Pokémon Go seems to be taking over the world, one monster at a time. When it was first released in 1996, Pokémon was a video game used on Gameboys for kids of all ages. Here we are, twenty years later with an updated version of the nostalgic game. The app became an instant hit in the United States, New Zealand and Australia following its release. As the most popular Augmented-Reality mobile application, Pokémon Go has acquired more users than the popular dating app, Tinder, and has even trumped Twitter’s users.
Being able to interact with this game in real time at real-world places has made it appealing to Pokémon fans and non-Pokémon fans alike. Players can create their own avatar to navigate through their area to find Pokémon, Pokéstops and Gyms. For business owners, Pokémon Go is more than just a game, it is a marketing tool, and we at group46 are in the process of implementing Pokémon Go as a means to attract new customers for our clients.
For a small price, the app allows users to create Lure Modules that are active for a time span of 30 minutes. Once the module is activated, it will attract wild Pokémon to that location. Restaurant owners can use this as a tactic to draw players to their business and turn them into customers. By setting a Lure Module to run for every 30 minutes their restaurant is open, a business owner could advertise this assuring there will be Pokémon in their restaurant and encourage hungry customers to stop by and catch a few Pokémon while eating lunch.
Another way we are encouraging our clients to bring in more customers is to offer discount incentives to players who take a screenshot of a Pokémon in their restaurant, post it to Facebook and tag their restaurant, as long as the restaurant is visible in the photo, making it obvious where they player is catching the Pokémon. Social media is an easy way to promote our clients’ businesses and is a fun way for players to get a discount; it’s a win-win situation!
Lastly, the simplest suggestion and only long-term investment we are recommending for restaurant owners is to purchase charging stations for Pokémon Go players. One thing users quickly learn after downloading the app is how rapidly it drains the battery of a smartphone, which limits the amount of time per day users can play the game. What else could a Pokémon Go lover need besides the opportunity to catch Pokémon and to recharge their phone battery to be able to battle at the nearest Gym?
The new and exciting app can lose users just as quickly as it gained them because no one knows quite how long this fad will last. A few quick and easy marketing tactics can increase sales up to 75%, shown by L’inizio Pizza Bar in New York. What brings businesses to leverage Pokémon Go is the inexpensive cost compared to their return on investment, so it is crucial for business owners to jump on board immediately.
