If you’re looking for a way to improve your restaurant’s business with something new and exciting, consider making your location a PokeStop or taking advantage of a nearby one. You’ll soon have customers visiting your restaurant to find their Pokémon items and get a taste of what you have to offer. This recent Pokémon Go craze could be a great way to bring in new customers and, if marketed well, generate return business.
How to Become a PokeStop
To become a PokeStop, you first need to submit a suggestion to Niantic, the developer of Pokémon Go. Niantic does close submissions at times, so be sure to check back on their site often for open opportunities.
However, you don’t have to BE a PokeStop to benefit from players who are trying to catch ’em all. There are tons of nearby stops in urban areas, including many Starbucks locations, local points of interest, art installations and more. Chances are that you may capture foot traffic from a nearby stop if you’re thrifty.
Pokémon Go Restaurant Marketing Ideas
To capitalize on the Pokémon Go trend, it will take some savvy marketing on your front. If you don’t know where to start, this handy list of ideas could help you obtain the results you’re after.
Related: 6 Creative Restaurant Promotions that Win Over Customers
Announce Your PokeStop
The best way to get Pokémon Go fans into your restaurant is to advertise your PokeStop. Use Facebook, Instagram, and other social media outlets to let the people in your community know about your location. It could also pay off to put a sign out front to inform passerby who may be wandering the area with their mobile devices hunting Pokémon.
If you’re not a PokeStop, even promoting social media and signage that welcomes players can help to draw them into your premises. All that walking has to make them hungry, right?
Provide Free Wi-Fi to Guests
Let customers know that your location offers free Wi-Fi. They will consider this a great alternative to using up their data at other locations. If you provide charging stations, even better! You’ll have customers coming in by flocks to catch some of the local creatures that might be running around your shopping center.
Offer Up Contents
Your customers are your best advertisers. Let them know you’ll provide a custom gift card or other valuable prize to anyone who catches a rare Pokémon at your restaurant and shares it on social media. This brings people in to see what Pokémon are around, and if their successful, you get some delighted customers and free PR.
Related: Perfect Your Restaurant By Making the Most of Customer Feedback
You could also run a raffle to get all players involved. Be sure to encourage them to “check in” on Facebook, leave a review, and like your page. This will help improve your online presence as a PokeStop or Poke-friendly establishment.
Buy Lures for Your Location
Purchasing lures could be a great investment for you. Lures increase the number of Pokémon available at your PokeStop, which will attract more customers to your restaurant. Lures are available to buy for about $1 each from the in-game store. Best of all, the lures are active for 30 minutes at a time, which leaves customers plenty of time to eat and catch all the Pokémon they can.
It’s awesome that you’re being innovative with ways to get more restaurant business during the work week. With massive amounts of daily users, Pokémon Go could be a fun way to be successful in that goal.
