Seasonal & Event Marketing
6
min read
Running late on your Halloween marketing? This guide packs 23 quick, creative ideas that you can launch in hours, not weeks. Use it to boost engagement, drive sales, and make your brand part of the Halloween buzz without overcomplicating your plans.
In 2023, 73% of U.S. consumers participated in Halloween activities, spending a record $12 billion on decorations, costumes, and treats (Statista). This seasonal spike in consumer interest offers a prime chance to attract new customers and re-engage existing customers through timely and creative Halloween marketing campaigns.
If you've left your Halloween marketing ideas to the last minute, there's still hope. This article provides strategies to help you implement engaging campaigns and make the most of the Halloween spirit. Whether you run an e-commerce store, promote a SaaS product, or manage a digital content platform, these suggestions will help you turn procrastination into a successful Halloween marketing campaign.
Launch a last-minute costume contest on your social media platforms, encouraging followers to share photos of their Halloween costume ideas using a branded hashtag for a chance to win a prize. Fashion brand ASOS successfully ran a similar #ASOSCreepItReal contest, driving engagement and traffic with minimal effort. This approach not only boosts user-generated content but also enhances your social media marketing and creates excitement around your brand.
Run a "trick or treat" giveaway where followers engage with a post (e.g., like, comment, or share) for a chance to receive a surprise "treat" like a discount code or free product. Starbucks has used this approach during holiday campaigns, offering surprise discounts and free items to boost engagement and sales. This tactic can effectively turn casual followers into paying customers.
Create a quick quiz, like "Which Halloween Character Are You?" using tools such as Typeform, and share it on social media. BuzzFeed often uses this tactic with seasonal quizzes, driving significant web traffic and social shares. An engaging quiz can increase brand visibility and encourage participants to share their results, broadening your campaign's reach.
There are numerous examples of quiz questions you can use.
Produce a quick Halloween-themed video, jingle, or blog post that fits your brand’s personality and taps into trending seasonal content. You could post a 30-second “How to Carve the Perfect Pumpkin” tutorial, film a short haunted office tour, write a blog on “The 5 Spookiest Trends in Our Industry,” or record a playful Halloween remix of a popular song.
Keep these Halloween promotion ideas visually engaging, add captions for silent viewing, and use trending hashtags to boost discoverability.
We’ve already talked about using social media for contests, but there’s another simple way to engage your audience — show your team (or yourself) in Halloween costumes. Snap group photos, film short “costume reveal” videos, or post before-and-after transformations to Instagram Stories, TikTok, or LinkedIn. Use a mix of behind-the-scenes shots and polished visuals, and don’t forget to tag team members.
Quickly add Halloween-themed visuals, banners, or animations to your website to create a festive atmosphere. For example, e-commerce giant Amazon adds holiday-themed graphics during various occasions, including Halloween, to create a seasonal shopping experience that grabs attention and encourages purchases. A thematic redesign can help position your business as active and engaged with current trends.
And if you feel stuck at this step, don’t worry — our marketing designer is just a message away and can help bring your themed design ideas to life in no time.
Add a simple pop-up game on your website where visitors can "trick or treat" for discounts, free trials, or special content. Online clothing retailer ASOS has used similar pop-up strategies to offer discounts or exclusive deals, boosting conversion rates and keeping visitors engaged. A gamified experience can also encourage longer site visits, potentially leading to more sales.
Launch a simple Halloween AR filter or lens on Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat to encourage user-generated content. It could be as easy as adding pumpkin heads, ghostly makeup, or a “Which Monster Are You?” randomizer. Platforms like Spark AR and Effect House offer ready-made templates, so you can create and publish a filter in just a few hours.
Run a Halloween sale with a countdown timer prominently displayed on your website to create urgency and encourage quick purchases.
Brands like Sephora often make use of Halloween sales ideas with countdowns for limited-time sales, effectively driving urgency and increasing online sales. The sense of urgency can be further heightened by offering limited-quantity deals. Amazon also often runs flash sales during the Halloween season, featuring costumes and decorations with countdown timers on its website, creating urgency and encouraging quick purchases.
Send out a last-minute email blast with spooky decorations and special Halloween promotions to create excitement and drive sales. Clothing brand Boohoo frequently uses themed email campaigns during holidays, featuring eye-catching visuals and exclusive discounts to engage subscribers and boost sales. Make sure to use subject lines that stand out in crowded inboxes. And, of course, your graphic design reflects your brand.
To highlight flash sales, last-minute offers, or shipping deadlines before Halloween, send short, spooky-themed text messages or push notifications. Add emojis, animations, or other eye-catching details to grab attention and spark quick action. SMS and push alerts are perfect for creating urgency, as they’re delivered instantly and often get seen within minutes.
Segment your email list and send customized Halloween treats based on past customer behavior, such as exclusive discounts on products they've previously browsed. Online retailers like Amazon often use personalized offers to re-engage customers and encourage repeat purchases, increasing conversion rates. Personalization can make the difference between a sale and an ignored email.
Use catchy, Halloween-themed subject lines like "Don't Miss These Spooktacular Deals!" to boost email open rates and grab attention. Brands like Spirit Halloween have successfully used spooky subject lines to enhance holiday-themed email campaigns, resulting in higher engagement. Well-crafted subject lines can dramatically increase the effectiveness of your Halloween promotional ideas.
Etsy also employs creative and spooky subject lines in its email marketing campaigns around Halloween, such as “Don't Ghost Us! Spooktacular Savings Inside,” to grab attention and increase open rates.
Encourage customers to share their purchase on social media by offering a small Halloween-themed reward. This could be a discount on their next order, a bonus item, or entry into a quick prize draw. For example, after checkout, display a themed thank-you page with a “Show off your treat!” prompt and easy share buttons. Adding seasonal graphics and a catchy line like “Flaunt your fright!” makes it more fun and more likely to be shared.
Offer a Halloween-themed version of your digital product, such as spooky-themed templates or exclusive guides. Canva frequently releases seasonal design templates, including Halloween decorations, to attract users looking for themed content, boosting downloads and user engagement. Limited-edition products create a sense of exclusivity and urgency. Maybelline took another approach and provided online makeup tutorials.
Partnering with influencers, even on short notice, can give your Halloween promotions a quick reach boost. Look for creators whose audience matches your target market and offer them a simple collaboration, like showcasing your Halloween-themed product, unboxing a “spooky” package, or taking part in a seasonal challenge. Micro-influencers can be especially effective for last-minute campaigns, as they often have higher engagement rates and faster turnaround times.
Create themed discount codes like "SPOOKY20" or "BOO30" that offer limited-time savings to encourage purchases. Online learning platforms like Udemy often use holiday discount codes to drive traffic and conversions during seasonal promotions. Discount codes can also be shared across different platforms to widen your reach.
Provide a digital gift, such as an e-book, template, or extra course module, with purchases made during the last few days leading up to Halloween. Software companies like Adobe use gift-with-purchase strategies to add value to their subscriptions and encourage sign-ups. This approach can increase the perceived value of your product.
It's always a good idea to spice it up with Halloween campaign ideas specifically tailored for your online community.
Host a live stream with Halloween-themed content, such as a product demo with costumes or a spooky Q&A session. For example, beauty brand Glossier has used live streams for product tutorials and holiday-themed events to engage its online community and boost brand visibility. Live streams can create a sense of immediacy and real-time interaction.
Give your referral program a Halloween twist by rewarding customers for bringing in their “ghoul friends.” Offer both the referrer and the new customer a treat, such as a discount, bonus product, or store credit. Just as in previous Halloween advertising ideas, you can theme the offer and promote it with spooky graphics across email, social media, and your website. Seasonal branding makes the referral feel fresh and gives customers a timely reason to share.
Start a Halloween challenge in your community, such as sharing the scariest customer success story or spooky-themed user-generated content. Fitness brands like Peloton have run similar themed challenges, encouraging community members to participate and share their experiences online. Challenges can foster a sense of community and friendly competition.
Organize a digital scavenger hunt on your website or social media, with clues leading to rewards like discount codes or exclusive content. Companies like Google have used virtual scavenger hunts to promote special events and engage users with interactive experiences. Scavenger hunts can gamify the shopping experience and increase customer engagement.
Re-engage visitors who browsed your site or abandoned their cart with Halloween-themed retargeting ads. Swap your usual visuals for seasonal ones — think pumpkin borders, ghostly product photos, or short animated banners with “Your treat is waiting…” messages. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google Display make it easy to launch these ads quickly, so you can capture attention while the holiday buzz is still high.
Even the best Halloween marketing ideas can fall flat if you overlook a few critical details. To make sure your efforts pay off (and not turn into a seasonal scare), watch out for these common mistakes:
By focusing on timely execution, simplicity, and tracking your performance, you can turn last-minute planning into a successful Halloween marketing strategy that boosts your sales and customer interactions.
Seasonal marketing works best when it feels timely, relevant, and personal. Even with only days left before Halloween, you can still create moments that surprise your audience and make them feel connected to your brand. Small touches — like a themed thank-you page, a playful follow-up email, or a limited-time community challenge — can leave an impression long after the pumpkins are gone.
Think of this season as more than a short-term sales spike. It’s an opportunity to experiment with creative formats, test quick-turn campaigns, and learn what resonates most with your audience before the busy year-end period.
If you want your Halloween campaigns to look professional and launch without delays, get in touch with us at TodayMade and get designed visuals, pop-ups, or landing pages that match your theme and grab attention right away.
