Foursquare Releases Expertise Badges

Today Foursquare released something really exciting, Expertise badges. Expertise badges are a leveling system on top of their core 24 badges. This will encourage users to continue using their app to increase their badge levels. Some of you may be familiar with this idea as it was one of the suggestions that we had made over a year ago, and it looks like they even liked our design idea as it mimics what we had suggested. Currently, the highest level that you can achieve is Level 10.

Foursquare plans to use the levels in conjunction with the tips at venues so that users will be able to see what tips were left by those with greater authority.

Achieving Expertise

• Get Level 1 for checking in five times to a venue in a category, or three unique venues
• Get Level 2 for five unique venues
• Every level up is five more unique venues

Expertise Page

The Expertise Page is in your Trophy Case and will show your current levels on all 24 core badges. The page also shows the date for your most recent level-up.

The core list of Expertise badges is: Don’t Stop Believin’, JetSetter, Zoetrope, Pizzaillo, Warhol, MOkey Bars, Dog’s Best Friend, Swimmies, Great Outdoors, Ski Bum, Bookworm, 7-10 Split, Fresh Brew, Fixer Upper, Handmade Hero, Fried Checkin, Vinyl, Wino,Triple Play, Herbivore, Bento, and Hot Tamale.

Surprisingly, they didn’t make Gym Rat one of the Expertise badges. You would think out of all of the badges that you would want to encourage return checkins on it would be this one.

Expanded View

If you click on one of the badges, it will show you how many more unique venues you need to check in to to gain your next level. It will also show you which of your friends have this badge and at what level.