Halloween offers a unique opportunity for businesses to launch some fun and interesting marketing campaigns. Halloween themed promotions can help your business gain some interest and bring new customers through the door.
Here are some Halloween marketing ideas you can use to bring some festive Halloween fun to your business while appealing to customers at the same time.
Editor’s note: watch a video featuring 10 Halloween promotions to try this year.
Host a Costume, Food or Pumpkin Carving Contest
Halloween is a time when a lot of people like to get creative by making their own costumes, decorating pumpkins, and even making spooky looking food. So one idea for marketing at Halloween might be to encourage customers to show off some holiday themed creative projects. Host a contest for costume makers, pumpkin carvers or chefs. You can hold your contest in person to bring people into your location. Or you could have customers submit photos of their creations online or via social media. It’s a bonus if any of your products could be used in any of those creative projects.
Feature Your Products in Halloween Themed Projects
If any of your products could be used in Halloween themed projects, utilize that for your October content strategy. For example, Savers Thrift Store provides some DIY costume inspiration on its website to give customers ideas for incorporating items from the store into their costumes.
Re-post Your Customers’ Most Clever Halloween Projects
If hosting an official contest isn’t your thing, you can still encourage customers to show off their Halloween creations by re-posting them on your social media accounts. Ask customers to tag you when posting their creations if they use any of your products. Then credit them in your post and encourage other customers to get involved.
Have Fun with Hashtags
And when it comes to Halloween marketing campaigns, don’t forget the power of hashtags. For example, you could even create a dedicated hashtag for customers to share their creations or show off how they use your products on platforms like Twitter and Instagram.
Decorate Your Store or Restaurant
Never underestimate the power of some festive decorations. If you have a store, restaurant or other business that people can physically visit, add some spooky or fall themed touches. They can draw customers inside or show off your products in a fun new way.
Add Fall Flavors to Your Menu
Any business that sells food or drink, from bakeries to breweries, can potentially benefit from offering seasonal flavored items. Fall flavors like apple cinnamon and pumpkin are especially popular around Halloween. For example, Cigar City Brewing in Florida has built a loyal fan base for its Good Gourd pumpkin beer that it brews each fall.
Create a Spooky Video
Video can be an effective way to communicate your brand’s message online. And Halloween offers you the opportunity to get spooky (or silly spooky) in order to grab people’s attention.
Team Up with Other Local Businesses for Special Events
Lots of communities and downtown areas host special Halloween celebrations for families and local residents. Take advantage of these events by offering sales or special promotions, or even just having the best decorations and costumes on the block. And if your city doesn’t already offer an event like this, consider teaming up with some other businesses in the area and starting one.
Create Themed Product Bundles
If you have a few different products that sort of lend themselves to a particular Halloween theme, offer them together at a discounted rate. For example, nail polish company China Glaze offers groupings of nail polish with Halloween themed names and colors.
Throw a Party
A party offers a great incentive for customers to visit your business. You can allow people to enjoy your spooky décor and themed food or drink while offering some sales or other promotions.
Give Away Branded Treats
Trick-or-treating is one of the most popular Halloween traditions. Your business should take part by offering some candy or other goodies to kids in costume. You can even get candy wrappers or small tokens printed with your logo.
Reverse Trick-or-Treat
And you don’t have to just pass out candy at your own location. Leading up to Halloween, you can go to other local businesses in the area and offer them some of your branded treats to hand out or offer at their reception area or checkout.
Hand Out Trick-or-Treat Bags with Your Logo
Candy itself isn’t the only way to get your business name and logo out there on Halloween. Companies like ShowYourLogo.com will print your name and logo on bags that kids can use for trick-or-treating. Just pass out the bags to customers in the weeks leading up to Halloween.
Team Up with Fall Themed Attractions
Fall is a popular time for people to visit attractions like apple orchards and cider mills. So you can connect with one of those attractions in your area and offer a discounted ticket or other promotion when customers shop with you. It could lead to new business for both of you.
Add Halloween Elements to Your Branding
One of the simplest ways to get your business in on the Halloween fun is to just incorporate popular Halloween symbols into your branding. Even a little jack-o-lantern or Frankenstein on your signage, website or store bags can show customers that you’re into the holiday and encourage them to visit you throughout the season.
For more Halloween marketing ideas read:
Storefront Image via Shutterstock, additional images: Savers Thrift, Cigar City Brewing, China Glaze, ShowYourLogo
chris
I think this article offers many potentially useful ideas for small businesses. Small business should try “everything in the book” in order to generate awareness and increase revenue. Taking advantage of the holiday season is an ingenious way to do this (without coming across as pushy). I particularly like the ideas of introducing fall specialty items, reverse trick-or-treating, and throwing a party. In the world we live in today, people are constantly bombarded with commercials, advertisements, and other ploys to get them to notice a product, service, or company. On a small budget, it can be difficult for small businesses to compete with higher budget companies. Being creative, connecting with your customers, and developing strong relationships is of upmost importance for small businesses.
Introducing fall specialty items can be a great way to generate interest in your business. For instance, a local restaurant would likely benefit from offering a fall beer menu. People would likely be interested in trying something different and novel to them. Additionally, if they really enjoyed the seasonal beer menu, they would be likely to come back in the future (just for the specialty beers). Furthermore, if they haven’t been to the restaurant in a while, it would give them a chance to remember all the things the restaurant has to offer.
Reverse trick-or-treating is another ingenious idea. This would be a great way to raise awareness of your business. People always love free stuff and you would be tapping into the “holiday spirit” at the same time.
Throwing a party could be another great idea for a small business. This could be done as a promotional event. You would have to offer something free to the attendees, but it would likely be beneficial in the end. By throwing a party, you have the chance to interact with customers and develop relationships, raise awareness for your business, get people in your store, and create positive associations in the mind of potential customers.
Annie Pilon
Thanks for all the great input, Chris!
Aira Bongco
I love the costume idea. I think it never goes out of style no matter the age.
Annie Pilon
I completely agree!
Aira Bongco
It always excites customers when you celebrate with them in special occasions. This is true when you customize the theme of your shop just for them.