Foursquare for Event Promotion & Check-In

We’ve mentioned on this blog a great number of ways to successfully throw the biggest and best event you’ve ever seen.  We’ve gone over how Facebook, Twitter and blogs can be used to create a buzz and then spread it like wildfire before your event happens.  Now we have another tool that is rapidly gaining in popularity and yes, effectiveness.  Have you ever thought of promoting your event and your event-check in with Foursquare?
The bottom line is, over the last year and a half, geo-tagging and geo-location has become one of the biggest and fastest moving trends.  They are well on their way to the billion mark for check-ins and I don’t see many signs of it stopping.  With this much momentum, it’s time to get on board and start using Foursquare to promote your event and event-check-in.  Here are a few ways to do it:

1. Add Your Venue – Before your event is even close to beginning, start off by adding your venue and event to Foursquare.  Name the venue whatever your event will be called, add the address, your Twitter information and even a website for the event.  Pick a category and you’re ready to start marketing your event.
2. Create Check-In Incentives – Foursquare uses an entertaining “specials” system that businesses can use to draw in customers.  Events can do the same exact thing.  If you create rewards for event check-ins you could create a buzz that will spread a lot faster than any other method.  Have a first check-in reward, or create a drawing out of all the names of those that checked-in.  Announce your incentive early and often to keep the buzz, well, buzzing.
3. Leave Tips and Ideas – When your event is up and the buzz has started buzzing, leave fun ideas, information about your event, tips for what people can do in the surrounding area and any kind of additional information your guests might need.  The more information they have at their disposal, the more they’ll see that their best interest is your first priority.

Between Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and so many other social networking sites there are more methods of social media at your disposal than ever before.  By harnessing the power of these sites and services, you can take your event promotion to the next level.  Once the guests are in, do not forget to also tap into the power of event technology to make the event (that you spent all that time marketing) truly unforgettable.
Receive all of the latest fundraising and silent auction system news by subscribing to the Purple Carpet Event Blog RSS feed or by email. Or follow us on Twitter and ‘Like’ us on Facebook.