Solomo is a shortened version of 'Social - Local - Mobile' - your Smartphone's inbuilt GPS tells Apps where in the world you are, and you can receive offers and freebies accordingly. You can search your App for nearby places, or you can type in the place you're at to 'check in' - when you do so, you can choose to share on Facebook or Twitter.
Promoters are just starting to realise the power of this new trend. Instead of directing a potential customer to a website or Facebook page, Solomo promotions actively encourages them to physically go to a shop or venue in order to 'check in'. This means lots more opportunities for compers to win whilst we're out and about!
Foursquare is the most popular Solomo App and has recently enjoyed a resurgence as more brands sign up and start offering discounts and competitions to those who 'check in'. The Olympic Committee recently gave away Olympic trips to people who checked in at sporting venues all round the world, and Clinique offered £110 sets of their new 'Chubbysticks' to fans who tweeted their Foursquare check-in at any of their beauty counters - I was lucky enough to win one! The beauty of these Apps is that you HAVE to be at the right place at the right time, which means that the entry numbers should be low and if you put the effort in, you can win some great prizes.
This week Quidco relaunched their Mobile App and to promote it they're giving away five £1000 prizes. To take part, download the App and use it to check in at any of 70 retailers for one entry. For an extra five entries, share your check in on Facebook and Twitter. For an extra fifty entries, register your bank card and make a purchase at any of Quidco's ten in-store partners (including Debenhams and Halfords). At www.quidco.com/competitions/check-in-to-win/ you can monitor your progress and find out more information about the competition, which ends on 12 August 2012.
At some locations you even get a little cashback for your check in - Vodafone for example gives you 25p, doubled if you share on Facebook and Twitter. And you can't really complain when you're being paid to comp!
