Holidays are a great opportunity to get creative with your business marketing tactics and have some fun with your community — and what better time to have frighteningly good fun than Halloween?
Did you know that Americans spent over $10 billion on Halloween last year? That’s quite a tidy sum to spend on candies and costumes! If you missed the opportunity last year, this is another chance to carve out a slice of that pumpkin pie for your business.
If you’re looking for Halloween marketing ideas, this write-up is for you as we have ideas on how to get creative with your marketing this season. From store decors to digital reaches, these marketing tips will not only boost your sales but also allow you to showcase a bit of your spooky side to your customers. However, when evaluating Halloween marketing ideas, it’s crucial to keep your brand, business model, and customer base in mind. Not every marketing idea will be suitable for your business, so it’s important to carefully consider the following strategies before incorporating them into your marketing plan.
HALLOWEEN-THEMED EMAIL CAMPAIGNS
Halloween-themed email campaigns always stand out, and that’s why they never go out of style. Incorporating a spooky touch of chills, warlocks, and witches into your emails when sending advertisements, promotions, and news to your current customers and leads can help distinguish your emails from the multitude of other promotional emails that customers receive.
- Stay true to your brand style even if you’re decorating with vampires and werewolf themes.
- Add a live creepy countdown to create a sense of urgency.
- Use action words in your CTA.
- A/B test your designs and content to find the one that tricks (or treats) your audience best.
- Personalize your emails with the recipient’s name and past buying behaviors.
PROMOTIONS AND OFFERS
Prize giveaways can effectively boost foot traffic to both your physical and online stores. You can encourage participants to share photos using specific hashtags and engage with your social media accounts by following, liking, and tagging friends for entry. If you’re looking to expand your reach beyond your core customer base but lack the financial resources, consider partnering with other businesses. For instance, restaurants can collaborate with candy stores to create enticing Halloween-themed desserts and candy promotions. As an example, a restaurant could provide a complimentary dessert from a local candy store with the purchase of a Halloween-themed meal. Are you in the retail business? Consider teaming up with a costume shop to offer discounts on costumes to shoppers who make purchases at your store.
HALLOWEEN-THEMED HOME/LANDING PAGES
Halloween is all about thrills, right? So why should your landing pages be any different? Imagine transforming your landing page into a virtual haunted house—exciting yet easy to navigate. A few simple graphics can add a spooky touch to your website for a festive change of scenery. Design your homepage with accents of orange, pumpkin carousels, spooky posters, candies, and other eerie elements. Last year, Hallmark took us on a Halloween journey as their landing page allowed you to “walk” through product sections, each with its own spooky deal. In everything you do, ensure that your landing page grabs attention and isn’t just filled with cobwebs.
TELL BRANDED HALLOWEEN STORIES
Who doesn’t love a good ghost story, especially around Halloween? But what if that story seamlessly introduces your product or service in a way that’s so hauntingly perfect? Here’s how to achieve that:
- Every story needs a beginning, middle, and end, keep that in mind.
- Tell a tale your audience can see themselves in.
- Make your product a natural part of the narrative, remember, this is not a sales pitch.
- Use cliffhangers to lead the audience right to your CTA, the action you want them to carry.
- Supplement your story with visuals, images, or even short video clips.
Wondering if this will work? In 2016, Airbnb conducted a Dracula Castle campaign, offering participants the opportunity to win a complimentary night’s stay at Dracula’s Castle. All that was required was to share your thoughts on what you’d do if you encountered the Count. This wasn’t just any campaign; it was an exhilarating and bloody adventure. Check out the promotional flyer.
SPONSOR OR ENTER AN EVENT THIS SEASON
Now is the ideal time to participate in or sponsor your business at a trick-or-treating event, marathon, or festival to generate leads and increase brand visibility. By sponsoring an event, you actively engage with your target audience and ensure that your brand remains at the forefront of their minds. If you’re looking to reach parents of young children, consider sponsoring a children’s event. When selecting an event, always keep your target audience in mind. Additionally, community activities contribute to spreading brand awareness and cultivating a dedicated local customer base.
USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO PROMOTE EVENTS
Social media warrants special attention, as it has the potential to either enhance or hinder your marketing endeavors. To ensure the success of your Halloween promotion, focus on capturing and sharing an abundance of pictures from your events, sales, and campaigns. Be sure to obtain permission before sharing photos of customers or employees on your pages. During the week(s) leading up to Halloween, post spooky content on your:
- Promotions
- Advertisements
- Contests
- Giveaways
CUSTOMER APPRECIATION
What better time to express gratitude to your valued customers than during the festive season? Create a list of your most loyal customers and send them a special discount code as a token of your appreciation for their unwavering support. By taking these simple steps to ensure customer satisfaction, you can solidify the loyalty of your clientele. Going the extra mile in terms of customer service can substantially boost your sales.
Are you wondering why you should invest in a Halloween marketing campaign? It’s quite straightforward. This $10 billion industry extends far beyond costumes and candy; it presents an opportunity for enhanced engagement, increased brand visibility, and, of course, a boost in sales. Here’s why:
- 67% of consumers enjoyed Halloween and celebrated the holiday in 2022;
- Americans spend around $10 billion on Halloween every year;
- Gen-Z is the highest spending demographic during Halloween, with average spending of $225 on Halloween-related goodies;
- 60% of Halloween spending is done on costume purchases.
Halloween isn’t just a one-night event; it’s a whole season providing massive business opportunities.
