The Halloween season will soon be in overdrive, so it’s time to get in on the spooky action. Here are some creative marketing ideas for small businesses:
Halloween-ize your products
People are in a festive mood this time of year and the chilly weather means that fall flavours are showing up everywhere. (Evidence: pumpkin-spiced latte mayhem.) What types of seasonal items can you offer to help people get in the Halloween spirit? If you own a bar, spice up your drink menu with a Halloween cocktails. If you own a restaurant, offer a themed dinner. If you own a bakery, whip up some scary cookies (think: employee parties).
Be sure to let your customers know about your special offerings by sharing a few photos on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. A fun hashtag gets you bonus points (aka more likes).
Get in the spirit
You don’t have to sell costumes to deck out your business for Halloween. Try spooking things up with a scary window display. If you’re a dentist, consider sending a Halloween email featuring vampires or zombies (with a tongue-in-cheek reminder to come in for a cleaning). Chiropractors could post a picture of a skeleton on social media with a message like, “Happy Halloween, here’s to healthy bones!” A bit of Halloween spirit can go a long way toward letting your customers know you have a sense of whimsy, which helps make your brand more endearing.
Offer specials or deals
Seasonal deals are a perfect opportunity to bring more attention to your business. An enticing, timely offer gives people a reason to choose your business over others. Think about offering discounts for items or services that will get people ready for Halloween.
Host an event
The question, “What should we do for Halloween?” will soon be on everyone’s mind. Answer their call by hosting an event at your shop. A costume party is always a no-brainer, but you might want to get a little more creative. If you own a nail salon, try hosting Halloween-themed nail art lessons. If you’re part of a makeup studio, do the same with costume-themed makeup. Be sure to get the word out via email and social media early so people can plan ahead (and invite their friends). Getting on people’s radar soon could also help land your event on one of those “What to do for Halloween” lists that local media outlets tend to publish this time of year. And — whatever you do — don’t forget the dry ice!
Trick-or-treat it out
Parents are always on the lookout for fun, safe places to take their kids trick-or-treating (especially in cities). Why not bring the neighbourhood together by making your block the go-to destination? Coordinate with other family-friendly businesses, decorate the street in a creative way, and ensure that all participating hosts have something fun and different to offer the kids.
Dress up
A dressed-up staff offers another great social media photo op. Take it to the next level and invite everyone to dress according to a theme. For a salon, for example, is the time to perfect crazy hair styles. Marge Simpson, Cher, and David Bowie (that is, Labyrinth David Bowie) are always solid options. If you’re a dog walker, take a group photo of all your dressed-up canine clients, and then post it widely. Pets in costume are social media candy.
These are just a few of the many ways to infuse your marketing with whimsy this Halloween season. We hope they get your creative juices flowing. Post a Halloween photo of your business (be sure to tag us), and we’ll give you a shoutout.