Seven Tips for Maintaining Privacy & Safety When Using Location Based Marketing

Location based marketing is a great resource for small business owners. It allows you to reward your loyal customers with prizes, free products, or discounts. It also puts your business on the map. Yes, on the map. When your loyal customers checks in to your business your business will shop up on a map on Facebook. This is great for you the small business owner. People can find your business. But, how does the customer retain or protect his or her privacy and remain safe from unscrupulous people? My seven tips will help your loyal customers participate in location based marketing while remaining safe and protecting his or her privacy.

Location Based Marketing Privacy & Safety Tips

1. Be selective on who you friend, where you check in, and who can see your check in status. Do not friend or connect with people from your city who you do not personally know. Do not check in at locations close to your home.

2. Hide Your Contact Information – hide your email address and phone number. Uncheck the box next to my “Twitter profile and Facebook profile”. Other users will not be able to see your Twitter or Facebook pages.

3. Off the Grid Check-ins – use a location based marketing application for Blackberry, iPhone and Android. When you locate the venue you wish to check in to, select it for check-in and then either choose “no” or unselect the check-in box next to “tell my friends”. You will still collect your points when checking in Off the Grid.

4. Delete your Mayor status. You will need to visit your location based marketing account and delete your mayorships or go to your privacy settings and uncheck “Participate in Mayorships”.

5. Remove Your Name from Venues “Who’s Here” lists – uncheck the box next to “Show me in the “Who’s Here” list on your mobile app.

6. Check in while leaving a venue. Instead of checking in when you first enter a business you will want to check in when you are leaving.

7. Don’t check in at businesses that do not reward you for checking in.

When you implement my seven tips for maintaining privacy & safety when using location based marketing you will reap the rewards from your favorite small business owners. You will also know you are participating in location based marketing while maintaining safety and privacy.