Location-based services, which allow users to see each other’s nearby presence, help small businesses attract new customers and forge deeper connections with existing ones. Most services are free to sign up and use, but most small businesses haven’t fully realized the advantage of these services.

To help small businesses understand the merit of sites like Foursquare, Mashable outlined five marketing campaigns that successfully leveraged the technology of location-based services. In exchange for checking in, small companies offered its customers discounts, free goods, Foursquare badge incentives, and gamified programs and components to make the experience more interactive and rewarding.

According to the businesses, location-based services have helped drive foot traffic during slow hours, sell difficult items, and increase the number of repeat customers.

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