How Chicago has boosted tourism using Foursquare

Social networking game draws visitors and residents alike to key Windy City locations

It seems like Foursquare has been played in Chicago for some time now.

But last fall, users of the social networking application predominantly hailed from the East and West coasts. The start-up company wanted to break into the Midwest market.

Over at the Chicago Office of Tourism, the Web and PR team recognized how quickly social media was changing how people traveled. It already developed a successful Twitter account, @ExploreChicago, where people could ask for restaurant recommendations or questions about their Chicago visit. Because the Twitter account was so popular, the office was looking for more ways to reach its mobile, tech-savvy audience.

Have you heard about Foursquare, but don’t understand how it works?

Here is how the company describes itself: