The “Trips” feature on location based social media platform Gowalla is a fun and engaging way to visit several Spots and earn badges.
But Trips have even greater potential — they can help your business. By leveraging the reach and engagement of Trips, your business can generate greater awareness, drive more traffic, and be a destination for people who enjoy discovering new places.
What Is a Trip?
Put simply, a Gowalla Trip is a group of Gowalla Spots. Once a user has checked in to every Spot on a Trip, she will earn a badge for her effort. Trips are a great way to discover new places on Gowalla because people are motivated to check in to all the Spots on a Trip as opposed to checking in at only one location.
To learn how to create a Trip, refer to the “Create a Trip” section in our article 6 Ways Gowalla Spots Can Help Your Business.
How Can Gowalla Trips Help Your Business?
The primary benefit of listing your business on Gowalla is to capitalize on its word-of-mouth advertising potential. When someone checks in to your business and shares his experience, his friends on Gowalla will all learn about you.
But, when your venue is grouped with other businesses, Gowalla Trips provide an even greater opportunity to expose your business to a larger audience. Here are three ways Gowalla Trips can help your business.
1. Create Awareness
Trips are a great way to generate awareness for Spots that otherwise might not get much visibility. In every city there are Spots that are hidden gems, treasures to the local community, places that friends share with friends. This kind of business may not have the advertising budget of the big chain store next door. A Trip is a great way to generate awareness for Spots that are off the beaten path.
When visiting new places, Gowalla users enjoy Trips as a way to explore the area. Since everyone must check in to all Spots on a Trip to get the coveted Gowalla Badge, this can bring new visitors and tourists to your business. And when those visitors have a great experience, they will share it with their friends on Gowalla, creating even more awareness of your location.
2. Generate Traffic
When your business is part of a Trip, Gowalla requires that people visit your physical location and check in; you cannot check in to a Spot online, users must use their mobile devices. This ensures actual foot traffic to your venue. If 1,000 people participate in a Trip, 1,000 people will physically visit every Spot on the Trip.
3. Create Relationships
Trips are often made up of similar spots that can be categorized.
By being part of a Trip you can be grouped with similar businesses. There is always the spirit of competition, but generating relationships can also help you. Your business may offer a unique product or service that complements a similar business on the same Trip.
Another benefit is that you can learn about business activity, such as associations for your industry, or community activity in which business may collaborate to support local events and groups.
When it comes to building business relationships via Gowalla Trips, a rising tide does indeed lift all boats!
Has your business been part of a Gowalla Trip? How has it helped your business? Share your experiences below.
[Image credit: erix!]
