Foursquare and its companion app Swarm offer location-based rewards and freebies to users who check in at participating businesses. These rewards, known as Perks, are available at restaurants and other establishments in exchange for check-ins. The introduction of Perks in Swarm represents a revival of features previously found in the original Foursquare app, specifically the "specials" that were offered before check-ins were moved to Swarm. The goal of Perks is to provide a more standardized and user-friendly experience compared to the previous system, which sometimes caused confusion for both users and businesses regarding redemption processes.
When a user checks in at a venue offering a Perk, the Swarm app notifies them of the available offer. The offer can be redeemed from the app's inbox, where Swarm automatically generates a barcode for scanning at checkout. This barcode system is designed to eliminate much of the confusion that existed with previous special offers. In addition to Perks, Swarm features Challenges, which are contests that allow users to earn prizes for completing specific goals, such as checking in at two ice cream stores within a week. These features are part of Foursquare's broader effort to reintroduce game mechanics like badges and mayorships to the Swarm app, which users had missed after the separation of check-ins from the main Foursquare app.
Check-ins remain central to Foursquare's long-term success, as they provide data used by the flagship app and companies like Uber. The availability of current data relies on continued user engagement through check-ins. Foursquare's VP of Product, J Crowley, noted that check-ins affect the entire ecosystem of what the company does. The company initially promoted these rewards through guerrilla-style marketing, reaching out to venues through friends of friends to encourage merchants to reward active users and mayors with discounts or freebies.
In the context of Las Vegas, Foursquare is highlighted as a social and money-saving app that allows users to share and save places they visit. It provides personalized recommendations based on where the user, their friends, and people with similar tastes have been. The app is noted as a way to find the best places to eat and drink, and it is used by nearly 30 million people. The primary benefit for deal seekers is that checking in at businesses in Las Vegas can result in deals from those businesses, potentially saving money on a trip. Check-ins can also be shared on Facebook. Foursquare is available on iTunes, Google Play, BlackBerry App World, and Windows Phone.
Las Vegas visitors can also access rewards through MGM Resorts' M life program, which allows members to earn points for non-gaming activities such as dining and nightlife. M life members can link their rewards to Visa credit cards to receive text messages for related offers. For example, a purchase at an Aria retail shop could trigger a discount offer from a nearby store, or buying tickets to a show could result in a price break on dinner at the same resort. Top Guest, a product from Switchfly, Inc., powers these social rewards. Switchfly is a technology company that also helps travelers bundle hotels and rental cars. Top Guest is used by other companies such as United Airlines, Virgin America, Best Western, and Hilton Hotels.
M life members can rack up credits by checking in at MGM resorts via social media updates. Specifically, members can earn 6,000 credits by checking in at all 12 MGM resorts each day, potentially accumulating 30,000 credits in a year. Members move up a tier level at 25,000 points, which leads to more discounts and freebies. The program allows for online sign-up.
Other mobile applications mentioned for Las Vegas include Tix4Tonight, which offers tickets to shows and dining specials at kiosks throughout the city. The VP Pocket Concierge app provides turn-by-turn navigation within the Venetian and Palazzo to help users find restaurants, nightclubs, ATMs, and restrooms. Additionally, the article lists several other apps available for iOS and Android, such as Evernote for note-taking, Las Vegas City Guide by Trip Advisor for reviews and mapping, and Packing List Lite for organizing travel items. While these apps are mentioned in the context of Las Vegas travel, they do not directly relate to free samples or brand freebies in the categories of beauty, baby care, pet products, health, food, or household goods.
The provided source material focuses primarily on location-based rewards and loyalty programs rather than traditional mail-in sample programs or no-cost product trials for consumer packaged goods. The information details how users can obtain discounts and freebies by checking in at physical locations, specifically in Las Vegas, and through the M life loyalty program. There is no mention of free samples of beauty products, baby care items, pet food, health supplements, or household goods available through online sign-ups or mail-in requests. The sources describe digital rewards tied to physical presence and purchases, not the distribution of physical product samples.
The provided source material is insufficient to produce a 2000-word article. Below is a factual summary based on available data.