Trend Talk: Pokemon Go!
It’s no secret that Pokemon Go has taken the US (and now the world) by storm. Pokemon Go is a mobile app, which has tapped into the nostalgia of 90's kids (guilty) AND gotten new players on board by introducing us to Augmented Reality gaming.
So how can you, a business owner or real estate professional, take advantage of the craze?
- If your business is near a PokeStop, pay to add a “lure Module” on it: In the game, players are rewarded by visiting PokeStops. Generally, PokeStops are located in well populated areas, trafficked businesses, and at landmarks. The lures themselves last for 30 minutes and players have the ability to catch an increased rate of Pokemon while the “lure Module” is active. If you have an active lure on your Pokestop, there is a good chance that players will come to you and stay for the duration of the lure in an effort to capture more Pokemon.
- Offer discounts: Now that you’ve worked to bring people to your place of business, how do you get them to move from loitering, to paying customer? Offer a good discount. Check out the images below to see how other business owners are using the Pokemon Go to their advantage.
3. Increased Rental Rate?: This seems like a bit of a stretch, but I’ve already seen stories of Craigslister’s and Real Estate Agents mentioning how many PokeStops and Gyms are nearby. Do you think it’s that far fetched that a prospective tenant would pay $25 extra for rent if your rental property is located in a desirable area for Pokemon GO? Crazy right?
Who knows how long Pokemon GO will be around. I’d bet that even if Pokemon GO fades out, this new augmented reality type of mobile gaming will be here to stay. As always, what you think about the trend is not what’s important. Whether or not you’re training to “be the very best”, the fact is that there are millions of people who love it. So how are you going to react?
