Foursquare Flashmob Invitation
Previously, we mentioned how Gowalla teamed up with the Travel Channel to bring users to various locations featured on the show Food Wars, something of a cross-pollination of television promotion and social media. Though the concept ties two media forms together, the results are spread out amongst different random users coming through at different times. It’s a bit like leaving messages on bathroom stall walls: everyone doesn’t write on the wall at the same time – that would be weird… and wrong.
A Milwaukee burger restaurant named AJ Bombers has figured out a way to harness the power of social media promotion all at once, more like a lightning rod and not a very uncomfortable restroom stall. By leveraging geek lust over the hard-to-come-by Foursquare Swarm badge (this is so because 50+ people need to check in at a venue at the same time, not something that happens all too often), the burger joint drew out the Foursquare set in droves. Check out the interview Steffan Antonas did with Joe Sorge, who runs AJ Bombers, to see how it all came together.
[via Steffan Antonas (Thanks, Molly & Mochi!)]
6 Comments
Thanks for the mention of my interview here. I’m glad you enjoyed the article. Joe can teach us all a thing or two about how to use social media the right way. He’s a forward thinking guy.
Hi, Steffan. Very informative post on a great way to use social media for a business, especially a brick & mortar one. And when I say informative, I mean really informative: the story, the video, pics and interview – wow! loaded! Keep up the great work!
Wow, this is fun to see this story spread. We’re having so much fun with all of this that we sometimes forget that we’re running a business. Thanks so much for sharing Steffan’s great post with your readers. I know they’ll love his style.
Cheers!
awesome. thanks for the props! getting the swarm badge was one of the most exciting foursquare moments for me. knowing that you are amongst 50+ geeks (well, foursquare may soon be less for the geeks more for the masses) all whom you have shared interests with is really interesting to me. it will be cool to watch the foursquare and location aware movement over the next few months, its growing so rapidly.
Hey, Joe. No problem! Keep it up – we’re looking forward to what you’ll think of next!
Hi, Molly! Yup, the social dynamics are really interesting to follow as these new communications develop and the meaning of ‘connectedness’ starts to morph into new levels.