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Foursquare Makeover – A Prettier Version of Yelp?

Chris Marentis | September 5th, 2014
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Foursquare has undergone a complete overhaul, but it is difficult, at first glance, to differentiate exactly what makes the new Foursquare different from other major local business listing services such as Yelp. One of its most notable qualities is its value proposition; Instead of giving generic reviews, it provides reviews that are customized for the end user.

How Well Can Foursquare Tell What People Will Like Best?

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Can Foursquare really make suggestions that are spot-on? It seems iffy. After all, people that routinely read online reviews before patronizing a business can figure out whether or not they are apt to like it based on the reviews alone. Readers that care about great ambiance can figure out if a place has harsh lighting and outdated dcor by reading reviews on sites such as Yelp. Similarly, readers that really care about an extensive drink list can quickly figure out whether or not an establishment has one.

Numerous local business owners in the service industry prompt customers to give feedback and post online reviews. To be blunt, customers require a good amount of motivation to post something on a review site. Do they need another? In truth, small businesses can grow on a number of different sites. However, harassing customers to write reviews is almost always a bad idea.

The Challenge of the User With Eclectic Tastes With Locations Thrown In

Algorithms that focus on relevancy are increasingly advanced on a broad scope. However, pinpointing what a certain person wants at any given point in time seems like artificial intelligence with some ESP capabilities thrown in. Arguably, a person who enjoys fine dining might want to find quick and easy takeout on occasion and vice versa.

Some people seem to be delighted by almost everything at different times. Nearby ice cream might not seem enticing during a snowstorm, even for the most enthusiastic frozen dessert aficionados. It begs the question, why do users who already know what they want and what they do not want need an algorithm to tell them? Additionally, numerous locations do not have an endless variety of options. Suburban America is a far cry from the center of New York City. Similarly, quaint towns in the Scottish countryside have much more limited options than London.

What Is the Meaningful Difference Between Foursquare and Yelp?

It is difficult to pinpoint what is different other than user preference. Some users enjoy sites that post striking pictures, and other users enjoy sites that have clean layouts. More important, users want to know that local business listing services provide genuine reviews from real people. The power of social influence is lost when a site starts to curate and influence the reviews it hosts.

Next Steps for Local Business Owners

Instead of focusing on nuances in local business listing services, local business owners should continue on providing exceptional services. Give people something to write about. After all, there are few things more powerful than recommendations from an enthusiastic audience on any major review site.

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Posted in Local Search, SEOTagged foursquare, local business SEO, local search, Online Reviews, yelp

About the Author: Chris Marentis

For nearly three decades, Chris Marentis, founder and CEO of Surefire Social, has been responsible for driving innovation and sales growth for large media and e-commerce brands as well as start-ups. Marentis is a frequent speaker at local digital marketing conferences and a contributor to SMB and technology-focused publications.

Surefire Social

3 thoughts on “Foursquare Makeover – A Prettier Version of Yelp?”

  1. garrett says:
    September 5, 2014 at 12:47 pm

    I dont particularly like it. I’m an avid user of yelp. I’ve found so many great places to eat since i started using it. I recently was checking out foursquare, but i don’t really see the point, when you could just use yelp, which is just a better version of what foursquare has to offer.

    1. Ruud Hein says:
      September 8, 2014 at 7:09 am

      Interesting, Garrett. Do you use the service/app in your own town or when you’re on the road?

  2. Sarah says:
    September 12, 2014 at 6:21 am

    Given both Foursquare and Yelp, we prefer Foursquare due to its gamification setup.Its certainly more fun and engaging.The new changes are to make it prettier,yes,but they should not discourage the engagement!

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