President of the Lake Lanier Convention and Vistor's Bureau, Stacy Dickson, says local businesses are embracing a popular mobile phone game to bring in customers.
Pokemon Go, an interactive mobile game, uses augmented reality to place fictitious creatures seen through a phone's camera at popular locations in communities. So far the game has been downloaded over 10 million times since its release in early July.
Dickson said it is the ultimate attractor for businesses.
"It is drawing people to places that they didn't even know where in the community. I was out on the Gainesville square last week and there were at least 20 to 50 people, at any given time, playing the game and looking around the square that might not have been downtown on the square otherwise," she said.
Dickson believes that business owners that are not utilizing the game to promote their business are missing out on a great opportunity.
"Businesses need to download the app and see what is near their location. Special locations like 'Poke-Stops' and 'Battle Gyms' that players go to may be nearby and try to utilize them in their promotions."
"We have seen some things that other communities are doing like offering discounts and special offers around the game. Things like showing your phone with a caught Pokemon nearby and getting a 10% discount or a free item," she said.
To go along with the Pokemon Go game craze, the Lake Lanier Convention and Visitors Bureau will be hosting a free Pokemon night Saturday in downtown Flowery Branch at the historic district on Main Street.
"We are having Pokemon 'lures' to try to attract the Pokemon to the downtown area and we are showing the Pokemon movie. So if you do not know what Pokemon is, or it's been 20 years since you have seen or heard anything about, it is a great opportunity," Dickson said.
The free event begins at 7 p.m. with the movie being shown at 9 on the lawn behind the train depot.
Tuesday
April 23rd, 2024
9:12AM
