So I joined the Society, utilizing my Facebook log-in. Once in I set my location as Rochester, NY and my first recommendation was from a member named Courtney for a Hamilton Beach slow cooker for $39 at my near-by Target store. The idea is to collect point by making recommendations and inviting friends. The more points you acquire the better chances you have to win prizes. So right now I'm a Rookie with a total of 15 points. Courtney on the other hand is one of the top members, a Trendsetter, with over 50,000 points. I think it's an interesting concept, but I need to try it out some more.

Foursquare is probably the most well-know LBS. Sports Authority launched a program in which it gave away $500 gift cards to 20 randomly selected people who used Foursquare to check in at one of its stores on Black Friday. Participants were required to publish their check-in on Twitter to have a chance to win. Sports Authority gave away four per hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST and participants had to be present to win when the in-store announcement was made. Don't yet have any results on how this program went.

JC Penney and Pepsi are also running Foursquare campaigns this holiday season. JC Penney is offering check-ins $10 off any ticket exceeding $50 until Jan. 8. Pepsi has partnered with Hess gas stations where check-ins can get a Brisk iced tea beverage and a Frito Lay product for $1.99 plus they will be entered into a sweepstakes for free gas and Brisk for a year.

The other major LBS player, Gowalla, already has its own 2nd annual holiday promotion which is "GIfts on the Go". It is a holiday gift guide masquerading as an Advent Calender that includes 25 different items or experiences for people on the go.

So each day, which started on December 1, they hide a certain number of specific gifts at places around the world. Participants have a chance to win by following the instructions and checking in each day at certain places or by helping to spread the word on Twitter. On the first day they gave away 30 iPod Shuffles and on day two it was 100 album downloads from Hip Digital. On December 20 it will be a handful of free flight vouchers from Southwest Airlines. Then on December 25 it's going to be a really big surprise.

So get out your smart phone and start checking in so you can figure out how all these promotions work. Then tell us what you think...are they an effective way of marketing to women, and how possibly would one fit in with your business. In the meantime you may just win something.