THE DREAM IN ACTION

For a while now I’ve been writing about Foursquare customer development, sales, and business development. I’ve written about my experience as a foursquare sales rep and the challenges of selling to local venues. Now, I’d like to share some of the details of my newest project and what we’re going to accomplish.

I’m extremely excited for this project because of foursquare’s opportunity and potential to change the way business is done.  The challenge of reaching local venues is incredibly difficult and the only successful method to date has been to deploy a very large sales force. Yelp and others have used this method but in my mind traditional methods are not very exciting. What if there was a new way to sell at the local level? What if you could reach venues through their customers and create a win win experience that benefits every party? The possibility of that win win is very exciting, innovative, and exactly what we’re going to build with the Foursquare Street Team.

In the movie ‘The Patriot’, Mel Gibson builds and leads a militia to attack the British in a way that they had never seen, on the ground and by surprise. The normal sales approach has been the equivalent of the “line up and shoot at each other approach” of the pre-American Revolution British Army and what we’re going to build is a quick moving and innovative militia. This “street team” is made of up passionate foursquare users and passionate customers who want their venues to benefit from the value of being connected to customers like never before.

Our next step is forming this street team and empowering them to show venues the value of foursquare. If your an excited foursquare user, see the value of the platform for venues and users, I’d love to speak with you. We’re going to kick this effort of initially in Chicago and expand from there, so please get in touch. [ryan@renliv.com]

Here’s where we are now.

Existing Chicago Foursquare Promos

@ Chaise Lounge: Show that you’ve checked in on Foursquare and get 10% off on food.  Show your waiter to redeem!

@ Dragonfly Mandarin: Show that you’ve checked in on Foursquare and get 20% off every 6th visit!  Show your server to redeem

@ Piece: Show that you’ve checked in on Foursquare and you’re mayor and get your second pint on us! You can also follow Piece on Twitter

@ The Drawing Room at Le Passage: Show that you’ve checked in on Foursquare to the Drawing Room and get a free dessert with the purchase of an entree, small plate or drink. Show your waiter to redeem! Follow the Drawing Room on Twitter

@ David Burke’s Primehouse: Show your server that you’ve checked into David Burke’s Primehouse on foursquare and we’ll send out a complimentary chef’s choice appetizer to add to your breakfast, lunch or dinner. You can also follow David Burke’s Primehouse on Twitter

@ J Bar: Show your cocktail server or bartender that you’ve checked into J Bar on Foursquare, and receive 2 cocktails for the price of 1 before midnight.

@ Metropolis Rotisseria & Annettes: Show that you’re mayor of Metropolis and get a free brownie!

@ Meze Tapas: Show that you’ve checked-in on Foursquare and get 20% off meal with purchase of a pitcher of house sangria.

@ The Food Feastivals: Show that you’ve checked in on Foursquare and get one free admission per paid $10 admission!

@ The Hunt Club: Get a free shot with a foursquare check in, show to staff to redeem!

@ The James Hotel Lobby Bar: Show your cocktail server or bartender that you’ve checked into The James Hotel Lobby Bar on foursquare and receive 2 cocktails for the price of 1.

@ Wow Bao: Show that you’re mayor of Wow Bao on Foursquare and get a free 6-pack of bao!

You can follow Wow Boa on Twitter

@ Wow Bao – Chicago Loop: Show that you’re mayor of Wow Bao on Foursquare and get a free 6-pack of bao!

@ Wow Bao – Water Tower: Show that you’re mayor of Wow Bao on Foursquare and get a free 6-pack of bao!