Dropping the Ball: Wanna Play Foursquare?

I’ve heard the talk about it for weeks and finally had to drop the ball to say something about Foursquare. Everyone says it’s the next big thing next to Twitter and Facebook. As technology evolves, so do the applications and the attitudes around them. Am I wrong to believe that there are some people that still have yet to share every detail of their lives on Twitter and appreciate when others write something more meaningful or informative, rather than what one has for breakfast everyday? Or, maybe there are still those that wish to keep their comments private and not promote it in Twitter-ville.

I can see where Foursquare can be a great new tool for marketers and an interesting combination of mobile, social media and creating brand ambassadors to engage users. Yet, there are still some of us that prefer our anonymity and don’t want the world to know where we are all the time even if it’s towards earning discounts, or being recognized as a VIP shopper. Marketers use loyalty cards as a way to provide rewards for repeat business, but the customers are not on a public display every time one makes a purchase. I could see Foursquare being a problem for those that don’t wish to jump in and pass the ball to others promoted on a public stage.

Do we really need to know how many times Jack Smith went to Trader Joe’s twice in one week to buy some groceries, picked up a BigMac sandwich at McDonald’s Monday and on Thursday a vanilla shake, and earned himself the honorable badge of Mayor for the Sports Authority down the street. Wow, he can connect with other people using Foursquare too that have frequent those same spots 10 times this week!

Obviously, this new type of tracking device is sure to be a hit with marketers. The company will use, or sell the data, as a better means to track customers with the right campaign message and offer rewards based on one’s interests and frequency of visits.

We already know the loyalty cards measure our purchases, cookies track our performance online, and now Foursquare is going to track every step. I’m not sure everyone will embrace this concept and it will be interesting to see how it takes off. Perhaps, we have come to a crossroad where technology and social media is becoming more a part of our lifestyle and it’s accepting to most. Yet, there are still those that don’t like the intrusion of their privacy, nor those that wish to hear of the daily activities of others updated all day on their Facebook page. I can hear that popular Police song “Every step you take, every move you make, I’ll be watching you,” now becoming more of a reality each day. I can also hear a lot of people saying no thanks.

Don’t get me wrong, I can see the potential of this platform, but I have a hunch that it will need some adaptations for more adopters to participate. Hmmm, I have my own idea called Hopscotch …coming soon!

Make Me Over. Helping to Create Your Virtual Presence & Profiles.

Did you lose your job?

Do you need to increase sales for your business?

Do you want to impress someone in hopes to date?

Do you just want to send out the right message to others about you and don’t know where to start?

Start taking control of your virtual presence and making a serious commitment as you have with your personal relations.

People are watching, reading or learning about you whether you like it or not. Thanks to the web and search engines, otherwise known as “Googling someone.” It’s as important to define who you are in person, as much as you define yourself online. Put your best foot forward as to how individuals come into contact with your background to learn more about you in cyberspace. Today it’s important to be accessible online if you want to get noticed.  Whether it’s for your career development, meeting that special someone to enhance your life, or to just network with others showcasing your personality and talents to build stronger relationships. It’s difficult to climb an uphill battle to gain back one’s reputation, integrity and build respect among others than anything else. We must consider our interactions in the real-world and how it may impact our presence in the virtual world. Of course, we can’t worry what others think about us all the time because there are all sorts of people with different motives. But, it’s important for everyone to take the necessary steps to manage both one’s online and off-line reputation. Let me help you create your profile in the virtual world to lead you on the path to success. Every environment online can be different and keeping track of all the tools can be overwhelming. Take my advice to assess your personality and perfect your profiles across the web.

Give yourself a virtual make-over. Craft the right message, to the right audience to attract others professionally, or enhance your relationships with others. Gain the proper exposure about you, or your business to make a positive impact with others. Whether it’s Match.com, LinkedIN, Facebook, Twitter, your personal blog, or providing guidance for a face-lift to your website, let me assist you in the areas where you virtual presence will help you get noticed. CIO.com offers some advice on Managing Your Reputation Online