Foursquare Day Post

Foursquare is an app that lets people find out who and what are around their current location. http://foursquare.com (it’s best on iPhone if you have one).

The app has an avid following due to the compelling game mechanics involved. Checking in at certain locations unlock “badges” that users rack up and can show off to their friends. The app also uses points to allow friends to compete for leaderboard position among other things. Business are now using the app as a way to market to customers directly when they check in and when they check in nearby (for example, checking in at McDonalds and getting a blip about a Burger King foursquare-only special on your phone.

A group in Tampa, FL (http://4sqday.com) decided that since 4 squared = 16, April 16th should be Foursquare day to celebrate how social media can bring people together and help people find new hotspots and places around them. They started a website to catalog all the participating venues and have been very active on Twitter (http://twitter.com/4sqday) and Facebook (http://twitter.com/4sqday) promoting the event.

All day long vendors and merchants all over Portland and other major cities will be offering discounts to Foursquare users when they check in to their locations. The deal specifics are on the event website, http://4sqday.com and the regular foursquare deals (not limited to 4sqday) are at http://foursquare.com/businesses .

Portland has been getting the ball rolling by starting a facebook page (http://facebook.com/foursquaredayPDX) and Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/4sqdayPDX) to coordinate efforts and share news regarding the event.

THE BIG PITCH: Whiffies fried pies on SE 12th and Hawthorne is hosting a Foursquare Day “SuperSwarm” party from 10PM to 1AM. A Foursquare “Swarm” is when 50 users check in to one location. A superswarm is when 250 users all check in to the same location. Among the basic foursquare deal (when 10 users are checked in, everyone gets $1 off their first pie), Whiffies is going to be giving away Free Pie for a Year to one lucky Foursquare user to commemorate the event if the SuperSwarm badge is achieved. There will also be a swarm event at Lion’s Eye Tavern from 8PM to 10PM with Buy One Get One Free beer on your first check in and many more deals at http://4sqday.com/city/portland).