You know, there’s a lot of arrogance in this article from everyone but Foursquare.
“They’re not responsive and extremely hard to work with,” said a digital agency exec who asked not to be named. “It’s hard to bring campaigns to life. Nobody knows how to create a badge or ask [Foursquare how] to enable behavior. It’s black magic.” In general, he said, “it’s pretty much unworkable.”
Hello, it’s called an “API”, Mr. “Digital Exec” - hire someone who knows how to use one.
“There is the danger the hiccups will sour relationships. Mark Drapeau, Microsoft’s director of innovative social engagement, left a scorching comment on a blog post about Foursquare. He said he tried everything from e-mailing to calling to stopping by Foursquare’s office in the hopes of doing a partnership for a Microsoft event that would include a custom badge. He said he eventually gave up.”
You’re fucking MICROSOFT. Invent your own version, Drapeau. I don’t know if you know this but innovation is in your title!
Foursquare is a platform. They provide the software and the back end - a means to an end. It’s up to agencies and clients to figure out how to use it. While I’m sure they want the money, they couldn’t care less about your brand and what kind of badge you want.
There’s a real lack of DIY I see happening in what was once a bootstrap culture. Only the visionaries and the ones who are willing to innovate, create and make things for themselves are in it to win it. The rest are just a bunch of billable buffoons.
