If you browsed social media at all over the weekend you’d notice that people are going 1998 for Pokémon GO. The augmented reality game is now more popular than Tinder, people prefer ‘catching them all’ to ‘making a catch’. To be fair regardless of which you’re doing you’re more than likely going to end up with a Rattata anyway.

If you’re a business, we’re guessing you’ve been on an endless quest to find ways to lure customers in your store (especially the hospitality industry; those Pokémon Trainers trying to catch ‘em all may have left your tables previously reserved for Tinder dates free). When you’re on a quest to be the very best, the best there ever was, you have to learn to catch ‘em all; customers, that is! Here, we’ll let you in on a few secrets to open up your potential PokeStop to customers. Let the games begin!

A wild customer has appeared!

If you’ve been fortunate enough to be gifted by the PokeGods to have your business listed as a PokeStop you would have noticed that more than one customer has waltzed into your store, phone in hand. Some may pretend to browse, some may blatantly collect their Pokeballs and leave. Instead of turning way the hoardes of Pokémon Trainers coming through your door, we say make the most of it! Advertise the fact your business is a Pokémon minefield on a blackboard for those Pokémon Trainers passing by or over social media, like Woolworths have done (THAT engagement: daaaaamn boy!):

You could go one step further for extra kudos and customers. You can purchase an in-game item called a “Lure Module” that attracts Pokémon to PokeStop for 30 minutes. Publish on social when you’re unleashing that bad boy, complement it with some advertising (including interest: Pokémon GO) and watch them flood into your store (believe us, they will come).

Perhaps you can turn your Lure Module into an event, like the Beta Bar is organising for the 22 July (judging by the amount of people are interested in this event, we’re guessing this is going to be hectic!):

Make it a PokeParty!

If you’re business is not lucky enough to be a PokeStop (one does not simply become a PokeStop: that’s actually pre-determined by the game’s developers sadly), you can still cash in on the Pokecraze. People can still catch Pokémon in your store if they sit idle for long enough (it’s pretty much like fishing), so keep them entertained. Have a themed menu or drinks special. Show people on social what you’ve caught in your café or bar while advertising your Pokespecials, like a whole bunch of brands have done:

So, there you have it. Play up the Poketheme and you’ll see your business “catching” all the wild customers. We’ve found that even being a part of the conversation around Pokémon Go on social media is a great way to engage with your audience. Make sure you use relevant hashtags and have some fun catching your own Rattata, Pidgey or Squirtle. Whatever you do when you’re Pokémon-ning, just don’t do this:

You don’t want to rain on the Pokeparade now, do you? (okay, we’ve had too much fun with the Pokepuns for one day)

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