Joined the Foursquare network for 7 months now but I have to admit I did not quite get it before. However, same as in any other social network, you really need to engage into it to see whether you can fit in. So this week I decided to use the Foursquare service as much as possible. Turned out I am addicted to it as you can see from the following six signs:
- You visit new places for lunch every day. Not for variety, but to earn more points (you get 5 points for every new place you check in).
- You revisit all the shops around your place to see any shops you can add to Foursquare database and of course, to get more check-ins (you get another 5 points for adding new place to Foursquare database).
- You will get mad by the inaccurate addresses and rush home / office early to login to Foursquare website to fix it (once you get enough points or add enough new places, you will become a “superuser” and empowered to edit places).
- On the way to office or back home, you alight the bus or subway one stop after or before – such that you can find some new places around your place, then walk back to your destination.
- While checking-in, you will look around when you find someone just checked-in the same place … even though he/she is not your friend.
- You left your smartphone at home and feel sorry about that. Not because you cannot make phone calls but cannot check-in easily.
Other tips:
- If you want to become a place’s mayor, you need to upload your profile photo.
- “To-Dos” are more like “notes to yourself” (e.g. “Remember to ask for free dessert.”)
So, after a week’s heavy use, I am now the top 5 users in town (I think that’s the best I can do). Feel good !! And I guess it’s one of reasons that keep me going – “Life as a game”.
M.Y. Lessons Learnt 