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I Check-in For Serendipity

posted on January 12, 2011

Earlier today Bob Knorpp tweeted out a question asking why people check in.

I couldn’t quite fit my answer into 140 characters, so I figured I’d share it here.

I’m a big fan of location based services and have been using Foursquare and Gowalla since I first discovered them. I have an open friending policy on the first and a much more restrictive “I’d have a surprise beer with this person” approach on the later.

When I’m on the road (something I am quite a bit), I like to check in to let my friends and family know where I am. It allows them to follow along with the trip and I love getting tips using these services when I visit new cities.

But, the main reason I check in is for those serendipitous moments that sometimes occur.

For instance earlier this week I had a layover in Charlotte and a friend of mine saw me check-in. He was two gates down from mine so we got a chance to sit down and catch up which we had not done in over a year. If I hadn’t checked-in, we would have missed each other.

Some people go for mayorships and others do it to inflate their own self worth.

Me? I’m happy checking in with the hopes of crossing paths with someone and sharing a little bit of serendipity.

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Categories: Rambles

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  • Todd Schnick

    yeah, it’s about connecting. when people question geolocation to me, and they do everyday, i tell them it is simple. it is simply about connecting, and REconnecting.

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      And isn’t that what most social media tools were created for? Connecting.

      • Todd Schnick

        yup. why do people complicate it so…

  • http://www.experiate.net Paul Flanigan

    It’s about connecting, no doubt. But…big question here: Why are you checking-in? You do it because you hope for a connection. I know plenty of people that try and become mayors. Myself? I rarely do it because, well, I haven’t gotten out much in the past several months.

  • http://andyellwood.com Andy Ellwood

    Social serendipity is one of the most common responses we hear from new and experience users alike. As a user (not just as the BizDev guy for Gowalla) I have had multiple chances to be surprised and delighted what happened after the check-in.
    We are working hard here at Gowalla to create experiences around the places that people go, not just the some what narcissistic “I’m here, you should care.”
    And, if it wasn’t for your check-in at Lily’s on Lexington, I wouldn’t have known about the Basket of Bacon!

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Ah, the magic basket of bacon. Love that place!!

      Keep up the good work at Gowalla. Hope you consider adding more tips
      features. It is one of my favorite parts of Whrrl because I’ve found so many
      great things in my travels.

  • http://twitter.com/dannystarr Danny Starr

    Exactly, it’s about connecting… that and the epic war my buddy and I have going over the mayorship of our gym, but that’s just a funny little side thing we like to perpetuate as the game aspect of foursquare isn’t very appealing otherwise.

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      I know several people who have little battles like that and I think stuff
      like that is awesome because it is adding a little gameplay and fun in your
      life and that is awesome.

      I know a lot of people love Gowalla for the scavenger hunt angle and trying
      to collect all the items. For me, I loved adding new places to the system in
      the early days when there were none of them near me.

  • http://chrisjohnstonphotography.com Christopher Johnston

    I use to like the game aspect of Foursquare but now I just do it for that same serendipity. If I’m going out with no particular destination in mind I’ll sometimes check just to see where one of my friends might be so we can get together.

  • http://jeremytanner.com Jeremy Tanner

    Same. When I was traveling in September I checked-in and found friends who were around in 10 cities. I had a lunch or dinner every day, with a friend I had no idea I’d see when I woke up that day. I check-in because it’s worth it.

  • http://blog.photodreamz.net Photodoreamz

    It’s kind of funny. I visited Bob’s website after reading this, first thing I saw was a costco check-in. There’s nothing wrong with location based apps. I’d use it more if more companies in Canada embraced it and had more specials. It’s been slow to catch on here, but I think it should.