The world is “shifting” into a digital arena and as the change takes place businesses are going to be able to maximize their marketing efforts through cyber connections.  Participating in digital venues is going to help anyone connect with new customers and clients. This new “social space” creates a new set of problems however you need to “Get In The Game” to survive the shift!

What is foursquare?  From the foursquare site:

foursquare is a cross between a friend-finder, a social city-guide and a game that rewards you for doing interesting things.

“We aim to build things to not only help you keep up with the places your friends go, but that encourage you to discover new places and challenge you to explore your neighborhood in new ways……. We wanted foursquare to be as much about sharing experience as it as about connecting with friends and discovering new places. Every foursquare user has the ability to create both “Tips” and “To-Dos” for places. Tips are generally things you’d recommend to other To-Dos are more “notes to self”

The game requires the participant to register with foursquare.com then you have the option to connect and share with your friends via Twitter and facebook.  You have the choice to share on your social networks or just through the foursquare site. Your friends will know where you are, they will see when you receive a badge or become mayor of a specific location.  You connect with friends on foursquare just like facebook.

To get known in a community an individual might want to check in every where you visit in your business locale. The more you check in, the more mayorships you will claim in your community. Being the Mayor at many locations in a specific area will give you more name or branding recognition.  Foursquare has added 100,000′s of members in the last month so the digital shift is taking place and you should “get in the game” and claim your territory and an advocate of local businesses!

Local businesses might not even know about foursquare so if you are the one to show them how it works and how they can participate you can be a local HERO as well as a Mayor in sharing the Cosmic Shift and how it Happens.

Many businesses are offering foursquare discounts.  When someone participating in foursquare tweets or updates where they are and what they just got as a foursquare member. All their friends are aware of what they are doing and may want to take advantage of the savings or promotion.  Word of mouth advertising has always created the best results and the “Cosmic Shift” in communication is taking this to a 21st century digital level.

Being Mayor of an establishment does have it’s privileges!

@ Adios Cafe: A FREE coffee on your 10th check in and the Mayor gets a FREE breakfast each month! (tax & tip not included)

@ Carrabba’s Italian Grill: Show that you’re the Mayor of Carrabba’s and enjoy a complimentary dessert with the purchase of an entrée. Grazie!

@ 15th Ave Coffee & Tea: Show us that you’ve checked in with Foursquare and get $1 macchiatos before 4pm and $2 off beer and wine after 4pm. The Mayor gets a free pastry!

@ 1 for 1 Pizza – Greek Station: Free Slice & drink on your 10th checkin. Free Large Pizza, 1 topping on your 20th checkin!

Jennifer Van Grove has written a very specific article on  How 5 Brands Are Mastering the Game of Foursquare to attract new business and study the behavior of their existing customers.

The Wynn in Las Vegas is using foursquare to  “refine our approach to service and learn more about our guests.”.  When you check in on foursquare at The Wynn you are offered a glass of champagne at the Blush Boutique nightclub on the house.  The Wynn is reaching out to guests who check in at hotel restaurants indicating their dedication to making The Wynn experience extraordinary… “a recent hotel guest was checked-in at one of the hotel’s restaurants, so she (Jade Bailey, the Estrategy Development Manager for the Wynn and Encore hotels) reached out to the restaurant manager and passed along the photo of the guest. The restaurant manager then made it a point to greet and attend to the guest in question.”

All the upscale attention of the Wynn Hotel tied to the “foursquare”  shows this is a GAME you need to be in!

The City of Chicago is using foursquare to make city exploration fun!  ”What we know of Chicago and what Chicago really is are two different realities, however, and that’s where the ExploreChicago Foursquare initiative comes into play. The city’s badge-style approach — themed around Chicago’s unique way of life — to encourage visitors and residents to unlock the history and culture of Chicago is truly avant-garde. Foursquare users can tap into hidden treasures in 77 different neighborhoods, explore 552 parks, and dine at more than 7,000 Chicago restaurants……. enthralled by how city partners on the initiative — like the Art Institute of Chicago — are inspired by the potential to bring the city to life and are actively promoting their participation in the game.“

This is a GAME for real players!  Are you in yet?

5 Reasons to “Get In The Game” of foursquare.

1. Business connections within a community. Supporting the local businesses and letting them get to  know you and all your social media connections. Let your friends know you are at a local business and share some tips about the things you like.
2. Visibility. As more and more people sign up to participate across the WORLD they will be checking in at many of the same places you frequent.  They can connect with you and see your profiles on both Twitter and facebook with a click of the mouse.
3. Showing your brand and activity in a particular neighborhood.  In becoming the Mayor of many places in a community you show how active you are in the area actually just doing what you do on a daily basis.  You are just adding the foursquare game into your social media mix. But this game could result in great business connections as you support the local merchants.
4. Interesting facebook and Twitter updates. As you go through the day doing your business you can check-in around town and the information can be posted to facebook and twitter so your activity level on those venues is active while you are working. Social Media is about being “social” so what a fun way to connect with clients and local business.
5. Social Capital. As you connect and communicate with local business owners sharing your satisfaction with their business you are building social capital.  They in turn could be supporting you and your business.

Are you ready to “Get In The Game” as the Cosmic Shift Happens?

Cosmic Shift Happens™ part 2 of 5

Cosmic Shift Happens™ part 1 of 5

What is a Digital Citizen “DC” you may be asking?

@Evo_Terra Is the perfect example of a Digital Citizen and was a speaker at the 2009 National Association of Realtors Convention and the Arizona Association of Realtors Winter Conference 2010.

Evo shares openly how Digital Citizens think and behave and how they judge people in cyberspace. His candor is helpful as we try and modify online behavior to be able to communicate with gen X and Y clients and survive as the “Cosmic Shift Happens.™”

Ask yourself these questions?

• Do you live online?
• Do you have a business card or tell someone to “google you?”
• Do you have friends in the digital arena?
• Do you know the difference between the Digital World and the off line world?
• Are you a constant connector online?
• Do you ignore advertising?
• Do you listen to the radio or take your MP3player and listen to your downloads in the car?
• Where does Satellite radio and NPR fit in?
• Do you listen to Rush Limbaugh when you want to from a download?
• Do you share info graphics with twitter on twitpics like the plane in the Hudson.
• Do you contribute news to TV?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you could be on your way to being a Digital Citizen. If you don’t have a clue about the questions mean, then you are now open to learning and it will be easier as you know what to ask about! It is easy to learn by observing. Just follow some Digital Citizens and see how they communicate.

Find someone to friend and they will help you through the learning curve. Find a user friendly group to ask questions where the participants are NOT judgmental and are all about HELPING everyone learn more together.

Full Disclosure from Evo indicates when trying to collaborate with digital citizens they WILL judge you.

“Geeks” rule in this world so understand your position and what you need to do to survive!

If you want to have a CHANCE of communicating with “DC’s” you need to have the following four areas covered.

1. Must have a google e-mail or domain name for your e-mail. If you are still using AOL, Comcast, RR etc.. a DC assumes you are NOT a Digital Citizen and will be snickering at you. If you have gmail address, digital citizens ASSUME you “GET IT!”
2. You must have a complete Linkedin profile. This is where they go to check you out!
3. One phone number only that connects to everything. Get rid of your multiple phone numbers… get google voice.. teach your phone new ticks.. you can route calls to ring at multiple phones.
4. Website must include a Blog or is a Blog.

Watch a digital citizen on Twitter, youtube and through their RSS feed on their blog so you can see how they communicate.

Below are some examples of how @Evo_Terra Communicates:

Tweets from Evo…do you know what they mean?

@Evo_Terra

Lovin’ the love with the “;Give Evo an EVO campaign”;. But now I’m stuck in a tree. Help,@sprint! http://is.gd/b2kgn

Give Evo an EVO day four! Spread it, peeps! Help a brother out… http://is.gd/b1o7k #sprint #htcevo

So #evfn was fantastic. More intimate than usual at @WholeFoodsChrAZ, but good for some 1-1 time. Thanks for the help with the video!

@danklass Loved the last show #204. Do affectations often!

Whoo-hoo! First auto-DM came in so I could use the bat’s balls image. Will report back if I get any reply from @ucradio

@urbantealoft Hey Glynis! Things are peachy. Need to stop by and say hi some day. It’s on the list!

@UrbanTeaLoft *  I think I might save the image of the well-endowed Chriptera as a reply to the auto-DMers. “;In response to your auto-DM, look at this!”;

@chuckreynolds It’s the final Friday, brother. #evfn is and always will be at @WholeFoodsChrAZ. Can’t wait to hear about the speaking gig!

@scubaninja That would be an error on your part.

@SusanBaier Don’t bitch at me. The link was CLEARLY labled. No misrepresentation on my part. Oh, and it’s #batfriday from what I understand.

Retweet # Bat’s balls: http://bit.ly/czxzvB

PHXFridayNight 3/26 – It’s a party in a grocery store! #evfn at Whole Foods in Chandler http://bit.ly/d8CpbZ

@TwistedChaos40 Tonight, beer is just about whatever you want to pay. 8 kegs and every bottle imaginable. No shitty beer at #evfn

The whole company was just Rickrolled in our Friday meeting. WTF?

Now check out Evo’s Blog. See how he is using youtube to reach out to Sprint to try and get a new test phone. He is calling on all his “Digital Citizen” friends to Tweet and post his cry to get the new Sprint phone to try out!

Request for help from friends via blog

“tmanscipan” is the channel name for Evo’s youtube

“I realized I’m not those media outlets. I’ve got a decent rep in the social and digital sphere. Some say I’m an influencer. But I have one thing that those other places don’t, and that one thing makes me the perfect spokesperson for the new HTC EVO™ 4G from Sprint:”

Please do not get discouraged about the new SHIFT in communication and that is all it is!  It is just a change in communication skills!  Once you learn them you will have fun and be in the KNOW!

This is how Evo_Terra tells readers on his blog to communicate:

Evo is setting expectations and do you notice.. it is not a 24/7 and instant response process.

Contact:

“There are are a lot of ways to get in touch with me. But be aware that I get contacted quite a bit for many different things. You could help me a lot and greatly improve your chances of a timely answer by choosing the right way to reach me.

Note: If you are looking to follow me on various social media and Web2.0 applications, be sure to check out the Places page. Be aware, however, that contacting me through those channels is often times less effective than those I explain below.

Post something on your blog I have a healthy set of ego-filters that run all the time. If you put “Evo Terra” in your post — LiveJournal, Myspace, you name it — I’m sure I’ll receive notification. I’ll probably pop in and say hi. And if you ask me a question, I’ll respond right there.

Tweet to me Say whatever you want about Twitter (lords know I’ve said enough), but it’s pretty darned good about holding any messages of mine until I get around to seeing them.

All you have to do is (well, assuming you’re using Twitter) is prepend your message with ‘@evo_terra’ and I’ll eventually see it. No, I don’t have to be on. No, I don’t have to be following you. Yes, it may take me a few days. But I’ll see it. Assuming the FAIL WHALE isn’t flying high when you try and send it.

email Email is good for longer communications. Keep in mind that I don’t check email all day long. Heck, some days I don’t check it at all. But I’ll eventually get to it. My email address is thisisevo@gmail.com.

Skype me If you need something from me and it is very pressing, you can Skype me. I’m ‘evo_terra’. But please exercise good judgment when using this powerful and near-instant communication tool. I’m a multi-tasker by nature and cannot think of the last time I was Skyping with someone when I wasn’t also working on another project.

I use the Skype like I use the telephone — I rarely call someone just to chit-chat. Oh, and another thing: I prefer texting over voice with Skype. So chat with me, don’t call me.

Got a phone? Sometimes the easiest way for your to reach me is to pick up the phone and call. Hey, fine by me, but I put a bit of a twist on that. Try one of these options: Call from the web Call from your phone 602-325-3045″

I saved the best for last! A conversation between two digital citizens discussing the definition of “Social Media”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Can you communicate with a digital citizen?

The next post in the “Cosmic Shift Happens™” Series will include:

For sale sign.. do you see it? Do you see a company name and agent?

Do you use your phone device to track the house online and find out all the information and then connect with your digital Realtor citizen friend? Did you know you can find out everything about the house from your phone with the right apps?

Cosmic Shift Happens™ is a joint project with Joeann Fossland.

Cosmic Shift Happens™

2010 is the year to update your “personal internal hard drive,” or your brain!

Over the past few years, the Internet (and the world) have seen some major changes. The emergence of social media is near the top of the list of all changes. Social media has allowed people who otherwise never would have met, to connect, engage, and make business contacts. For others, social media is overwhelming and intimidating.

Start thinking about the positives that social media can create and bring into our lives instead of focusing only on the negatives. Cyberspace is a scary place for some individuals, because there are just so many unknowns. “Social Media Syndrome ^TM“ could be a reality in your world if you are not prepared for circumstances that can some up. Processing the new form of communication skills just takes practice and understanding of where the other person is coming from and what their agenda is.  If you stay focused on you and your message the outside “differing” influence cannot touch you.

Perception really IS your Reality in cyberspace.

Start connecting with more buyers and sellers by getting more involved in a blog community. Blogging is an essential part of being visible online. Blogging increases your SEO like nothing else. If you’re up for it, video blogging is the best.  Youtube is the number 2 search engine on the Internet.

Consider some basics to start connecting in cyberspace if you don’t already have these tools up and running:

1. Start a blog, use localism to set yourself apart and create an outside blog to connect with your community.

2. Create a facebook fan page for your business.

3. Learn how to use

4. Start to Tweet on

Connecting with facebook, Linkedin and Twitter as your Internet vehicle, you will have the ability to upload or link your outside blog and keep your customers up to date on what you are doing. It’s easy to spread your message on social media sites.  Sharing valuable information and making connections are the real goals for participation in social media.

To survive in 2010, embracing Social Media is a MUST. Incorporating your blog into everything you do is a the key to success! It just takes practice. Are you ready to update your hard drive?

Does cyberspace intimidate you? Click for your FREE chapter on “Cosmic Shift Happens ^TM”