The whole world seems to be playing Pokémon Go, and the craze is starting to take hold in South Africa. The interesting aspect about Pokémon Go is that the game is played in the real world where players use their smartphones to find and catch one of the nearly 100 species of Pokémon.

The game makes use of PokéStops, located at interesting places where players can collect the Poké Balls used to catch Pokémon as well as Gyms, where teams can battle it out with each other. There are already a number of PokéStops in South Africa, and indications are that it will be possible to request PokéStops in your area.

Using Pokémon to Attract Business

The big drawcard about the game is that it gets people out and about looking for Pokémon characters. As they play and use up their Poké Balls, they need to find PokéStops to restock their supplies. If your restaurant is near a PokéStop, it will attract players and give you the opportunity to serve hungry and thirsty players.

One way you can draw them to your business is to buy Lures that are active for 30 minutes. A Lure attracts Pokémon to that location, and if this is near your restaurant, you can capitalize on their presence.

Getting Involved

The first step is for you or someone on your staff to download the app and start playing. That way, you will start to understand how the game works and what activity there is in your location. Using the in-game map, you will be able to find PokéStops or Gyms and work out a strategy on how to use Lures.

The app works on Android and iOS, and you can download it from the App Store or Google Play; if you have difficulty downloading the app, there are work-arounds.

Drawing in Customers

Once you have got to grips with the game, you can then develop strategies to make it work for you. Here are a few ideas:

• Free Wi-Fi:

Advertise that you have free Wi-Fi and encourage Pokémon players to use it. Once they realize you are happy for them to play in your restaurant, they will stay and you can be certain they will order refreshments to assuage their hunger and thirst.

• Set up phone charging stations:

Pokémon drains phone batteries quickly and players need to recharge at relatively short intervals. The provision of recharging facilities will attract players, and you can serve them while their phones are charging.

• Use Lures:

It’s a great idea to use Lures to attract Pokémon to your location, especially if you activate them at popular times.

• Host an event:

Hosting an event is another great way to draw a crowd, and several malls and shops have already organised such events.

Pokémon Go is a game-changing application that encourages players to get outside and walk around popular areas looking for Pokémon. Use their interest as an opportunity to draw them to your restaurant and raise your profile.

Now it’s your turn. What has been your experience with Pokemon Go? Share with us below.

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