Comments on: What’s left of the check-in space now that Facebook Places launched?

By: awaldstein

awaldstein — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:02:19 +0000

Hi William

I'm with you on part of this. I'm an active Foursquare user and very dedicated to my Facebook community.

But I've kept my check-ins off of my Facebook feed for now as (for whatever reason) they don't fit with what I want to share globally with my network. If I could share my check-ins only with those where I am, I'm all for it.

If Places can fix that, I'll still use Foursquare but send the check-ins into my feed.

Thanks for your comments.

By: William Hushburn

William Hushburn — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 06:31:01 +0000

I'm an active foursquare user and i linked my check-ins to my Facebook account. If Facebook will have their own check-ins, i would still use foursquare because i think it's far different and i already got a lot of badges.

By: awaldstein

awaldstein — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:29:49 +0000

Hi Martin

Yes...Facebook has flattened the world and made global local. No doubt about it. I'm a big fan and work with clients on their fan page and app strategies.

I'm with you that the old way is not necessarily the right way. And agree with you that the power of community is a game changer... even though the concept of community and dynamic relationships between company and customer is age old.

Challenges arise aplenty when companies, especially legacy companies dig down to rediscover themselves and find a way to honestly engage with their audiences.

I think Places will be a monster...and that is targeting the local marketplace. No question and I'm excited to play with it.

My point is that I don't necessarily think this is the end of the check in wars..I think it is only the beginning.

By: MartinEdic

MartinEdic — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:36:19 +0000

Facebook is made for local. As an experiment last December I put up a Facebook Page for a friend's restaurant and basically forgot about it. When I finally checked it in January it had 265 Fans. It now has over 1000. They no longer buy any advertising. Places will only accelerate this, especially for 'community' businesses, places where people go to see or be around other people.

By: awaldstein

awaldstein — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 12:46:00 +0000

Ken…

Check out Om Malik's piece on Places and Yelp @ http://gigaom.com/2010/08/20/facebook-places-th....

Maybe he and you are correct. Big question is of course is that even if Facebook is focusing on the local market and Yelp, whether the switching of the monster's tail won't crush the little players who are in the way.

Thanks again for your comments.

By: awaldstein

awaldstein — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 01:17:49 +0000

Thanks very much for the comment and the info Ken.

I'm very interested in this space and consult to clients in pieces of it.

Generally I agree with you...it will be an interesting couple of months to watch.

I'll check out wegeo and simplegeo and see what I think.

I'm also meeting with a company soon that bridges Foursquare and Groupon..a good spot to potentially be in.

Please fee free to connect with me through one of my networks as I'd like to keep in touch.

By: Ken O'Berry

Ken O'Berry — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 22:45:18 +0000

Facebook Places would seem to eviscerate Foursquare and put Yelp on a suicide watch. But this isn't the end of location apps, far from it. If all I care about is where my friends are and serendipitous encounters, then Facebook is the only game that matters. But there are ways to leverage location that don't have anything to do with having a drink with my friends or tracking my lifestream. I think you hit on that regarding location and coupons. Many uses can't/won't be targeted by Facebook. They'll just be all that much better because those that are innovative can build on top of the Facebook Places platform. I think We Geo http://bit.ly/WeGeo will be one of those companies. There will be others.

One company I haven't heard mentioned thusfar in the rush to judgement is SimpleGeo. Seems like it could be game over for those guys.

By: awaldstein

awaldstein — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:57:49 +0000

To add to the story, Rich Staats brought this article by Ben Parr in Mashable to my attention–”Foursquare Experiences Record Signups After Launch of Facebook Places” @ http://mashable.com/2010/08/20/foursquare-new-u...

Foursquare CEO Crowley said that he believes Facebook and Foursquare serve two different purposes. “Facebook is about sharing experiences that you’ve had,” he said. “Foursquare is more about the present tense and the future tense.”

Honestly, I don't think that captures it but I do believe that Foursquare has something special and the ever growing dislike for Facebook's attitude can't hurt either.

By: awaldstein

awaldstein — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:58:21 +0000

Hi Rich, great to hear from you.

Agree…and I really believe that their opening (or one of them) is in the intersection with the coupon and Groupon defined space.

By: Rich Staats

Rich Staats — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:46:47 +0000

I want to believe that Facebook Places is the best thing to happen to Foursquare. For a moment there, everyone else in the geo location, “check-in” space was left in the dust. For a moment, foursquare had won. But I think that once you have the mindset, you forget how to take an edge on your competition, and your goal is to “stay ahead.”

Places no doubt sparked a fire under their asses, and you can bet that they are back to the “my home is my office” start up drive that got them to where they were prior to FB's announcement. I'm more excited for foursquare now than ever.

Game on.