ipidydafoo

    Where can I find the expertise tab coz I’m looking & dont see?

  • Ipidydafoo

    Ahhh found it! On Badges page! ;-)

  • Adrian L.

    seems like a great idea.. but soon fake or duplicate venue will pop up way out of control.. there’s already too many now & it’s gonna get worse…

  • http://www.twitter.com/b_boogey_xl b_boogey_xl

    The new way tips will be handled sounds like a response to the new app Oink (???).

    anyway, another great idea for the Foursquare team. keep up the excellent work!

  • Goober

    Will past check-ins count toward the three new badges?

  • Goober

    Will past check-ins count toward the three new badges?

  • Jess S

    the only thing that would make this better would be to let us see our progress towards earning other expertise badges!  I know I’m close to being a warholic….

  • Jess S

    the only thing that would make this better would be to let us see our progress towards earning other expertise badges!  I know I’m close to being a warholic….

  • http://www.facebook.com/Dr1nata Andriyan Malchev

    Must have some beer badge 

  • blueskyfrog

    Not a big fan. Will you be making badges to cover for ALL of the subcategories? Even if you do, I’m now a level 4 coffee expert without drinking a cup in months – I just like the chai tea latte from Starbucks. Some badges are just too broad at the moment. IMO the tab with the most visited categories in the last 6 months in the iPhone app is a far better implementation of the expertise idea – covers more subcategories and shows the exact places a user has been going to.
    Then I don’t like it that I can no longer see where and when I first unlocked each of the expertise badges since it now only shows the place of the last level up.
    Lastly, Pizzaiolo badge can now be unlocked with as little as three unique pizza places check-ins. It ruins the badge for me. Previously unlocking it was something of a real achievement. Now, not so much.

  • Anonymous

    I’m looking to level up in D-bag?

  • http://www.facebook.com/nico.danneberg Nico Danneberg

    Yeah, now it’s there!

  • http://profiles.google.com/bradperala Brad Perala

    excellent

  • willy bahtiar

    bagaimanakah bikin maps lewat PC,, bukan Hp….???
    terimakasih

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001442042790 Christopher Arena

    How high do levels go?

  • Elaine

    I’d also love to see a a “Pho-King” badge (for going to Vietnamese food/pho places), or a “Mad Hatter” badge (for tea rooms/hotels that have afternoon teas)… You can do it 4sq! :)

  • http://twitter.com/MrWirya Wirya Martin

    great improvment from foursquare :)

  • Foursquare Addict
  • http://lorlipop.blogspot.com/ lorlipop

    Nice!

  • http://lorlipop.blogspot.com/ lorlipop

    Nice!

  • colwalker

    I love it. It’s got me right when it has me an expert “Bookworm”. However, it has no category to say that when I go into some shops (bookshops and music shops) that I’m buying DVD’s – ie I’m also a huge DVD collector / expert.  Also, what about giftshops – there should be a badge for giftshops, as I frequent these the most. What about a badge for checking-in at church, too! (Just some thoughts). But again, I love this… as it gives people some purpose in continuing to check-in to their favourite places and not have the ‘fun’ of it gone in their early days checking into them. Well done, guys! Good thinking with this new idea. Have you considered another badge for mayorships, rather than just 10 mayorships. I’m currently in the 80′s and I’m trying to strive for 100, just to see if I can unlock a badge… but it’s hard work, as I’ve been sick recently, and people are starting to outst me out during my time of being less active (oh well…). Again, great idea. Thanks for acknowledging our expertise / interest in these fields. :o )

  • http://twitter.com/mehmet_ozkara Mehmett

    It’s really a great idea! But remember(!) that jumpers will create much more fake places to level up and we (as superusers) will much more struggle with them then ever…

    GOD Save Superusers!

  • http://twitter.com/mehmet_ozkara Mehmett

    It’s really a great idea! But remember(!) that jumpers will create much more fake places to level up and we (as superusers) will much more struggle with them then ever…

    GOD Save Superusers!

  • http://www.bauser.com Michael Bauser

    Frequency is really weak indicator of “expertise.’ My level 5 “Fresh Brew” badge doesn’t really mean I’m a coffee expert; it just means that I don’t like making coffee for myself.

  • stiller

    Does the “Level up” count retrospectively too if you earn a new badge? For example: I do have 31 check-ins at 13 different cafés plus 17 check-ins at 7 different coffee shops but I don’t have the Fresh Brew-badge yet, however. So if I’ll earn it one day, will it be Fresh Brew – level x or just level 1?

  • Foursquare Addict

    Visit Foursquare Addict for Foursquare Badges Information.

  • Foursquare Addict
  • Foursquare Addict
  • Foursquare Addict
  • http://twitter.com/LetsDoHighTea Masuimi

    Does anyone know where 4sq users can make suggestions for new badges?

    I for one would personally love to see a “dance” badge (for dance venues) and a “geek” badge (for computer stores).

  • http://www.janebersbach.de Jan Ebersbach

    Very good evolution!

  • http://www.janebersbach.de Jan Ebersbach

    Very good evolution!

  • http://www.janebersbach.de Jan Ebersbach

    Very good evolution!

  • http://www.janebersbach.de Jan Ebersbach

    Very good evolution!

  • http://www.janebersbach.de Jan Ebersbach

    Very good evolution!

  • http://www.janebersbach.de Jan Ebersbach

    Very good evolution!

  • http://www.janebersbach.de Jan Ebersbach

    Very good evolution!

  • http://www.janebersbach.de Jan Ebersbach

    Very good evolution!

  • http://www.janebersbach.de Jan Ebersbach

    Very good evolution!

  • http://coreyo.com Corey O

    Jetsetter needs to be cleaned up for levels. People check into Airports, Terminals, Gates etc. and they all seem to count for different airports. 

  • Daniel

    What about a recycling center badge?

  • Daniel

    What about a recycling center badge?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001038087041 Nora Allen

    i’d love to see some kinda medical badge..i work in a hospital, and intern in medical centers..a little something for that would be fun!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001038087041 Nora Allen

    i would like to see some sort of medical badge..i work at a hospital and intern at medical centers..just something fun for us healthcare kids!

  • http://twitter.com/EnriqueArR Enrique Armenta

    yeah i like that, i already have the the Hot Tamale badge

  • Yarik

    What about fast food badge :-) ?

  • http://twitter.com/IgoR_LimaP Igor Lima ✔

    I don’t have any expertise badges and I don’t know how to get it… @IgoR_LimaP:twitter 

  • http://twitter.com/nadi2009  Nadi

    Making badges a real reflection of your real-world expertise 

  • http://twitter.com/bberg1010 Brittany Berger

    I would get to Level 10 in no time!

  • http://twitter.com/bberg1010 Brittany Berger

    Maybe not a coffee expert, but if you GO to coffeshops alot you will know more about the actual shops than users with lower levels.

  • http://blog.courtneybolton.com courtneyBolton

    want to see a Brunch badge.

  • Seamus OGeary

    Why no level ups on the Triple Play badge ?

  • Anonymous

    Wow, this is a lot like Oink’s expert ranking…

  • WD

    I must have checked in at more 9 unique airports by now but I just received my Jetsetter Level 1 badge. How is this so? 

  • http://twitter.com/MrsMunson Kristin Munson

    I love the ideas of a beer badge – maybe one that you get for visiting breweries.  I also like the “Pho-King” and “Mad Hatter” badge ideas that Elaine mentioned.

    Personally, I’d like to see an Indian food badge (!!), a Chinese food or Dim Sum badge,  a BBQ badge, and a sandwich shop badge.