Arabnet Arabnet

The task of gauging the success and reach of a social network in a particular country is a tricky business. But perhaps the best indicator for a social network's popularity is how keen local businesses are on getting in on the action.

Six months ago, the Lebanese community on Foursquare could be boiled down to a few dozen active users. Today, that number has mushroomed to include thousands of users which have linked up their Foursquare accounts with their Twitter and Facebook accounts. This exponential growth of local Foursquarers did not go undetected though and businesses were quick to jump on the opportunity to offer "specials" for checking in at their venues.

The businesses already on Foursquare include everything from jewelers and haute couture boutiques, even bakeries and department stores. The biggest players though are definitely restaurants and bars, namely Roadster Diner and Crepaway, both of which offer specials in several of their branches.

Here, I'd like to take a moment to highlight one approache one of these two restaurants has adopted. Roadster rewards newly appointed mayors a free meal for two persons, creating enough space for competition between users for the somewhat valuable prize.

Lebanese businesses on Foursquare have indeed come a long way since the lonely days of Beirut Duty Free's special a year ago. What's striking though, is that not a single hotel in Lebanon has claimed its venue and offered a special on Foursquare.

If you're on Foursquare and travel often, you'll notice a pattern of specials by hotels and hotel chains across the globe. Specials can be anything from loyalty points, a complimentary drink or even a room upgrade.

The presence of a hotel or other venue is essential, not because of massive exposure or reach, but because the fairly large niche of super-connected customers, myself included, will greatly appreciate a venue with an online social presence sophisticated enough to claim a Foursquare venue and offer specials.
The Foursquare arena in Lebanon is one to watch closely in the coming weeks as more and more users and businesses include it in their social media bouquets.