We’ve seen pumpkins. We’ve seen black cats and sinister looking night skies. The plastic devil horns, rubber zombie facemasks and the now ubiquitous Scream masks are so well worn, they’ve almost become kitsch. Instead of wearily adopting the same old Halloween imagery and themes, we thought it would be helpful to offer a few alternative ideas for businesses who like to do things a little differently. Though the timeless classics will always have a limited degree of success, this time of year can offer you the chance to move away from the clichés and identify yourself as business with initiative. Here’s a few alternative Halloween marketing ideas from the decidedly unscary team at Probella.
Classic Horror Film Imagery
Unless you’re marketing to a much younger audience or to parents, the usual Halloween staples such as pumpkin motifs and witches on broomsticks can seem a little old hat. People have come to associate this time of year with all things gruesome and macabre, so why not capitalise on that? Providing that you don’t break any social media rules and mark any potentially unsavoury posts clearly, using memes, clips and images from classic horror films can be a fantastic way to get involved with the spirit of Halloween, without relying on hackneyed old clichés. Be aware of copyright issues and always be careful not to post content that is likely to get your account banned. Royalty free content such as old black and white vampire films are sometimes available to use on archiving sites and you could even get creative and direct a pastiche version of your favourite fearsome flick yourself.
Grown Up Goodie Bags
Trick or treat is a tradition that most people grow up with. It brings back memories of eating way too much sugar, shivering under the moonlight and dressing in costumes that were as adorable as they were terrifying. A great Halloween marketing strategy is to make up a grown-up version of the classic goodie bag. The novelty alone is generally enough to generate some attention and this technique also provides you with the opportunity to showcase any forthcoming products as free samples. Many nightclub and student party organisers offer vodka jellies, flavoured shots and grown up candy as a way of giving their punters a little souvenir to remember their night. Branding is key and any printed bags or specially designed logos should be produced well in advance to ensure you can deal with any last-minute errors. If your business caters to a particularly conservative market, novelty promotions such as this can inject a much-needed element of fun into your clients working day.
Pop Up parties and events
Halloween is famously a night for adults to go out and enjoy themselves. Parties, concerts and food events are commonplace at this time of year, often taking place for a week either side of the day itself. Businesses can capitalise on the start of the party season by getting in on the action. Pop up Halloween themed events can be anything from a horror themed quiz to a full-on zombie disco. What works for you will depend on your client base. Even networking events and business to business functions can have a Halloween twist and as we discussed earlier, it can be as grown up or as cheesy and childish as you want it to be.
Freakish Free Gifts and Promotions
If you have a good relationship with some other businesses, Halloween can be a great time to run joint promotions that showcase the products or services of two companies at once. Offering free cinema tickets with each purchase is a popular tactic as this time of year generally sees the release of some of blockbuster horror and fantasy films. Similarly, limited edition confectionary, alcohol products and e-liquids can do well. In businesses where this type of imagery is inappropriate, even some light-hearted wording and monster themed metaphors can be enough to turn a standard discount promotion into something topical and relevant.
Family Friendly Interactive Events
If your business deals with young people and their families, this time of year can be the perfect time to offer your customers the chance to get involved with events themselves. Bake sales, cooking events, storytelling and dance parties allow you to gather people together in a family friendly atmosphere, while also showcasing what you have to offer. Events like this should focus on fun and gently promoting your brand image, rather than being too centred around generating sales. Parents are rightly sceptical of companies that are trying to market to their children, so you need to create the best first impression you can.
The “Bah Humbug” approach
It’s a phrase that sees many people through Christmas, but it can also be applied to this time of year when all the fake blood and candied apples get a little too much for you. Promotions that poke fun at Halloween traditions can be a humorous way to engage with the zeitgeist of the moment without having to genuinely deal with anything tacky or silly. Some businesses could even market directly to those who don’t like Halloween. Offering decidedly unscary promotions and products as an alternative to all the horror and other predictable trends can backfire, but if you know your audience, it can also be extremely successful.
Ultimately, holidays like Halloween are inescapable if you work in marketing so you need to find a way to engage with them, without compromising your brand identity or credibility. The simple, tried and tested novelty ideas are always there as a backup option, but campaigns are generally far more enjoyable if you see this time of year as an opportunity to experiment and have fun. Even if you would rather ignore the whole thing, focus on the boost in conversion rates that a well-executed and thoroughly planned Halloween marketing strategy can bring for you and you can turn a potential nightmare in to a dream.
