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Launched on July 6, the app is already the No. 1 app in the world — and it isn’t even available in most countries. In less than two weeks, Nintendo's new game app is more popular than both Facebook and Snapchat. Based on this success, Nintendo’s valuation has jumped 90% in this same short time period.
Pokémon Go is entertainment on overdrive, turning the regular world into one filled with animated characters, battles, and surprises. Pokémon Go has content at its core, coming from a long lineage of video games, TV shows, and playing cards. The only business challenge of Pokémon was finding new ways to entertain its audience; a gaming app was a logical extension.
The most immediate marketing impact is being felt by restaurants near Pokemon “catch” spots with some even purchasing “lures" (in-app purchasable items), that lure Pokémon to that spot, to draw customers to the restaurant.
Many players are also ending up in shops and malls, Racked reports. Some retailers are sending people away from their stores if they’re just there to play the game. However, most are welcoming the Pokémon Go-induced foot traffic. According to the Financial Times, businesses are advertising on Facebook that Pokémon has taken up residence in their businesses, according to Financial Times
You can set up a Lure Module in all locations, which coaxes Pokémon to a PokéStop for 30 minutes, to get customers to your store or restaurant. Continue the momentum to offer rewards, incentives, or even discounts for players.
Brands can even create lists of “Best Places to Catch Pokémon On Your Trip” by linking travel bookings with a recommendation widget for a fun additional touch points for customers as they book trips. Why not drive tourism to small towns with insights into where rare Pokémon are in unassuming towns?
The possibilities for leveraging Pokémon GO are endless, opening an exciting new world of augmented reality (AR).
But as a Marketers what can we learn?
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The game's domination of both social media and traditional news coverage has created an awareness that's spreading like wildfire.
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It's the first Augmented Reality Game with such a recognizable franchise attached to it.
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Pokémon GO overcomes the stigma of laziness attached to video games by disguising exercise as gaming
Meanwhile, here are the full top 10 lists from Placed's foot-traffic-based index scoring system for most popular restaurants in United States, when it comes to Pokemon Go users. 
Pokémon GO harnesses a spirit of competition and community within a recognizable context. It delivers nostalgia for a more innocent time (amongst those who were Pokemon fans in childhood) and it's fun and silly. It's really no surprise people are flocking to the game! Moreover, it is no accident that Pokémon GO has quickly become a sensation; it has some brilliant marketing behind it.
Brand recognition, hype, exclusivity, and the nostalgia factors all enhance Pokémon's ability to attract and delight its audience. Taking some cues from this phenomenon can help you "catch them all" in your next marketing journey.
