1) Usage on foursquare is up 40% since the beginning of the year.
2) We've always seen the checkin as just the beginning of what we want to accomplish. With the launch of explore and specials 2.0 we've started to get more of our vision out into the world. You can expect more of this sort of thing from us over the course of 2011.
I'd be much more excited about Foursquare as a place to work if they did not require a CS degree. It tells me a lot about the culture at 4sq, and what it is telling me is not good. Just a thought.
How hard and fast is that "requirement", though? (I don't know if you do or don't have a CS degree, for the sake of argument let's assume you don't.) I mean, did you try to get an interview there and you were flatly declined because of lack of degree, or is the cs degree requirement just boilerplate? If they're steadfast on no degree = no job, well then, yeah, I'd agree with you, it sounds like not a great place. I think a whole lot of places with the CS degree requirement (or really any of the "requirements" that are typically listed) are just using them as a way to filter out unfit candidates so they don't waste their time.
If you think you're qualified for a position even if you don't meet the requirements of said position, the onus is on you to prove it.
However, if you pointed out reasons a, b, and c that you are qualified, and were still declined (at least for an interview) purely because of lack of CS degree then yeah, they're stupid. I'm wondering if you just took a look at the jobs page, saw the CS degree requirement, at let some "bad place to work!" alarm bell ring without any further investigation.
It's not a hard and fast requirement. We've hired exceptional candidates in the past that don't have CS degrees (or a college degree at all). We do expect candidates to have a strong gasp of computer science fundamentals (data structures and algorithms).
I'd be more interested in a comparison of engagement (checkins per account per month) over time.
The first metric can hide declining engagement if there are sufficiently many latecomers who haven't burnt out yet.
Last year I was checking-in like mad, this year I completely stopped. Why? Because I changed job and the new people I hang out with don't use 4sq. It's a very different crowd that if I pull out my phone and start checking-in it would be seen as a very strange and embarrassing behaviour.
So I guess your challenge is to make check-in's as natural and encouraging as giving way to the ladies at busy restaurants.
This happened to me the other night. I checked into a bar and was asked by someone I was with why I did it. Seconds later, I received a text from a friend saying she was in the area and wanted to meet up. I said to the person who asked, "That's why."
Now, "just get over it and stop worrying about what other people think" definitely solves my personal problem of how not to be embarrassed, but it doesn't solve Foursquare's problem of convincing users to "just get over it" and "you shouldn't care what other people think". You are definitely right about that challenge. Just thought I'd share an anecdote :)
It's always good to see other side of the coin. Thanks for the clarifications.
I have always felt checkins can be used for various interesting services. viz a user checks-in a pub and he is suggested nearby pubs and offers, a tourist following a series of check-ins suggested by foursquare for exploring a place etc etc.
Badges are cool and all but people sticking just to earn badges is going to be temporary. Badges in Cityville, Farmville etc work well because they ride on top of gameplay and facebook - not much incentives in foursquare.
None of which are good reasons for not doing them. The best money makers (or most reliable, at least) are things that other people are already making money doing, if you can find a way do them just a little better.
Those are the natural extensions to the product. What would you rather do? ultra-checkin, super-checkin and more badges. "Cool quotient" is good enough to begin you with; but you need to get some real value out of it as well.
What real value can a checkin service potentially provide? (Serious question) I think there are a few things: deals from local businesses, meeting new people, interaction coordination.
Deals are booming now. Groupon and LS are huge and do manage to provide me with value. I think Groupon's upcoming mobile offering is brilliant. The likes of foursquare can use this model successfully as well.
Meeting new people is always a tough one, but it is what people want. Give someine a way to make new friends through your service in real life in a safe way and you'll strike gold.
Interaction coordination is probably the most interesting thing I can think of. Imagine communities organizing events by using foursquare. You get invites. You check in. You pay for the event from your phone. You monitor long distance races by the participants' checkins. You participate in live events virtually by having your name flash on a giant screen. At a town fair you are randomly assigned a person and if you find them within a time limit and check in together you get a prize. A giant game of assasin based on checkins.
The checkin itself is just a tool. Playing with a hammer is fun at first but unless you have something to nail it will get boring.
Couldn't agree with your last sentence more. The same thing is true on the builder side of the table. Now that we've built a pretty decent hammer it's time to decide what else we can create with this nifty tool.
1) Usage on foursquare is up 40% since the beginning of the year.
2) We've always seen the checkin as just the beginning of what we want to accomplish. With the launch of explore and specials 2.0 we've started to get more of our vision out into the world. You can expect more of this sort of thing from us over the course of 2011.
-harryh, engineering lead @ foursquare.
ps: Want to be a part of it? We're hiring! https://foursquare.com/jobs/