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New Update: Boost Social Proof with Reviews & Automation
Stacey Corrin
Stacey Corrin
John Turner
John Turner
Halloween is one of the most profitable holidays of the year. U.S. shoppers spend over $11 billion on costumes, candy, and decorations. Yet many businesses miss out because they don’t plan early or aren’t sure what kind of campaigns will work.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through Halloween marketing ideas you can use to drive sales, grow your audience, and keep customers engaged during the spooky season.
Halloween isn’t just for kids in costumes. According to the National Retail Federation, 73% of Americans take part in the celebrations. With participation this high, it’s the perfect time to connect with customers already in a festive buying mindset.
From small shops to large online stores, brands that prepare seasonal campaigns early see stronger engagement and higher sales. Customers are in buying mode, and they love when businesses join the fun.
So how do you make sure your business captures this demand? Let’s dive into some ideas that work.
Nearly half of Halloween shoppers start buying before October, and that number climbs to 56% for ages 25–34. If you wait until late October, you’re already behind.
A simple plan works best: map out your campaign in August, tease it in September, and go live by October 1. That’s when people are planning costumes, parties, and spooky extras, so you’ll be top of mind.
Set one or two clear goals so you know what success looks like. With average spend around $103 per shopper, decide whether your priority is sales, list growth, or social buzz.
When the season ends, compare your results with last year. Note what worked and where you can start even earlier next time.
You don’t need a full redesign to make your site feel festive. Small seasonal touches can instantly set the mood for visitors.
Start with simple updates to your banners, headers, and footers. Add pumpkins, cobwebs, or bats. Just enough to signal that something special is happening.
Next, add a themed pop-up to catch the eye. Try copy like “Trick or Treat: enter your email for a surprise” or “Unlock your spooky discount.” It feels fun and helps short, seasonal promos land.
Want a gentle nudge? Use a small countdown on key pages for sales, events, or giveaways. A simple “Ends at midnight” note can lift conversions.
You can manage banners, pop-ups, and timers in one place with OptinMonster. Build campaigns with drag and drop, then show the right offer by location, device, or behavior.
Exit-Intent Technology can also save abandoning visits by showing a final offer as someone moves to leave. Need inspiration? Start with these exit popup ideas.
Halloween is a natural fit for giveaways. People love showing off costumes, carved pumpkins, and spooky setups, so entries come easily and feel fun.
Keep the format simple. Ask for a costume photo, a pumpkin carving, or a themed recipe. Photo contests are especially effective since sharing a picture takes seconds and gets strong engagement.
If you’re on WordPress, you can launch a giveaway in minutes with RafflePress. Just pick a template, set the prize and rules with drag and drop, and connect your email service so every entry goes straight to your list.
Want more reach? Add entry actions like “Refer a Friend,” “Follow on Instagram,” or “Visit a Page.” These extras encourage sharing so your contest spreads beyond your current audience without extra ad spend.
You can even reuse your best entries as user-generated content to keep engagement going after the contest ends.
In 2024, Chipotle and Spirit Halloween showed how far this idea can go. They turned fan memes into a real costume line, sparking buzz and press attention.
If you’re new to giveaways, start here: how to create an online contest in WordPress and how to use UGC.
Seasonal content works because people are already searching for ideas. Publishing in September and October helps your posts ride the Halloween traffic wave.
If you’re running a Halloween giveaway, announce it in a short blog post. This makes it easy to find in search and simple to share on social media or by email.
I like this example from Great Western Arcade. It clearly lists the prize, how to enter, and the key dates, all the details readers need at a glance.
Beyond giveaways, create useful how-tos people want right now. Think DIY costume tutorials, spooky party menus, or pumpkin carving guides. These posts also give you great material to repurpose for email and social updates.
Short videos and reels are another quick win. Share a makeup tutorial, a pumpkin carving demo, or a simple craft project to boost reach on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Email is one of the fastest ways to drive Halloween sales. A short seasonal sequence can grab attention, spark clicks, and move customers to act.
I like to keep it simple: tease the theme, reveal the offer, and then send a clear last call. This approach builds curiosity, delivers value, and creates urgency, without overwhelming the inbox.
For subject lines, keep them short and on-theme. One great example is Polaroid’s “Capture Ghostly Shots.” It ties perfectly to the product and nudges readers to open without sounding pushy.
A good flow is three sends: a teaser in late September, the main promo in early October, and a final reminder right before Halloween. Add a countdown or a simple “Ends at midnight” line to create urgency without pressure.
Halloween fills social feeds with costumes, recipes, and spooky decor. Join the fun with short, playful posts that invite quick likes, comments, and shares.
Prioritize Reels, TikToks, and memes. Quick recipe demos, costume transformations, and DIY crafts perform especially well and are easy for followers to reshare.
Create a branded hashtag to track entries and highlight your best user content. Ask for costume photos, pumpkin carvings, or spooky room makeovers to build community and gather reusable content.
For extra reach, team up with micro-influencers in your niche. A simple collab, like featuring your product in a themed post or co-hosting a small giveaway, can put you in front of new audiences right when they’re looking for seasonal ideas.
Halloween is short, which makes it perfect for limited-time promos. Give shoppers a clear reason to buy now instead of later.
One easy tactic is to bundle products into themed sets. Try a “Fright Night Bundle” or “Pumpkin Spice Pack.” Bundles raise average order value and make shopping decisions easier.
You can also partner with nearby or complementary brands for a joint offer or co-branded giveaway. It’s a simple way to share audiences and double your reach without extra ad spend.
For something more playful, turn discounts into a game with a trick-or-treat coupon hunt. Hide codes across your site, social posts, or emails and challenge customers to find them.
As you plan your Halloween campaigns, pick one or two ideas you can run well. Start early, keep it fun, and make it easy for customers to say yes.
Ready to try a giveaway? You can launch one in minutes with RafflePress. Build it with drag and drop and add actions like Refer a Friend or Follow on Instagram to reach more people.
You may also find the following guides helpful:
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