Abstract: A mobile application is provided that provides promoted items within a location-based service. Advertisers or other providers are permitted to have messages displayed within the mobile interface of a user within a list (or other user-interface type) of recommendations for venues. In one implementation, one or more venues may be scored based on a number of parameters (e.g., whether the user had been to the venue previously, whether their “friends” have been at the venue, whether they have unlocked “specials” or other types at this venue previously, their nearness or proximity to the venue, time of day, etc.) and if the venue has to been determined to be displayed within a list of venues, that special may be “promoted” to the top of the list that is displayed to the user. In this way, advertisers or other providers can signal location-based users of important items located proximate to the user's location.