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Online or offline: Ways your restaurant can tap into Pokemon Go craze

August 18, 2016 by Seshu Madabushi — Founder & CEO, mKonnekt

In the annals of gaming history, this summer will go down as the summer of Pokemon Go. The augmented reality game has players worldwide out on the streets and everywhere else, attempting to catch Pokemon in just about every nook and cranny, but particularly in restaurants, which are finding the game to be a great promotional tool.

So, how big is the impact so far, in terms of social media reach? Well, this graph, sourced through brand24, probably says it all. But in terms of pull-out statistics that are worth special consideration, take a look at these: 

• 3.1M hashtags on Instagram for #PokemonGO.
• Approximately 71 percent popularity for the hashtag #PokemonGO.
• 500,000 mentions, most on Instagram.
• Approximately 5 million pictures shared on social media.

These phenomenal statistics are even more impressive when you consider the fact that they occurred over the relatively brief time-span of just three weeks. And also important to consider, is the fact that the game appears to be equally as popular with adults, as it is with youngsters.  

Ways restaurant operators can put Pokemon Go to optimal use

First, restaurant operators should be using Pokemon tools. And here are some of the primary things you should be doing to use this game's popularity to your business's benefit online:

• Check to see whether you are a Pokestop: These are physical places where players go to recharge and get goodies when they spin the "wheel of fortune." This is an easy way to promote your establishment on social media, as well as through posters in and around your restaurant and through emails to loyal customers letting them know, you are a Pokestop.
• Use your gym status: 
  • Organize game nights and invite other teams to take over the gym and offer the take-over team a party or some other discount.
  • Promote loyalty to your gym by offering discounts to your gym members.
• Three ways to use the game, if you are neither a gym nor Pokestop:
  • Compile and display a list of nearby Pokestops and gyms.
  • Use social media and other media to publicize this "nearby" list and attract footfall to your location. 
  • Partner with neighborhood Pokestops and gyms and promote.
• Buy Lures: Lures are virtual traps which you can purchase for a nominal rate to – as the name implies -- lure Pokemon to your establishment. You can then promote your "Lure Hours" just as you would for any other special offer time of day to attract customers in to hunt Pokemon. 

What restaurants can do offline to make the Pokemon Go connection

• Reward "stars": Offer some kind of incentives to players who achieve game "stardom." So, if a player is, for instance, up to a Level five to seven in the game, offer them a free drink. Then, offer anyone above Level seven, a free side or dessert. 
• Pokedex Wall:Create a chart of all the Pokemons that players can catch through the game, then ask customers to scratch off the Pokemons they have captured and provide some kind of offer for each capture, with reward value escalating depending on the difficulty of catching that particular Pokemon. 
• Customer Wall Of Fame:Customers' Pokemon avatars can be Joggers, Kantos or Collectors. So, create an area in your restaurants for players to post their pictures, along with their avatars on a Wall Of Fame, on a first-come, first-served basis. The idea here is simply to encourage game players to come to your restaurant and maybe get a little ego boost, as well. 

Overall, this is a great way to use a current cultural phenomenon to create a sense of fun and connection with your customers about the game. Restaurant operators who are willing to attract customers with lures are already reaping the rewards. Inevitably, more restaurants will jump on the bandwagon, as customer demands for Pokemon grow, so it's worth it to get in on the ground floor of this craze. 
*Data sources used in this article, include websta.me & hashtagify.me

About Seshu Madabushi

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A serial entrepreneur with a focus on restaurant marketing, working on the latest venture mKonnekt. mKonnekt is a platform that mines customer data to create personalized and unique dining experiences.

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