What Is Geo-Fence Technology?

Wikipedia Definition 
Wikipedia defines Geo-Fencing technology as the following:

“A geo-fence is a virtual perimeter for a real-world geographic area. A geo-fence could be dynamically generated—as in a radius around a store or point location, or a geo-fence can be a predefined set of boundaries, like school attendance zones or neighborhood boundaries.”

The use of a geo-fence is called geo-fencing. The usage of a geo-fence involves a location-aware device with a location based service (LBS) entering or exiting a geo-fence. This activity could trigger an alert to the device’s user as well as messaging to the geo-fence operator. This info, which could contain the location of the device, could be sent to a mobile telephone or an email account.

How can you use Geo-Fencing?
For business purposes you need to combine geo-fence technology with some type of push notification technology. This means that you are using a mobile app or other mobile technology that sends a message to users of that technology when they enter a pre-determined ‘geo-fence’ area. 

Mobile Application Use of Geo Fences
Many mobile applications (like Gallus Golf for example) allow businesses to use geo-fence technology. Once a consumer has downloaded your mobile application you can geo-fence a demographic region to produce a pop-up notification when that consumer enters the area you have specified. The challenge with using geo-fencing technology effectively is that you first need to have a group of people already using your app before you can send them messages. An even greater challenge is that these users must have their push notifications turned ‘on’ in order to message them. (We will share ideas on how to accomplish this in another blog.)

Geo Fence Example
For instance if your consumer has entered the local Starbucks minutes or miles away from your location, assuming they have your mobile App and have turned on push notifications, they would receive your pop-up message. This could be something as basic as “Enjoy your Starbucks, but you are close to XYZ Golf Course. Why not drop by for lunch or to hit a bucket of balls?”

If you really like you can be more aggressive and geo-fence other golf courses near yours. Perhaps your message might say “Enjoy your round today. Click the message to book a round at XYZ Golf Course for your next game!”

Either way geo-fencing and mobile applications are the way internet marketing will help grow your business in 2017!

We, Jeff and Tara Ciecko of CK Golf write two blogs, one is our 19th Hole Blog where we share personal experiences and the other an Industry Blog where we comment on general business and internet marketing best practices, sales strategies and give golf industry related opinions. We have owned CK Golf  for 9 years and provide marketing, social media and business services to the golf and other industries. As of August 2016 our life and our business will be ‘location independent’. Our 19th Hole Blog is about the places we visit and the things we do. You can also follow our road trip at foodwinetravel.ca/roadtrip. If you have any questions or comments, or happen to be in the same location as us please reach out and contact us anytime.