If you’ve spent any time at all outside recently, then you’ve probably come across a strange phenomenon. Everyone seems to be staring at their phones! A lot of us are probably buried in our phones on a daily basis, but even this seems a little extreme.
Well, if you weren’t aware, Pokémon is taking over the world once again. It’s been over 15 years since Pokémon was a worldwide phenomenon. But, with the release of their latest mobile game, Pokémon Go, it seems they’ve picked up right where they left off.
Below we examine what Pokémon Go actually is and why it might matter for your small business.
What is Pokémon Go?
Pokémon fever is truly gripping the world again. In fact, Nintendo’s market value has grown by over $7 billion since the release of the app. Open up to any app marketplace and you’ll find this new mobile game completely dominating the charts.
One of the main appeals of this mobile game is that it truly bridges players of all age ranges, from children, to their parents, and everyone in between. If you somehow don’t know what Pokémon is by now, and are a tad confused about what’s been going on. Then keep reading.
Pokémon Go is based upon previous Pokémon installations, and picks up right where they left off. With Pokémon Go, the game utilizes your phone’s GPS and camera to display characters on your screen, which you then try to capture with Pokeballs. As you move about your town or city new characters will appear.
This is one of the first augmented reality apps that have actually taken off. Augmented reality creates a layer of digital experience on top of the existing world, which allows you to interact with the world in new ways.
Below we look at a few different ways this can actually end up benefiting your business.
How Can This Benefit My Business?
If you have a local storefront, then you can actually cater to users who are playing this game to get them to come by your store. People who used to be immersed in their devices at home are now doing the same thing, out in the world.
There are two ways you can take advantage of this emerging trend.
1. Employ the Use of Lures
There’s a feature in this game called Lures. Essentially, you can buy a lure, which then allows more Pokémon to spawn wherever the lure is dropped. If there’s more Pokémon in the area, then naturally, you’ll see an increase in foot traffic.
Then, all you have to do is offer coupons or discounts for those playing the game, and surely a few of those people will come into your shop. Regardless, of whether this trend lasts, it’s always important to focus on relationship building with your customers.
Sometimes doing something creative and out-of-the-box is all it takes.
2. See if You’re a Pokestop or Gym
In some cases your business could even be near a Pokestop or gym. This is where users come to train, battle, and heal their Pokémon. You can use the same strategy as above, and entice these players to visit your store with various discounts.
Even if you think the whole Pokémon fad is silly, the thinking behind it can be advantageous for your business. Whether or not you decide to use the mobile game to your advantage is up to you. Regardless, thinking about new creative ways to reach your customers can always be beneficial, no matter what kind of business you’re in.
If you’re interested in creating an innovative marketing strategy for your business today, then reach out to our team. We’d love to chat.
