From a location-based game to an app which allows you to keep all of your store membership cards in one place, companies are creating new ways for loyal consumer to interact with their favorite brands and share with their friends.
Check out these five applications that reflect this trend:
Shopkick
Shopkick was created with both shopping enthusiasts and more casual shoppers in mind. Founded in the summer of 2009, this service turns all offline shopping experience interactive. The goal is to earn Kickbucks which can be redeemed for cool stuff like gift cards and iPads. You earn Kickbucks for checking into numerous retail locations as well as for scanning products when you’re in-store.
CardStar
If you’re like me, you have at least one membership card on your keychain. CardStar allows you to keep all of your cards in an app on your phone, and most retail stores can scan them directly from your phone’s screen. The app also offers additional coupons and deals to local and national stores.
GetGlue
Instead of checking into specific locations, GetGlue lets consumers check in to movies, music, TV shows and books that they like and would recommend to others. Users earn rewards for checking in and can see what their friends are watching, reading or listening to in real-time. GetGlue also recommends new entertainment content to check into based on what else you like.
Brightkite
Brightkite was founded back in 2005 and is a location-based service that allows you to check into and share your location with friends. The website itself lets you search for people by area, age range and gender to allow for easier meet-ups among friends. Users can share their location along with a picture or link with more information or suggestions.
Foursquare
Launched at SXSWi in March 2009, Foursquare quickly gained popularity as a mobile location-based game. Users gain points for each location or venue where they check in, and the person who has checked into any given venue most frequently is crowned the “mayor.” It’s easy to share your location with your friends, whether just on Foursquare, Twitter, Facebook or all three. Numerous venues (15,000 as of August 2010) also offer special deals to mayors or anyone who shows they have checked in via Foursquare. Friends can offer tips for each location which appear to anyone who checks in at that specific location or anywhere nearby.
How do you share your brand loyalty? Do you use any (or all) of these applications?
