Foursquare Goes to College

by Jason Keath
December 7, 2009

100 cities strong since their last roll out, Foursquare seems to be gaining some traction across the country. FoursquareEveryone is making their predictions about whether Foursquare is the next Twitter [including me].

I have been using Foursquare for months now in other cities. When it hit my hometown of Charlotte a couple weeks back, I was surprised how many people jumped on. I had 150 friend requests the day after Charlotte was opened.

UNC Charlotte, my alma mater, only took about a week to see the potential of Foursquare on their campus. Last week they became the first University in the country to offer promotions through Foursquare across their campus.

Foursquare Goes to College

I interviewed Brian Baute, IT Director for Business Services at UNC Charlotte, about what their goals are for using Foursquare campus wide.

According to Foursquare, the only other campuses using their promotions are Columbia, who has one promotion running for their campus movie theater, and Harvard who is developing something campus wide.

College students are an interesting niche for testing Foursquare. While they love their smart phones and Facebook, they are not in tune with much else in the social space.

However, Foursquare is similar to Facebook in the fact that it let’s you see up to the second information about your friends. Foursquare is simple in that respect. I can see college students, who are always looking for the next party, latching on to the “where is everybody at” aspect of Foursquare pretty easily.

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  • http://twitter.com/smashadv Jim Mitchem

    It might be a cool way to migrate people, but at its core, the value of foursquare is the database it mines. an email address plus what (specifically) interests you plus geomapping = gold to advertisers.

  • http://jasonkeath.com jakrose

    Have to agree with you Jim. It does seem to setup a perfect storm of
    targeting data. Hence why everyone is jumping onto geo-location (See
    Twitter, Facebook).

  • http://twitter.com/smashadv Jim Mitchem

    But in Twitter, you have to opt in to become part of it (see settings.) I like that it's not automatic. (though it's coming, I'm sure)

  • http://mediaemerging.com/2009/12/07/foursquares-marketing-potential/ Foursquare’s Marketing Potential » Media Emerging | Scott Hepburn

    [...] of ways businesses can benefit from mobile social networks. Check out Jason Keath’s post Foursquare Goes to College to see how UNC-Charlotte is using [...]

  • http://cltblog.com/5095 UNC Charlotte plays Foursquare | CLT Blog

    [...] Jason Keath interviewed Brian Baute (@brianbaute on Twitter), IT Director for Business Services at UNC Charlotte, to find out more. The interview is posted above. [...]

  • http://wordsdonewrite.blogspot.com/ Amber Avines

    Jason, I think you are right on the money! College is all about finding the latest hangout or hotspot and showing your friends that you're a trendsetter. Foursquare seems like a perfect match for the college crowd (and I'm sure once they get into it, it'll become the new addiction for millennials).

    Amber @wordsdonewrite

  • http://thedreaminaction.com/ Ryan Graves

    Jason- awesome video. Very cool application of foursquare on a campus…

  • http://jasonkeath.com jakrose

    Thanks Ryan. I am eager to see where they go with it. The college student
    demo is an unpredictable and stubborn one when it comes to social.

  • http://thedreaminaction.com/ Ryan Graves

    Very difficult. But awesome if they can nail it.

    Ryan Graves
    312.860.7926
    Twitter: @ryangraves

    From my iPhone, pleeze dirsegard errors

  • http://sparxoo.com/2009/12/10/is-foursquare-a-game-changer/ Sparxoo » Is FourSquare a Game Changer?

    [...] The emergence of location-based apps, the rise in smartphones, successful competitors… why shouldn’t FourSquare succeed? Mashable’s Jennifer Van Grove recently wrote a glowing review of the location-based mobile app — examining key trends that should catapult FourSquare to a Twitter-like status. “Everyone is making their predictions about whether Foursquare is the next Twitter, including me,” writes social media blogger Jason Keath. [...]

  • http://frypandigital.wordpress.com/ Frypan

    It's a perfect marriage for college kids other than the fact they only really utilize Facebook. I don't really care where my brother-in-law ate his last Taco during his lunch break downtown, which is precisely why the college kids should really embrace this one. Can you imagine how much cooler the after-bars would have been at college ?? No more drunk dialing or drunk texting… just foursquare it. Boom. Soco and RC. on my way…
    Frypan

  • higgs

    Very cool video. I love the idea of not only giving the mayor a free drink, but the person behind them as well. It's a great way to spread the idea of Foursquare!

  • kaydubj

    Uh … yeah. I understand your point, but I can't stand the hyperbole. What “College is all about” is getting an education that enables you to compete in the workforce.

  • http://wordsdonewrite.blogspot.com/ Amber Avines

    Kaydubj, your point is well-taken. I meant what the SOCIAL part of college is all about. No higher education experience is complete without a healthy combination of studying AND socializing. As with most things, moderation is the key!

  • http://mashable.com/2010/01/12/harvard-foursquare/ Harvard Teams Up With Foursquare For Collegiate Check-Ins

    [...] it’s genius.For another look at a university getting creative with Foursquare, check out what UNC Charlotte is playing with.[img credit: Stephanie Mitchell, Harvard Staff Photographer]Print StoryTags: [...]

  • http://www.channel321.com/2010/01/13/harvard-teams-up-with-foursquare-for-collegiate-check-ins/ Harvard Teams Up With Foursquare For Collegiate Check-Ins | Channel321

    [...] another look at a university getting creative with Foursquare, check out what UNC Charlotte is playing [...]

  • http://troycornejo.com/blog/?p=779 Harvard Teams Up With Foursquare For Collegiate Check-Ins » Troy Cornejo

    [...] another look at a university getting creative with Foursquare, check out what UNC Charlotte is playing [...]

  • http://clayfranklin.com Clay Franklin

    First MySpace, then Facebook, then Twitter then ?
    Foursquare is quite popular here in the SF Bay Area and I can see how my college age son and his friends would enjoy it. They are more into Facebook than Twitter, They never really moved over to Twitter. I sent a link to him tonight so I wll be interested to see if he likes it.
    Foursquare does have that addicting thing to it like Twitter did when it first started.

  • http://www.ivonson.com/harvard-teams-up-with-foursquare-for-collegiate-check-ins Harvard Teams Up With Foursquare For Collegiate Check-Ins | Wordpress Marketing

    [...] another look at a university getting creative with Foursquare, check out what UNC Charlotte is playing [...]

  • http://www.seggr.com/2010/01/data-patterns-are-emerging/ data patterns are emerging | seggr

    [...] they could mean to businesses and organisations who embrace the medium.  For example, Harvard and Columbia University have already developed specific uses for foursquare, which is starting to generate observations [...]

  • http://mimeeja.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/%e0%b8%a3%e0%b8%a7%e0%b8%a1-link-%e0%b8%81%e0%b8%a3%e0%b8%93%e0%b8%b5%e0%b8%a8%e0%b8%b6%e0%b8%81%e0%b8%a9%e0%b8%b2%e0%b8%99%e0%b8%b3-foursquare-%e0%b8%a1%e0%b8% รวม Link กรณีศึกษานำ Foursquare มาใช้กับภาคธุรกิจ « Mimee’s Blog

    [...] UNC Charlotte & Foursquare [...]

  • http://cyberpopblog.com/?p=3910 mCampus 4Squared

    [...] at Harvard are not the first campus to get all geo-loco: that honor belongs to UNC Charlotte, first out of the gate in North America to offer cross-campus Foursquare [...]

  • http://telecollege.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/harvard-and-unc-charlotte-explore-location-awareness-apps/ Harvard and UNC Charlotte explore location awareness apps « DCCCD Online Campus Blog

    [...] not the only school rushing into the Foursquare foray. UNC  Charlotte has also recently experimented with location-awareness technology. As a matter of fact, that school [...]

  • http://nicksteeves.wordpress.com/2010/03/27/foursquare-at-the-university-of-the-fraser-valley/ Foursquare at the University of the Fraser Valley « Nick Myself

    [...] saw numerous benefits from having an active Foursquare network at UFV like they do at UNC Charlotte and Harvard in the U.S. By having major congregation areas around campus as venues on the [...]

  • http://www.patrickworkman.com/ Patrick Workman

    What has the response been since UNC launched this campaign? Is it still going strong or has the appeal dwindled?

  • http://mashable.com/2010/05/03/foursquare-workplace/ 4 Ways Foursquare Can Improve Your Workplace

    [...] are four ways you can use Foursquare in the workplace.1. OrientationUniversities like Harvard and UNC Charlotte are using Foursquare as a way to introduce students to the campus. Students can check in at the [...]

  • http://www.joshuabridge.com/air/?p=1 4 Ways Foursquare Can Improve Your Workplace | A.I.R (Anything Internet Related)

    [...] Orientation Universities like Harvard and UNC Charlotte are using Foursquare as a way to introduce students to the campus. Students can check in at the [...]

  • http://alexverse.com/2010/05/4-ways-foursquare-can-improve-your-workplace/ 4 Ways Foursquare Can Improve your Workplace | AlexVerse

    [...] Orientation Universities like Harvard and UNC Charlotte are using Foursquare as a way to introduce students to the campus. Students can check in at the [...]

  • http://marthees.com/2010/05/4-ways-foursquare-can-improve-your-workplace/ 4 Ways Foursquare Can Improve Your Workplace | Marthee's Tech News

    [...] are four ways you can use Foursquare in the workplace.1. OrientationUniversities like Harvard and UNC Charlotte are using Foursquare as a way to introduce students … Continue reading this entry Related [...]

  • http://www.bberecruitments.com/?p=11994 Whats Hot » Blog Archive » 4 Ways Foursquare Can Improve Your Workplace

    [...] like Harvard and UNC Charlotte are using Foursquare as a way to introduce students to the campus. Students can check in at the [...]

  • http://djuyadi.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/4-ways-foursquare-can-improve-your-workplace/ 4 Ways Foursquare Can Improve Your Workplace « djuyadi

    [...] Orientation Universities like Harvard and UNC Charlotte are using Foursquare as a way to introduce students to the campus. Students can check in at the [...]

  • http://blog.iuvoonline.com/industry-news/4-ways-foursquare-can-improve-your-workplace/ 4 Ways Foursquare Can Improve Your Workplace | iuvo Shopper & Community Newspaper News

    [...] like Harvard and UNC Charlotte are using Foursquare as a way to introduce students to the campus. Students can check in at the [...]

  • http://www.openeyecommunications.com/blog/plod-on-the-square-foursquare-that-is/ Open Eye Communications » Blog Archive » Plod on the square? Foursquare that is…

    [...] to a recent article on Mashable.com American Universities like Harvard and UNC Charlotte are using Foursquare as a way to introduce students to the campus. Students can check in at the [...]

  • http://dev.iblogger.org/2010/05/4-ways-foursquare-can-improve-your-workplace/ JayEmVey's bờ lốc » 4 Ways Foursquare Can Improve Your Workplace

    [...] Orientation Universities like Harvard and UNC Charlotte are using Foursquare as a way to introduce students to the campus. Students can check in at the [...]

  • http://www.visioninfomark.com/2010/05/03/4-ways-foursquare-can-improve-your-workplace/ 4 Ways Foursquare Can Improve Your Workplace

    [...] like Harvard and UNC Charlotte are using Foursquare as a way to introduce students to the campus. Students can check in at the [...]

  • http://socialfresh.com/foursquare-case-studies/ 21 Unique Location Case Studies from Foursquare, Gowalla, Whrrl, and MyTown

    [...] College Basketball T-shirt Giveaway – UNC Charlotte, the first college/university to implement location based social network [...]

  • cory

    Hey Jason,

    Cory from Big Daddy's Burger Bar on East. I tried your email on this site but it did not work. Any other way for me to get in touch with you. My email is claton@fsfoodgroup.com.

  • http://unisasocialmedia.wordpress.com/2010/06/09/foursquare/ Foursquare « Social media at UniSA

    [...] Now, how can a University use FourSquare? I haven’t heard of any Australian universities using it yet but we seem to be a bit slower on the uptake of these things than our counterparts in the US. UNC Charlotte has been  using it to promote its campus. The main motivation is for them to connect with students and be there with them in new media anbd Foursquare is an ideal platform to interact with students. College students are pertty much known to not particip0ate in social media outside of Facebook but UNC Charlotte is hoping that Foursquare will be a natural extension for students from using Facebook on their mobile phone as it’s an ideal way to find out where their friends are. Read more about it from Jason Keath here. [...]

  • http://neoacademic.com/2010/05/18/dont-use-foursquare-to-improve-your-workplace/ Don’t Use Foursquare To Improve Your Workplace | Thoughts of a Neo-Academic

    [...] Lauby argues that because universities like Harvard and UNC Charlotte have successfully used Foursquare as part of their orientation process (by checking in at various [...]

  • http://dichvuonline.info/2010/06/21-unique-location-case-studies-from-foursquare-gowalla-whrrl-and-mytown/ 21 Unique Location Case Studies from Foursquare, Gowalla, Whrrl, and MyTown « Online Marketing

    [...] Foursquare Grader and Speaker Grader tools.Why It Is Unique : Virtual presence at a conference 8. College Basketball T-shirt Giveaway – UNC Charlotte, the first college/university to implement location based social network special [...]

  • http://dannysauter.wordpress.com/2010/06/24/why-location-matters/ Why Location Matters « Danny Sauter

    [...] Companies are slowly using this platform. Starbucks is offering coupons to the Mayor (person who visits most often) of each of their store locations. Thousands of local stores are also crafting their own promotions: skipping the line if you are Mayor, free eats, and giving away free shirts to fans. [...]

  • Heather

    I work at UNCC and check in to places ALL THE TIME! :) I think I should get a free parking pass for being the mayor of Parking Services!!! :P

    -Heather

  • http://jasonkeath.com jakrose

    That is too funny. I went to UNC Charlotte. Would have loved a free pass for
    checking in. = )

    PS. We have a Foursquare Panel in uptown next Thursday if interested.
    http://amiando.com/sofresh-location. Would love to get some campus people to
    attend.

    Jason Keath

    Social Fresh | jason@socialfresh.com | 704-402-6696

  • Heather

    I won't be in town or I'd check it out! :(

  • http://impactpeoplepractices.com/blog/?p=58 4 Ways Foursquare Can Improve Your Workplace | Impact People Practices

    [...] Orientation Universities like Harvard and UNC Charlotte are using Foursquare as a way to introduce students to the campus. Students can check in at the [...]

  • http://www.open-intelligence.co.uk/tbook/?p=2907 Big Deals – 21 Unique Location Examples from Foursquare, Gowalla, Whrrl, and MyTown [01Jun10] | The Book

    [...] 8. College Basketball T-shirt Giveaway [...]