Is Geolocation Services a Necessity for a Business?

Weren’t we all supposed to be hovering around in space ships by 2011? I remember it being predicted when I was in primary school, that by the time I turn 20 I will have a hover craft as a car. Funny enough, faster and faster cars are being produced for public release without the intention of actually leaving the tarmac. You might be wondering where I’m going with this, well within the previous years leading up to 2011, it has been forecasted that 2011 will be the year in which Geolocation services capture the global market. Well is 2011 the year??

Applications such as Foursquare, Facebook Places, Gowalla and Loopt really have a big market share already, however they predicted it to be much bigger than it currently is. The lack of knowledge in the geolocation department among the people is what’s causing the numbers to climb so slowly. A lot of people are yet to understand how important Geolocation is for their businesses; not only will it put them on the map, but they could rapidly increase their conversion rates with more clients.

What is your thoughts regarding Geolocation services? Do you use it? Do you find it a necessity? I’m sure all of us will have our different opinions regarding the services. Some might like the exposure and others don’t at all. Its amazing to see how private some people can be about their lifestyles. Ok, sure it makes sense if you packing a million bucks or you’re a celebrity of some sort, but getting your business name out there should be your main priority.

So let us know, what is your thoughts regarding these services? Does a business need them?