Cashing in on the Pokemon Go hype

We’ve recently investigated multiple ways to use the current Pokemon Go craze to your advantage as a small business owner.

The most striking way to use this record-breaking mobile game seems to be the use of Pokemon Lures.

If you’re still new to all of this Pokemon Go madness and don’t yet have a clue how to use it for your small business, then please have a look at our previous blog post here.

What are Pokemon Lures?

Pokemon Lures are modules which can be placed onto PokeStops. Once placed there, the module will attract more Pokemon to that specific location for the next 30 minutes.

This is a great way to not only catch more Pokemon yourself, but to make new friends as the increase in Pokemon can be seen by everyone in the Pokemon universe around that specific PokeStop.

How long does the Pokemon Lures module last for?

You’ve got 30 minutes to catch as many Pokemon as possible after placing a Lure module.

How to check if you’ve got a Lure module in Pokemon Go?

1. Open the Pokemon Go app and head over to the Map screen
2. Tap the Pokeball icon at the bottom of the screen
3. Tap on Items
4. Scroll down until you find the “Lure Module”

How to buy Pokemon Lures?

Simply follow these steps in order to buy Pokemon Lures to promote your business:

1. Open your Pokemon Go app and go to the Map screen
2. Tap on the Pokeball at the bottom of the screen
3. Tap on Shop
4. Scroll down until you find the Lure modules to purchase and tap on it
5. You will be redirected to the payment page. Once you’ve paid the Lures module will appear in your item list

How to use your Lure module?

1. Open the Pokemon Go app and head over to the Map screen
2. Tap on the PokeStop near to you
3. Tap on the pill-shaped Lure module slot that you can find just below the name of the PokeStop
4. Tap on the PokeStop module at the bottom of your screen
5. Tap on the Lure module

If the Lure worked correctly then you’ll start seeing heart-shaped petals floating around the PokeStop.

So how can you get people into your local business with the help of Pokemon Lures?

You might have noticed that a lot of PokeStops are in close proximity to shopping malls, coffee shops, squares and parks. You can locate the closest Pokemon Gyms and PokeStop by heading over here.

If you run a business next to or close to a PokeStop it makes sense to “lure” Pokemon players to your local PokeStop in order to grab their attention.

Even if your shop is a few meters away from a PokeStop you can still try to attract the Pokemon players’ attention by posting about it on your social media and positioning a board which mentions Pokemon outside of your shop.

Marketing cost calculations

Pokemon Go makes money by selling in-app virtual goods. However, the only important virtual good for small businesses is the Lure module.

The math is simple:

• You can buy 14,500 Pokecoins for $100
• One pack of Lures includes 8 Pokemon Lures and costs 680 Pokecoins
• This means that for $100 you get 21 packs (or 168 Pokemon Lures)
• Each Pokemon Lure lasts for 30 minutes

This means for just $100 you can “lure” Pokemon players up to 168 times to your local PokeStop.

In total for $100 you would promote your local area for 84 hours or 10 workings days if you operate on a 9-to-5 schedule

This might be the most cost-efficient and genius marketing trick ever created.

How to capitalise on the Pokemon players?

Some ideas on how to capitalise on the increase in Pokemon players around your local area during an active Lure module include:

• Get some (customised) Pokemon merchandise and give it away when players arrive at your PokeStop
• Get a dedicated employee to interact with arriving players and create a conversation with them
• Make it a regular thing (e.g. there will be Lures every Friday from 4–6pm, coincidentally at the same time as your Happy Hour ;) )
• Create a local score board of the best players in the area who registered with you (capture phone numbers, email addresses)
• Position a board in front of your shop to advertise special deals to players

Pokemon Go keeps growing and the hype won’t stop for some time. We are excited to see more marketing tricks emerging every day. How do you use Pokemon Go for your small business?

This post was first published on the InvoiceBerry blog. Please don’t forget to recommend the post if you liked it!

Uwe is the CEO & founder of InvoiceBerry.com, an online invoicing software for small businesses and freelancers. He loves Entrepreneurship, business and technology. Follow him on Twitter: @uwedreiss