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> wildly successful app Foursquare didn't agree. They didn't pivot just because it's the cool thing to do.

by DevX101 12y ago

raverbashing 12y ago
> Foursquare didn't agree Maybe the millions of users actively making check-ins every day weren't too big of a clue for them? They needed a monetization strategy, you pivot when your product is not being used.
- untog 12y ago
  It's funny how everyone in this thread is saying they needed a monetisation strategy but no one has suggested one. Maybe there just isn't a business in check ins.
  - emodendroket 12y ago
    How about "be acquired by Google."
    - untog 12y ago
      There are rumours today about them being acquired by Yahoo: http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/15/sources-yahoo-in-talks-to-buy-foursquare/ http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/15/sources-yahoo-in-talks-to-b... Makes the timing of this post interesting.
    - TylerH 12y ago
      Google has to want you for that to happen.
    - ulfw 12y ago
      That didn't work out so well the first time, did it? https://gigaom.com/2007/04/15/dodgeball-founder-quits-google/ https://gigaom.com/2007/04/15/dodgeball-founder-quits-google...
- bdcravens 12y ago
  popularity != success
briandear 12y ago
The leadership of Foursquare failed. They had a very popular product but couldn't make anything out of it; hence the pivot. They should have sold the company while the valuations were good. Now, the company is the Mayor of crushed expectations.
- joshuapants 12y ago
  Is it really the leadership that failed? Their product was popular, but I can't see any way they could make money on it. I don't think that means the leadership was bad, I think it means the product was inherently un-monetizable.
  - emodendroket 12y ago
    Well, who came up with this un-monetizable product then?
    - joshuapants 12y ago
      That's a fair point, but I read the parent post as complaining that the leadership couldn't squeeze blood from a stone, not that they came up with a non-commercial product in the first place.
  - AJ007 12y ago
    Lots of valuable data for mapping, local search, and the ad targeting that goes with it. Valuable to Google, Apple, Facebook and a few others. The failure was in growth, blame likely correctly laid on Facebook.
  - ulfw 12y ago
    You could have monetised it the same way you monetise many other apps. With ads? I mean, Twitter's monetisation model isn't exactly genius either... Why not give a coupon when checking into a place that is near others - making people stop by another place/shop to maybe purchase something? (lat/long based)

> wildly successful app Foursquare didn't agree. They didn't pivot just because it's the cool thing to do.

by DevX101 12y ago

> wildly successful app Foursquare didn't agree. They didn't pivot just because it's the cool thing to do.

> Foursquare didn't agree Maybe the millions of users actively making check-ins every day weren't too big of a clue for them? They needed a monetization strategy, you pivot when your product is not being used.

untog 12y ago
It's funny how everyone in this thread is saying they needed a monetisation strategy but no one has suggested one. Maybe there just isn't a business in check ins.
- emodendroket 12y ago
  How about "be acquired by Google."
  - untog 12y ago
    There are rumours today about them being acquired by Yahoo: http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/15/sources-yahoo-in-talks-to-buy-foursquare/ http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/15/sources-yahoo-in-talks-to-b... Makes the timing of this post interesting.
  - TylerH 12y ago
    Google has to want you for that to happen.
  - ulfw 12y ago
    That didn't work out so well the first time, did it? https://gigaom.com/2007/04/15/dodgeball-founder-quits-google/ https://gigaom.com/2007/04/15/dodgeball-founder-quits-google...
bdcravens 12y ago
popularity != success

briandear 12y ago

The leadership of Foursquare failed. They had a very popular product but couldn't make anything out of it; hence the pivot. They should have sold the company while the valuations were good. Now, the company is the Mayor of crushed expectations.

joshuapants 12y ago
Is it really the leadership that failed? Their product was popular, but I can't see any way they could make money on it. I don't think that means the leadership was bad, I think it means the product was inherently un-monetizable.
- emodendroket 12y ago
  Well, who came up with this un-monetizable product then?
  - joshuapants 12y ago
    That's a fair point, but I read the parent post as complaining that the leadership couldn't squeeze blood from a stone, not that they came up with a non-commercial product in the first place.
- AJ007 12y ago
  Lots of valuable data for mapping, local search, and the ad targeting that goes with it. Valuable to Google, Apple, Facebook and a few others. The failure was in growth, blame likely correctly laid on Facebook.
- ulfw 12y ago
  You could have monetised it the same way you monetise many other apps. With ads? I mean, Twitter's monetisation model isn't exactly genius either... Why not give a coupon when checking into a place that is near others - making people stop by another place/shop to maybe purchase something? (lat/long based)