The marketing and alumni affairs coordinator for the UF College of Fine Arts has been crowned mayor seven times.
Andy Howard became a virtual mayor after being the person to “check in” the most at seven venues using the Foursquare mobile application.
Foursquare, which launched in March 2009, allows users to “check in” via phone to every place they visit and also lets friends see where they are and where they have been.
As of October, Foursquare has had over four million users worldwide. According to the website, thousands of businesses are using the application as a means to promote special offers.
Howard, who is the mayor of Alter Ego Fitness, a gym located downtown, has been offered a free 10-minute massage as a reward.
As a marketing coordinator, Howard is always looking for new ways to market, which is why he became a member of Foursquare.
The owner and manager of Alter Ego, Kyle Gold, plans to reward up-and-coming mayors with a free protein shake as well. So far the gym has had two different mayors.
Gold thinks there aren’t too many ways to track the financial success the gym has gained from being a member of Foursquare, but he thinks it is a good way to build a relationship with customers.
Another business that uses Foursquare, Rolls ‘n Bowls, located at 3117 SW 34th St., allows its mayor to skip the line and place an order with the hostess, said Emil Taveras, the assistant manager.
He said the restaurant joined Foursquare about six months ago, and at first only had four initial check-ins. Today, the restaurant has about 310 check-ins.
Their current promotion also allows Rolls ‘n Bowls customers to get a free order of edamame for every third check-in, Taveras said.
Guests must present their phone to the hostess to prove that the application has “unlocked” the reward.
Although the restaurant is mainly using Foursquare as a means to reward frequent customers, it has had many newcomers, Taveras said.
Joe’s Place, 5109 NW 39th Ave., is also using Foursquare to promote their restaurant, said Elli Alba, assistant manager. She believes social media is an exceptional tool for advertising.
Although the restaurant has not had an increase of visits or sales due to its membership with Foursquare, the mayor does come in every Tuesday and claims 10 percent off his entire bill, Alba said.
Fred Posner, manager of Dream Day Cakes said the bakery joined Foursquare about three weeks ago and is offering a free cupcake on every fifth check-in.
“It’s for fun,” he said. “People like it.”
