Now that it’s October, it’s time to start thinking about how you can market your organization through Halloween themes for business. After all, what says “fall” more than Halloween? And what better way to celebrate the season than by making your small business more festive! Here are 10 fun ideas for kicking off the Halloween season in style.
Decorate Your Business
Regardless of the type of small business you have, a little decorating can get your customers and employees in the Halloween spirit. Creativity can go a long way in bringing customers in the door and helping to showcase your products.
Host a Party
A Halloween-themed party is another way you can attract customers. You’ve already decorated your business, so why not use a party to introduce customers to the sales and promotions you’re running during the Halloween season? You and your employees can dress up in fun and scary costumes, and you can advertise the tasty and spooky treats you’re going to offer during your party. Your customers won’t be able to resist!
Host a Halloween-Themed Contest
Similar to a party, why host a Halloween-themed competition, such as a pumpkin carving contest, scariest costume contest, or spooky treat contest? Hosting the contest on site is ideal, but you could also ask customers to submit their entries on social media and then ask your followers to vote on the winners. And of course, you have to give bonus points to your customers who incorporate your products in their entry.
Hand Out Branded Treats
At your Halloween party and anytime your business is open in the weeks leading up to Halloween, hand out sweet and savory treats that promote your business. Ask your employees to hand out the treats at the front of your business, much like they would to trick-or-treaters. You could also include a coupon with each treat to further entice customers to come inside. Don’t forget your branded swag.
Engage in Reverse Trick-or-Treating
Speaking of trick-or-treating, don’t be shy about visiting local businesses and asking them if they wouldn’t mind offering your branded treats in their reception area or at the front of their store. It’s just another inventive and tasty way to get your name out there.
Join Local Businesses for Halloween Events
If you have a good relationship with other businesses in the area, why not team up beyond just handing out branded treats? Stores on your block can host a Halloween stroll and have one big Halloween party with decorations and special offers and discounts. Customers can go from store to store and sample different treats, while saving big on products and services. You might also check with your local chamber to see if they already have a similar event.
You might also check with your local chamber to see if they already have a similar event. No reason to recreate the wheel on a new event when you can simply join instead.
Connect With Fall-Themed Attractions
Along the same lines as teaming up with local businesses, visit nearby orchards, corn mazes, and haunted houses and ask them if they wouldn’t mind handing out your branded treats or coupons. You, in turn, can offer discounted tickets or coupons for these attractions in your store.
Promote Your Products by Incorporating Them in Your Customers’ Halloween Creations
From costumes to decorations to food items, if your products or services can be used to enhance your customers’ Halloween creations, take advantage of the publicity by showing your customers how they can do so on social media and your website.
Re-post Your Customers’ Halloween Creations
Once your customers realize how valuable your products or services are to their Halloween creations, ask them to post pictures on social media and tag your small business. Once they do so, repost them on your sites (with proper credit) and chose a winner for best Halloween creation.
Shoot a Halloween-Themed Video
Another way to promote your small business and advertise for your upcoming Halloween-themed events is to shoot a spooky video and upload it to your social media sites. It’s just another way to showcase your brand’s message while also showing how much you enjoy the Halloween season.
Finally, we’re about to head into a very busy time of year. Many companies like to host Christmas parties and the like but competition for employees’ and customers’ time during those holidays is fierce. A Halloween party can accomplish the same type of engagement but with less competition and enough time to affect fourth-quarter revenue.
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