32nd Check-In | The Publix Foursquare Watch

Foursquare's Bender Badge

Oops.

I meant to slip in quietly, and just pick up a few things. But I hit the wrong button, and again, publicly checked-in at my Publix late Friday night…

And to make it more obvious that I have no life, I was publicly rewarded the “Bender” badge from Foursquare, meaning I’ve checked-in to the same location FOUR days in a row.

As you know, I am blogging every time I check-in to my local Publix on Foursquare, and do NOT hear from the store. Last night was my 32nd check-in. But this “Bender” badge gave me a new idea…

Todd’s Free Publix Tip: When a customer as nuts as me checks-in FOUR days in a row, they should get recognized. But not by some conventional means. If you are on a “bender,” as this badge playfully suggests, you should receive something playful, such as one of those temporary Publix tattoos. After all, don’t we usually end up with tattoos after a three-day weekend bender? Oh, and wouldn’t that be something fun and memorable for Publix customers to talk about?

The Store: Publix Supermarket
[Store # 00033]
3605 Sandy Plains Road
Suite 200
Marietta GA 30066
770.578.6000
[Todd will continue to blog after each Publix check-in, until he hears from the store. In the meantime, he will continue to offer free ideas on how Publix can use a service like Foursquare...Join the watch!]

Tagged as: Foursquare, Publix

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http://www.tarynp.com Taryn Pisaneschi ( @TarynP )

Todd,

I really admire what you are doing. Especially how you linked Foursquare to Publix and the badge and coupled it with free marketing tips… There is no doubt that when Publix starts looking for marketing help, you'll be at the top of their list.
tschnick

Thanks TP! Maybe we can all have a little fun here, and learn at the same time… Appreciate you stopping by!
http://thehumanracehorses.com Michael

Hello Todd – I love this, but Publix is still developing their social media policy. May be a lot of blog posts before you get a foursquare response! I passed this post along though!
tschnick

Ha! I was wondering if you would see this. Thanks for stopping by, and passing it along. Will be fun and help all of us learn…
http://ypsgroup.com/blog Todd Youngblood

Todd,

OK, I finally get Foursquare. Your Publix “campaign” did the trick, and my knee-jerk reaction is to start using it all the time. Hong Kong Star will be thrilled that I check in when I go for my Chinese-Food-Fix, and I think I have a good shot at becoming mayor. Cool!!!

…but then I think about my target audience/followers. Why would the CEO of a chemical company in Monterrey, Mexico care? Or a VP Sales for an industrial distributor in Chicago? Or an owner of a system integrator in Birmingham? Might these executives miss some of the meaty, valuable content I post because they become too accustomed to quickly skipping over what for them is non-business, maybe even frivolous posts from me?

In other words, I want it both ways. I want the local businesses I frequent to recognize me, but I really, REALLY don't want to risk diluting the impact and/or visibility of my strictly business content. Help!

TY
http://www.psbydesign.com Theo

Todd, I am enjoying your post because this topic is quite interesting to me — but please educate me, what the heck is Four Square?
tschnick

Todd, I appreciate your dilemma. But I wouldn't worry about it.

There is a big flow of social media messaging, and trust me, your audience isn't sitting at their desk just waiting for your next tweet.

In fact, I strongly believe you should mix in some “human” dialog into your stream. When I talk with my clients, I don't just talk about work. I ask about their family, what they are up to, or ask about the Braves…

No different than mixing in a little variety into your social web stream.

If they care about Todd Youngblood, they care about your “whole” life.

And finally, the CEO of a chemical company in Mexico probably doesn't care. But that doesn't mean other prospects and clients don't…

Why I care is that if there is someone I want to know, or do business with, reacting to their Foursquare updates is a great way to launch a conversation…
jacquichew

I read your tweet about this a while ago. It is absolutely HILARIOUS and you certainly have a great sense of humor. But the sad part of all this is your posts are probably giving someone in the comm/pr dept at Publix a migraine/nervous breakdown/desire to quit their job. ; )
tschnick

Oh no! Well, if this is giving their comm/pr people a migraine, and a desire to quit their job, then methinks they need a different job. As you can tell from my obnoxious amount of check-ins, I love this store. I just think they, and other retail locations not participating in geolocation, are missing out big time.

Just trying to spark some fun ideas, and help my local store! Thanks so kindly for coming by….

intrepid search

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