With so many technology and social media options, it’s hard to know where to get started, or, depending on your membership, if you even need to. However, when I find out about a cool new application that could be really beneficial to organizations, I can’t help but share it.

You may have heard about FourSquare or Gowalla – two location-based applications intended to share with other users where you are at any given time. However, using these applications at your conference or event can be difficult because there’s no easy way to break down exhibit halls or conference centers into even smaller venues for easier and more accurate check-ins.

Enter DoubleDutch. This application allows users to create their own branded check-in application designed specifically for their use case, such as conferences. Exhibitors’ booths, session rooms and hotel bars will all be distinguishable using the application, so attendees, vendors and other participants can all check in at their exact locations and share it with other users.

Although the application is only available for iPhone users right now, I definitely think it’s worth keeping an eye on this one for your future conferences. I know others have written about using FourSquare for events (see Maggie McGary’s take and Maddie Grant’s, and see my recap of Foursquare here), and there’s a lot of potential for location-based applications to grow, especially with more people buying iPhones, Androids and Blackberrys.

If you’re wary of using mobile applications to check in to different places and sharing your location during your everyday life, I totally get that. But when you’re at a conference, it can be difficult to keep track of people you want to spend time with. Checking in to different locations can help attendees find one another, meet new people and have a more fulfilling conference experience. Helping attendees keep in touch is what events are all about, and applications such as DoubleDutch only enhance the connections.

DoubleDutch has several cool features, including a points system, venue photos, reviews and ratings, friending, Facebook and Twitter integration and achievement stickers (akin to FourSquare’s Mayor and Explorer badges).

Stay on the lookout for more applications such as this one. I have a feeling more will start popping up, and that they’ll become much more mainstream in the next year or so.