Austin360 blogs > Digital Savant > Archives > 2010 > April > 29 > Entry
Getting set up and checking in with Gowalla/Foursquare (Part 2)
Yesterday, we talked about why you’d want to use location-based social networks like Foursquare and Gowalla and what they are. Today, we’ll look at the basics of setting up an account and starting to check in around town.
Tomorrow, we’ll talk about safety, privacy and tips from power users on getting the most out of these networks in Part 3 of this set of blog posts. On Saturday, a version of this story will run in the American-Statesman’s Life & Arts section.
Feedback or questions? Please post them in the comments.
How do I get started?
First, you’ll want to download the Foursquare or Gowalla app for your cell phone and keep it updated. Updates often bring new features like search or improved GPS functionality, so check every week or two to make sure you have the latest version.
Foursquare and Gowalla apps are available for free download for the iPhone, Android-based smart phones and some BlackBerry and Palm phone models. You can find them at Foursquare.com or Gowalla.com or in the app store or marketplace for your phone.
Once it’s installed, you’ll want to set up a profile. A few tips: Use a real photo of yourself, not an animated icon or abstract image. People who accept you as a friend — especially those who don’t know you well — will want to know you’re a real person.
If you have Twitter or Facebook accounts, you can link them to your Gowalla or Foursquare account. Be mindful of your friends when you’re posting via these services, though: If you post every Gowalla or Foursquare update to your Twitter followers or Facebook friends, you’ll soon find yourself annoying everyone. Both allow you to choose when you’re broadcasting to these services, so pay attention when you use this option.
Using Foursquare and Gowalla is no fun if you do it alone. You can find friends who are using the services by searching for a name or e-mail address, connecting to your Gmail or Yahoo address book (don’t worry, the services won’t spam your e-mail contacts after your search), or by using your Twitter and Facebook contacts. You can also invite a friend to join with an e-mail. Foursquare has about 1 million users, while Gowalla has about 150,000.
Now that you’re all set up, you’re ready to go out and check in with the world.
Checking in
The “check-in” is the heart of both services. To use it, go to a bar or restaurant, launch the app and click on “Check In.” If your GPS is working right, you should see a list of nearby locations, topped by the one you’re closest to.
If the location doesn’t show up, you can type the name in the search bar. If the location is obscure or new, it’s possible it’s not listed yet. You can create a new spot, but you’ll want to double-check that the location hasn’t already been created.
Once you’ve got your location, confirm your check-in. You’ll be able to see who’s been there recently, how far away it is (in meters or kilometers) who’s mayor (in the case of Foursquare), specials that are available (if any) and decide whether you want your check-in shared publicly.
Checking in often enough can earn you badges or pins — some are based on visiting locations often; others are awarded for checking in at a pre-set list of locations (say, best barbecue spots in Texas).
On Foursquare, being the most frequent visitor of a spot over two months makes you “Mayor.” A mayorship can easily be lost, however, if someone else clocks more check-ins than you after that, and a popular location might have several people jockeying for the title.
Of course, if “Founder” designations, virtual items and mayorships mean nothing to you, don’t feel you have to participate in that part of the services. I mostly ignore virtual items in Gowalla (they’re nice to look at, but don’t have a lot of utility yet) and I’ve never been the mayor of anything on Foursquare.
The nice thing about the game elements of these apps is that they aren’t completely necessary to get use out Gowalla and Foursquare. If you’d rather use the services as communications and social tools and aren’t interested in gaming, that’s completely up to you.
Tomorrow: Safety, privacy and tips from local pros.
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