1. As we continue living the “M-life” increasing the connection
between analog and digital spaces is only a natural progression.
kuang woo photography
2. Connected consumers have become more location aware through
the mass rise of geoutilities.
image by heartbreaker
3. For example,
Apple’s Iphone
stores the
longitude and
latitude of a
user’s
movements
which is
synchronized to
the owner’s
computer when
connected with
Itunes. (Source:
Charles Arthur,
Apr 2011)
image by janesullivan
5. “These phones may store
as much as a year’s worth
of location data—data
that could be snooped
by law enforcement,
creditors, jealous
spouses, or— more
troubling, and probably
more likely—hackers,
malware operators and
stalkers.” (Source: Glenn
Harlan Reynalds,
Smartphone Searches
Not So Smart, April
2011)
image by rekha6
6. Google is also introduced the “Latitude” system which provides user
location details to their contacts. (Source: Charles Arthur, Apr 2011)
image by michaeeel
7. Social media hubs such as
Foursquare and Gowalla
allow people to post status
updates just like Twitter
and Facebook.
8. However Foursquare focuses on geotagging – using GPS cell networks to
triangulate your position and allowing you to “check in” at various places.
image by james u.k.
9. Each “check in” is an achievement which awards user points and badges.
image by tikaro
10. You can even be crowned “Mayor” of that venue if you check
in more days than anyone in the past 60 days.
image by ntr23
11. Gowalla has also added a competitive element where virtual items
are added and can be found at the coordinates of a location.
image by newmanchu
12. In April 2011, Foursquare reported over 8 million users adding
around 35,000 new users a day. (Source: Foursquare, Apr 2011).
image by eric doolan
13. Marketers have acknowledged that they can engage
with consumers on Foursquare’s platform.
image by masstransmit
14. The “catch-a-choo” campaign demonstrates how Jimmy Choo
in collaboration with Fresh Networks used a Foursquare
scavenger hunt to increase sales.
image by lomakev
15. “In just 3 weeks 4,500 individuals participated in the trainer
hunt in a bid to ‘catch’ the trainers and win a pair for
themselves.” (Source: FreshNetworks, 2010).
image by myretailmedia
16. Other organizations are using this opportunity to connect with
consumers by offering special deals or incentives to drive up sales.
image by yuwco
17. Users themselves are also “branding”
themselves by choosing where to check in.
image by lululemonathletica
18. Barry Lowenthal uses Foursquare to receive
promotional offers from venues that are close by and
relevant to him.
image by gavinz
20. Questions of personal and home security with use of
geo-tagging as venues become more transparent.
image by pinkbelt
21. Although these concerns have been raised, geolocational
tools like Foursquare have been highly effective in retaining
georelevance.
image by dnfisher
22. While we continue to live mobile, nomadic lifestyles the
geoutility platforms will be a powerful social medium for
marketers and connected publics..
image by tonyshi
23. All images are licensed under the creative commons, non-
commercial share alike 3.0 agreement and sourced from flickr
image by michael.sutton
