A Perfect Match: History Channels Meets Foursquare

Maybe it’s just the history geek in me, but this is one of the more fascinating social media marketing campaigns I’ve seen yet using Foursquare (also see the landing page):

The New York-based cable network is providing Foursquare users with historical tidbits about the locations where they “check-in” around the country. According to a History Channel spokesperson, people who check-in at one of 1,000 landmarks in 19 cities will be served a historical tip about where they are.

Really, this shows off the power of Foursquare and other social geo-based services that are picking up steam (and hype) of late. I also like how smart The History Channel is about the audience:

“It’s not like a restaurant check-in,” said the spokesperson. “It’s almost subliminally for history geeks…. It’s stuff you could find on Wikipedia, but it’s coming right to your mobile phone instead.”

They are still going for their core audience, the avowed history geeks, albeit those who may be slightly more technically inclined (or at least own a smartphone). It’s a way to surprise and delight those fans while also connecting with them in a wonderful way off their own network properties, in the social networks they inhabit.

For Foursquare, this continues a trend from the recent Bravo campaign of partnering with significant media properties as a way to reach out to entirely new communities and introduce them to the utility and fun of check-ins, mayorships, and so on.

Smart move for all involved.

Related posts:

1. Repost: 4 Ways Foursquare Can Survive in the Facebook Places Era
2. Foursquare and the University of Oregon