Whether you’re playing or not, Pokémon Go has undoubtedly become an overnight sensation. To put things in perspective, Pokémon Go has surpassed WhatsApp, Instagram, and Snapchat in time spent on the app, and has almost the same amount of daily active users as Twitter. The app encourages users to explore their area through interactive location-based gameplay. Without going into any more detail about how the app works, the premise already screams “revenue booster” for businesses, and we want to help you take advantage of the potential new business your organization might be missing out on right now.
Here are some helpful tips for using Pokémon Go to attract customers:
Understand how Pokémon gameplay works
Trying to use the app to your advantage without understanding how the game works can leave you with a lack of ideas and a lot of loiterers. As the player (referred to as a “trainer”) walks or travels around, they have a chance to encounter wild Pokémon in the area that can be caught. Trainers can also travel to fixed locations called Pokémon Gyms to battle other trainers in their area or visit areas called PokéStops which are generally points of interest that give the trainer free items to be used in-game.
An important thing to note about PokéStops in particular is that they regenerate after a short amount of time, meaning that trainers can wait at a PokéStop and reap the rewards multiple times. Similarly, Pokémon Gyms are player vs player experiences and are actually at a fixed location, meaning that a group of people could very well be congregating at a Pokémon Gym at any time. All in all, if you’re located near a point of interest in the game, be prepared for groups of people to congregate in and around your business at any time.
Pay to place a Pokémon Lure near your business
While Niantic, the company behind the game, is no longer taking requests for new PokéStops and Gyms, anyone can pay to place a “Lure” in the game. Lures increase the number of Pokémon around a PokéStops for about 30 minutes. So, if your business is located near a PokéStops, you can increase the amount of players (aka potential customers) in your area by attracting them with more Pokémon.
Lures only cost a few dollars, so you can try experimenting with placing Lures on different dates and times to help drive up business. All players in the area will be able to see when a lure is placed, but be sure to promote times you’ll be placing lures to entice players to come to your business.
Create a PokéStop Promotion
If your business is lucky enough to be a PokéStop or (located near one), you can create promotions based on the PokéStops near you. You can publish content and ads that refer to your closest PokéStop and even offer deals for players that visit the PokéStop. For example, you can create a promotion that mentions the specific PokéStop by name that also includes simple walking directions from the PokéStop to your business.
Make sure your customers can recharge
Pokémon Go is notorious for quickly draining cell phone batteries, so there’s no better amenity to offer that guarantees users will stop by your location than a cell phone charging station. Adding a tabletop or freestanding mobile charging station so users can continue to play as they recharge is a huge appeal, especially if there’s a Gym or PokéStop nearby. You can go the extra step by loading your charging station with Pokémon themed content or customizing the station with a Pokémon themed wrap. No matter what charging solution you choose, make sure to mention your charging station in all of your ads and promotional materials!
InCharged offers a full range of charging solutions that can fit the needs of any business. If you’re ready to take advantage of the latest gaming craze, consider renting or purchasing a mobile charging station today!
