Point Of Viewdirk shawcontent marketing, Experience Design

3 ways to get started with branded location based content

Point Of Viewdirk shawcontent marketing, Experience Design
3 ways to get started with branded location based content

People are broadcasting their whereabouts thru a variety of location-based platforms. With the emergence of any new consumer behavior brands quickly follow and seek news ways to engage. We are seeing brands and media companies tagging locations within Foursquare and serving up nuggets of information for their followers.

If you are thinking about integrating location-based interactions into a customer engagement strategy here are three options for getting started.

1. Leave content that can be discovered via location platforms:
This simplest way to get started is by partnering with one of the location-based platforms to create branded messages at specific locations. A good example is The History Channel. They will use foursquare to promote America the Story of Us. Foursquare users who check in at select locations across the United States that are associated with American history will receive "Fun Fact Pop Up" messages with historical information about that location.

2. Create a custom layer on Augmented Reality browser:
Layar is an Augmented reality browser that allows people to point their phone's camera toward location and it can tell you the latest check-in's who is the mayor and any display branded content. The good thing about a layer is that you are able to overlay images as well as text. Recently Walt Disney launched the augmented reality outdoor campaign for the new ‘Prince of Persia’ movie. As you get closer to one of the ‘Prince of Persia’ outdoor posters and open the layer, the movie-character Tamina speaks to you and explains that you should watch the trailer and enter the augmented reality game to answer 3 questions.

3. Build a custom app on top of location platform:
Brands can take advantage of the location platform API’s opening up by creating a branded experience. Dick’s Sporting Goods launched RunnersUnite which lets you find popular running spots in your area, and see where people are running near you right now.

Each of these options has varying degrees complexity but before picking any path here are a few things to consider.

  • Does your audience even engage in this activity?

  • What portion will be brand generated content versus CGM?

  • What is the purpose of the app? (Entertainment, Utility)

  • Why will people keep using it?