retroblog.net

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of WeReward. All opinions are 100% mine.

Smartphones equipped with location based apps are turning out to be a boon for marketers. Just think about it for a moment. With real time location info from these phones, companies can target incentives, discounts and tailor-made surveys directly to potential customers. Yes, there are some interesting privacy issues at play here but I suppose by downloading and activating these types of apps onto your phone, you’re essentially agreeing to being tracked. But what’s the benefit, you ask? Well, take WeReward.com for example. WeReward pays cold hard cash for consumer participation. Tasks vary but most of the time you’re asked to "check-in" at a local restaurant or retailer and purchase or try-out a particular item. By completing tasks, you earn points which can subsequently be turned in for cash. Businesses get real, tangible results from their campaigns and the consumers get cash back for their participation.

The neat thing for retailers and marketers is that you not only get customers into the stores from these WeReward campaigns but you also get additional exposure via social networks like Twitter and Facebook. Tasks usually require geo-tagged photos as a form of proof of a visit which are then shared with friends and family through their networks. It looks to be an effective way to create buzz for new products. Currently there’s a WeReward for iPhone app as well as a WeReward for Android app. And a blackberry app is in the works.

From the look of things, there’s a lot of potential here. Location based marketing may just change the way we all shop in the near future.