Pokemon Go has flooded the internet and all social media the past week. At the moment it’s the biggest mobile app game in American history. It’s caught the direct attention of gamers and sparked new opportunities for small business owners. Active users are up to more than 21 million daily, whose attention is directed on their smartphone screens as the journey through communities in attempt to catch virtual Pokemon characters. But they’re also walking into real small businesses just like yours.
If you’re not embracing this current trend right now, you could be losing out. You should definitely not shy away from it at all. There are millions of kids playing the game, as well as adults who have spending dollars in their pocket. They’re wondering all over the city looking to catch Pikachu and other Pokemon.
What exactly is PokemonGo?
PokemonGo is a free-to-play location-based augmented reality mobile game. Making use of GPS and the camera of compatible devices, the game allows players to capture, battle, and train virtual creatures, called Pokémon, who appear on device screens as though in the real world. Active players are encouraged to go to either a “Pokemon Gym” or “Pokestop” to compete with other players or in order to find supplies.
If you’re a small business owner, these Pokemon Gyms and Pokestops are great marketing opportunities for you. The game destinations are actual landmarks and real businesses. Yesterday I was meeting with Jack Cramer, the owner of Austin Salt Cave, and he had a sign on his window that invited gamers to come by his place. He mentioned to me that two guys came by looking for a Pokemon and he invited them in. They caught the Pokemon, then he pitched them on trying salt therapy, which the did! He’s used Band-Wagon Marketing to help increase his sales.
How Can Pokemon Go Can Increase Your Business Sales?
Clearly Pokemon Go players are potential customers and clients, so attracting the characters of the game to your business or storefront could bring sales along with them.
Here are three ways your business can reap the benefits from the popularity of the game.
#1 Become a Player Yourself
Incense and Lure modules are elements within the game that lure Pokemon characters to particular Pokestops. Lures are shareable, therefore any player in that area, who can see your Pokestop on the map, will more than likely come to your business to search for the characters. You can buy Lures within the app. They’re good for 30 minutes. If you’d like create a marketing strategy around it, you should advertise the time that you’ll place lures every day. This will have many gamer’s coming to you business to catch Pokemon. That’s foot traffic leading to your business.
#2 Create Incentive For Players
Take advantage of this foot traffic and reward the gamer’s. For example, if a customer comes in and can prove that he/she has completed a specific level in Pokemon Go, they’ll receive “x” amount off of their purchase or service. Then ask them to share your location and business on social media. This give gamer’s reason to support your business and come again.
#3 Use Hashtags
You don’t necessarily have to play the game to hop on top of the trend. You may have seen the hashtag #DontCatchAndDrive to remind Pokemon players to keep their eyes glued to the road and not their smartphones. While inviting gamers to your business on social media, use that hashtag to help create online traffic.
Pokemon Go is a huge fad going on for the moment. Definitely not sure how long this trend will last, but for the moment it’s something that you, as a business owner, can take advantage. But be careful. You don’t want to alienate those that aren’t fans of Pokemon, neither do you want to push away those that are serious fans of the game.
Pokemon Go is a huge fad going on for the moment. Band Wagon Marketing would be perfect to use for the current hype that Pokemon Go is receiving. Definitely not sure how long this trend will last, but for the moment it’s something that you, as a business owner, can take advantage. But be careful. You don’t want to alienate those that aren’t fans of Pokemon, neither do you want to push away those that are serious fans of the game.
Would love to get you thoughts and opinions! Are you a Pokemon Go Player or not? Are you a business owner that likes or dislikes the foot traffic from the game?
