#2 – Work. I understand this one. As businesses “reward” consistent patrons and new patrons, the employees should not be taking that honor away from them. However, I work at a church. And myself, as well as another Pastor on staff have been using the apps as a Twitter update on steroids. Event info, time and location with maps. I don’t see us using the “reward” feature as much, so I see us using check in’s for continued advertisement.

#3 – Contact. Yes. Yes. Yes again! Ive used these apps with that reason in mind. I want to know where people are eating and hanging out. I want to meet people that have similar interests. I also want to share with others whats going on where. Then I want to do life with them. Last week we went out with a couple we met on Foursquare. I posted about a BBQ joint. They’d never been, we invited them to go with and now he si going to be a sound tech at our church. They have not been in church for over 2 years. Love it!

As to other rules, I see people setting their own standards, but one may be…

Don’t wear Twitter and Facebook out with all your check ins. Sometimes they don’t care where you are, as much as why you are there or what you are doing there. Make your check ins count. Make them creative. Don’t just check in. I use a guide. If I would Twitter about what I am doing at a specific location I want others to know about. I use the location App and send my check in to Twitter. Check in as much as you want. Let your location app friends know every time you check in. But, limit the abuse of sending all these check ins to Twitter or Facebook.