Please ensure accuracy when adding a new place to Foursquare Swarm and add its correct information by adhering to our style guide. Correct spelling, capitalization, and proper formatting are crucial. Always follow local postal guidelines for address formatting. While guidelines provide structure, be open-minded and consider exceptions, prioritizing thorough and accurate information for the Swarm community.
The Basics:
- Avoid Redundancy: Trim unnecessary information.
- Okay: “Starbucks”
- Not Okay: “Starbucks - Springfield” (City information is already listed)
- Okay: “Main St (at 2nd St)”
- Not Okay: “Main St (Main St and 2nd St)” (Redundant information)
- Address Abbreviations: Prefer abbreviated forms.
- Okay: “Highway 54” or “Route 31”
- Not Okay: “Hwy 54” or “Rte 31” (Harder to read)
- Exception: Do not abbreviate the beginning of a street address.
- Cross Streets: Use appropriate abbreviations.
- Example: "at Main St" (for corner places), "btwn 2nd & 3rd Ave" (for places between streets)
- Example: "at Main St" (for corner places), "btwn 2nd & 3rd Ave" (for places between streets)
- State Abbreviations: Abbreviate in the US; omit where states/provinces are not used.
- Categories: Choose accurate and applicable categories. The primary one determines the place icon.
- Sub-Places: Apply appropriate granularity. In airports, consider shops inside terminals and terminals inside the airport. Avoid geopolitical entities as sub-places.
- Avoid creating Duplicate listings by verifying if the location has not already been added by another member of the Foursquare community.
Pro Tips:
- Refer to our house rules and editing guidelines for detailed questions on creating and editing places.
- Explore the Global Style Guide, curated by our PM10s, for comprehensive guidelines on adding and editing places globally.
By adhering to these guidelines, you contribute to a well-organized and accurate Foursquare database, enhancing the user experience for everyone in our community.
How do I create a new place in the app?
Creating a new location in the Swarm app is quick and straightforward. First, make sure you're signed in to your account. Once there, tap the purple check-in (+) button located in the bottom right corner. Next, select “Change location” in the center of the screen. Scroll through the list of suggested places until you reach the bottom—there, you'll find an option that says “Add a new place.” Tap that link, and you’ll be able to enter the details for your new location.
Once there, all you need to do is enter the name of the venue, the category, and the address. The next thing you want to do is drop a pin on the map and select add in the top right corner.
Moving/Mobile business
We allow businesses like Food Trucks, Boats, and Cars to create listings. Since every Swarm listing has a pin to mark its location, our advice is to associate your listing with the address where you spend the largest percentage of time (e.g., where a food truck starts from or where it is most often during lunch hours). Once the listing leaves that location, users will have to search the app to find you.
A few things to keep in mind if you categorize your listing as a moving target:
- Moving Targets can be tricky to locate within the Swarm app, so you should create the Moving Target with the location that it is in most often, even though it moves throughout the day.
- You should make sure to include a call-to-action to use Swarm by training employees and drivers, as well as putting up window clings where possible (these are free to request)
Placemaker tools
As a key contributor, your ability to accurately enrich our Places database is invaluable. The Placemaker Tools are designed for efficiency, ensuring that every new venue you add immediately meets Foursquare’s standards for accuracy and compliance.
Follow this straightforward process to add a new Place to the map:
Initiating the process
There are two pathways to begin adding a new point of interest
Quick Start: Look for the "Add a New Place" link, usually located prominently in the right-hand Quick Links section of your dashboard.
Navigation Bar: Alternatively, hover your cursor over the "Contribute" tab in the main navigation bar at the top of the page, and then select "Add a New Place" from the dropdown menu.
Ensuring Data Integrity
Once the submission form is open, meticulous detail is essential. The quality of our database hinges on the precision of the information you provide.
Insert Required Details: Carefully input all necessary information about the venue. This includes the precise Name, comprehensive Address, and selecting the correct Category. Accurate data is critical for the new place to be successfully created.
Finalizing and Deployment
Submit: After verifying all fields are complete and accurate, click the "Submit" button to register the new venue.
The Foursquare system then initiates the validation process, taking your new submission from a concept to an active point of interest in our global Places database.