If you haven’t noticed your local parks and landmarks filling up with smartphone hordes, you must be literally living under a rock. Pokémon Go is exploding across our planet, and whether or not your business is lucky enough to be a Pokéstop, it’s time to start thinking from a marketing perspective.
Pokémon Go is an augmented reality (AR) game that is so popular in just the first few days it became the most downloaded app for both Apple and Android. It’s sparked a revolution for mobile gaming, and Pokémon Go’s most impressive feat is that it requires movement. Stops are marked by GPS, and if you’re a Pokéstop or a Gym you’re already experiencing an influx of players.
We’ve noticed a lot of complaints on social media, bashing the game for inducing zombie-like tendencies and causing crowds of unwanted people filing through their doors for the “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” hunt. Yes, you read that right. People are COMPLAINING about CUSTOMERS walking through their doors! Maybe they’re just creeping in your parking lot. Maybe they’re in your backyard. It’s an obsession right now, but as the system settles from the madness, there are ways to encourage these gamers to spend their money on your shop instead of in the app store.
What can you do? Get your head in the game! If you’re a Pokéstop, consider purchasing a feature called a “Lure” that attracts the invisible creatures to your location. In turn, that will attract players in your area!
If you’re not a stop, consider offering a discount for a certain team for the day. Players can choose Mystic, Valor or Instinct, and you can encourage random encounters by simply calling for a certain team. Or, take a look at your promotional materials and ask if a millennial would use those touch points. Hang a sign outside your door pointing to the best hunting spots in your city.
Embrace the influx. A great attitude with excellent marketing may turn this frenzy into a profitable venture!