Websites using Foursquare

Okay, let s break down Foursquare, covering its overview, revenue, alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

Foursquare Overview

Foursquare has evolved quite a bit since its check-in-based social media beginnings. It s now a location data and technology company with two main branches:

• Foursquare City Guide (Consumer App): This is the consumer-facing app that allows users to discover places (restaurants, shops, etc.), read reviews, get recommendations, and save favorites. It s a modern take on the original Foursquare check-in app, focusing on discovery and exploration.
• Foursquare Location Platform (Business Platform): This is the B2B side, which provides location data and APIs to other businesses. Foursquare licenses its vast database of places, POIs (Points of Interest), and foot traffic data to companies for a variety of uses, including:
  • Marketing & Advertising: Targeting ads based on location data, understanding customer behavior in physical spaces.
  • Analytics & Insights: Analyzing foot traffic patterns, competitive intelligence, market research.
  • Product & Innovation: Building location-aware applications, enhancing mapping and navigation services.

Key Points about Foursquare:

• Location Data Expertise: Foursquare is renowned for its large, accurate, and detailed database of places worldwide.
• Evolution: It has shifted from a consumer check-in app to a sophisticated location technology company.
• B2B Focus: The majority of Foursquare s revenue and strategic focus now lies in its B2B offerings.
• Privacy: Foursquare has had to address privacy concerns around location data, and now has stronger privacy features in its consumer app and data-sharing protocols for its B2B clients.

Revenue

Foursquare is privately held, so exact revenue figures aren t publicly available. However, here s what we know and can infer:

• Predominantly B2B Revenue: Most of Foursquare s revenue is generated through its B2B Location Platform. This comes from licensing data, providing API access, and offering analytics services to businesses.
• Data Licensing: Selling access to its POI database and related data is a significant income stream.
• Subscription & SaaS Models: Businesses often pay subscription fees for ongoing access to Foursquare s location platform and analytics tools.
• Advertising: Foursquare also generates some revenue from ads within its consumer-facing City Guide app, though this is a smaller portion of their total revenue.

Alternatives

Foursquare competes with a range of companies, depending on the specific use case:

• For Location Data & APIs (B2B):
  • Google Maps Platform: Offers maps, places data, and location-based services.
  • HERE Technologies: Focuses on mapping and location services, especially for automotive and enterprise.
  • TomTom: Known for maps and navigation; also has location data offerings.
  • SafeGraph: A relatively new competitor focused on POI data.
  • PlaceIQ: Another player in location analytics.
• For Consumer Discovery & Reviews:
  • Google Maps: The dominant player for local search and discovery, with its integrated reviews and listings.
  • Yelp: A long-standing platform for restaurant and business reviews.
  • Tripadvisor: Specializes in reviews and recommendations for travel-related businesses.
  • The Infatuation (food reviews): Specifically for food and restaurants.
  • Local Instagram (influencer discovery): Users can discover local venues via location tags and tagged content.
  • TikTok (Local videos): Short-form videos on local venues

Pricing

• Foursquare City Guide (Consumer): The app is free for consumers to use.
• Foursquare Location Platform (B2B): Pricing is typically not publicly available and is often customized based on:
  • Data Volume: The amount of data access requested (e.g., how many POIs, how often data updates).
  • API Usage: The number of calls made to their APIs.
  • Features and Tools: The specific services and tools required (e.g., analytics dashboards, SDKs).
  • Contract Duration: Longer-term contracts might offer discounted pricing.
• Custom Pricing: Businesses will generally need to contact Foursquare sales to get a specific quote that fits their needs. Expect to have pricing discussions that involve contract, licensing and subscriptions.
• Free Trials: Foursquare may sometimes offer free trials or limited access to their APIs to entice new clients.

Customer Care Details

• For Consumers (City Guide App):
  • In-App Help: The Foursquare City Guide app typically has a help or support section within its settings.
  • Help Center/FAQ: Check the Foursquare website for FAQ and support articles.
  • Email/Contact Form: A contact form can sometimes be found on their website.
  • Social Media: Foursquare might respond to customer queries through their official social media channels.
• For B2B Clients (Location Platform):
  • Dedicated Account Managers: Businesses using the B2B platform usually have dedicated account managers for support and assistance.
  • Technical Support: Technical documentation and support are generally offered to clients integrating their APIs.
  • Training Materials: Foursquare might provide training materials or onboarding processes for new clients.
  • Support Portals: They likely have a dedicated support portal for B2B clients to manage their requests and support tickets.

Important Considerations:

• Privacy: Always review Foursquare s privacy policies, particularly when using or integrating their location data.
• Accuracy: Location data accuracy is crucial; consider evaluating the reliability and completeness of Foursquare s data for your particular use case.
• Integration Complexity: Integrating location APIs can sometimes be complex. Make sure to have adequate development resources.

Let me know if you have more questions on any particular aspect of Foursquare!