7 Ways Your Restaurant Can Cash in on the Pokemon Go Craze
Pokemon Go is a new augmented-reality game that is quickly dominating the mobile gaming industry and influencing how your customers are spending their time — and money! In the game, players venture out into the real world to find what the game calls “PokeStops” (potential hot spots for catching Pokemon characters or supplies). Because these PokeStops are attached to real landmarks, local businesses are using them as a marketing tool to attract consumers. And it’s working: some businesses have reported over a 75% increase in revenue after marketing to the Pokemon Go community.
ChowNow wants to help restaurants capitalize on this lucrative tool, so we’re offering free consultations to help you make the most of it. We can tell you if you’re near a PokeStop and how you can use this information to market your business. Our team can even tell you if there is a Pokemon hiding in the back of your restaurant at this very moment!
Click here to get your complimentary consultation!
In the meantime, here are a few easy ways to get started promoting your business to the 21-million active Pokemon Go users out there:
1. Get festive with your menu
Rename menu items after your favorite Pokemon characters or team names. Clever names will depend on cuisine-type, but here are a few of our personal faves:
- Charzard’s Fire-Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Jigglypuffed Pastry
- “Fresh catch-em-all” of the day!
2. Create a promotion
Set up the promo code “POKEMON” in your ChowNow dashboard and let your customers know about it with branded email marketing!
3. Send a push notification
Tease your customers with a push notification through your ChowNow app such as: “Rare Pokemon spotting at [Restaurant Name]! Come by to help us catch it!”
4. Host an “Appy” Hour
Offer a free beverage or dessert when your customers show servers their Pokemon Go app and your restaurant’s branded ChowNow app!
5. Support a Pokemon team
There are three teams on Pokemon Go: Mystic, Instinct, and Valor. Offer a discount to anyone on the team of your choice. Mystic has the most players, and is our personal fave.
6. Post in-store signage
Create signage announcing special promotions for Pokemon Go players who have reached “level 5 or above.” You can use this as an opportunity to promote your brand, highlighting your restaurant’s logos, colors, mobile app download code, etc.
7. Promote on social media
Post real-time updates on your social media accounts of nearby Pokemon. Your local followers will flock to your restaurant to try and catch them — and your servers will have a blast looking out for them!
The benefits of hopping on the Pokemon Go trend are undeniable. Schedule a one-on-one consultation with a marketing specialist at ChowNow, or simply use the tips above to become the ultimate Pokemon Trainer for your staff!
