I recently had a meeting with a local pastor who oversees the college and young adults in his church. They have a great size building with a concert/coffee shop and very active local youth. I will be working with him on ways to grow his ministry and thought of Foursquare and Gowalla. I though I would share with everyone what I am sharing with him.
Traditionally, the internet has been for the conquest of global brands and national businesses. It’s focus has been almost non-existant for the local business or ministry. But now there is a move towards the local businesses that is changing the shape of the internet. Finally, local businesses have a new reach using local search, location based services and geotagging. Leading the march for geotagging is Foursquare, a newer startup that rewards users for exploring their neighborhoods.
What Is Geotagging?
Geotagging is basically a mixture of social networking with whatever local community you are in using GPS technology. Geotagging allows live real-time sharing of your activities which could allow you to receive promos and special offers based on location and activity.
Geotagging also is used by google, twitter, Facebook, and other social networks for identifying your current location and activities. It allows you to attach photos, videos, status, reviews,etc to any location you are present at.
How Foursquare Works
Foursquare is a location based social networking site fused with a game that anyone can play.
It’s Sunday and people are out and about in the city. You can advertise or suggest your church service to those in the area. Maybe reward the first 5 new visitors who “Check In” using Foursquare with a small gift.
With Foursquare, users (or “players” since it’s more like a social game) are rewarded for their continued check-ins to your locations with “badges” and earning status ranks. For example, if you log into 10 different locations, you get the Adventurer badge. The player/person who logs into your location more than anyone else gets the location title of Mayor.
Why It Works
First of all, Foursquare is a game. It rewards users by checking into it’s system and gives them a feeling of accomplishments for every day tasks. This fits right into Generation Y’s common need for reward and entitlement. Also as part of these accomplishments, it opens up perks and rewards only available to those who have achieved them. Venues are encouraged to reward users based on accomplishments. For example, you could give a free coffee or brownie to whoever is mayor of the moment. This encourages players to visit your venue in order to receive a reward.
Getting Started With Foursquare
Ok, getting your church in foursquare is easy. It might even already be in foursquare from one of your church members using it.
- Start off by heading over to http://foursquare.com/businesses/ and follow directions. Or you can do a search for your venue and either “Claim it” or “add it” if it is not already in Foursquare. You will need to be able to answer the phone number listed at the business for it to verify you as the owner.
- Put up promotional material at your church. You want to inform your members on a regular basis to use it. You can print posters from Foursquare or add yourself to the request list for wall stickers from Foursquare.
- Promote use of Foursquare on your blog, website, twitter account, and Facebook page.
- Maybe post the weekly mayor on the church announcements, posters, etc. Maybe even from the pulpit!
Using Foursquare To Your Advantage
Offering rewards to players who use Foursquare is important to the success of this type of campaign. Successfully using Foursquare will result in more people coming to your church and learning about the Kingdom of God. Give mayors something non-churchy as a reward. Why non-church related prizes? While Foursquare could help attendance for current members, ultimately you want to use it for outreach. Your goal is to encourage those who are not necessarily interested in coming to church, to stop by and check in. You could reward “first time” check-ins. This will help you connect to a person who has never been to your church before, and potentially never experienced who Christ is. Have a “Check in” table with trained members who will give out the rewards and assess those who stop by. They may need just a friendly greeting, prayer, or help in some way.
One church I know of gave “Free Chick-Fil-A Sandwiches” to first time players, which Chick-Fil-A donated for this purpose to the church. Businesses will give you free stuff to give away because its a good way they can support your church and get business too! It’s a win win situation for both.
Remember, players using Foursquare in the area, will see what is going on at your venue and could be enticed to come join in!
Got Any Ideas?
Did I miss something? What are ways you can use Foursquare for your church.
