It's that time of year again in the UK! No, not Christmas (not just yet) but it's the start of a strong campaign for Halloween marketing and shameless self-promotion.
There hasn't been a major holiday in the UK for a while that companies and brands could jump on the back of, but Halloween marks the start of Halloween, Bonfire Night and then a month leading up to Christmas and New Year.
How are you going to entice your customers in relation to this spooky time of year?
If you've been to any supermarket the Christmas stockings and gift sets are next to multipacks of sweets for Trick and Treaters.
Have you visited a high street store, be that clothing or otherwise, are they already getting gift sets in stock, alongside spooky jumpers or Horror DVDs?
If that's scary enough for you (there are just 62 days until Christmas left) then wait till you read the scare tactics and Halloween marketing that companies online are doing.
Thrive Investigates: Popular Halloween Marketing Tactics You'll Spot This Week
Brands harness social media and technology for up-to-date campaigns
Be that, the best carved pumpkin, your scariest face, the best costume or similar, there will be hashtags galore relating to Halloween with people of all ages opting in for competitions this week.
Topshop already have a perfect example with their #TrickorTweet hashtag for Twitter and Instagram users to share costume tricks.
Source: TopShop [click here]
Target, in the USA, have launched their own campaign on Instagram. Offering visitors to their Instagram various pictures of a virtual neighbourhood and the option to pick another account that is either a "Trick" or a "Treat".
Source: Target [click here]
A somewhat unique take, is the one being done by Asda. Teaming up with Zappar they are again to hold a Monster Hunt Halloween campaign on October 25th across their stores. Using the software's free app, parents and children can "zap" QR codes transforming them into spooky characters. Spooky!
Source: Asda [click here]
Other Halloween campaigns by major brands in 2013 - click here.
Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon!
It's obvious that every company will create loosely-related content to tie in with the seasonal changes, but can err on bizarre (send us them if you spot them at @ThriveHQ...
Source: WalesOnline [click here]
Source: Debenhams [click here]
Halloween ideas that YOU can put into practice!
- Host a Halloween-related business event. Get people into the spirit of things and loosely tie it to Halloween via decor, theme, even encourage costumes (if your company warrants such activity).
- Start a - or jump on an appropriate - hashtag! Get Halloween running through your social media campaigns by following a campaign or starting your own.
- Facebook image competitions - best dressed, worst dressed, homemade costumes, best pumpkin... the list is endless!
- Staff get into the spirit! Upload images of your office "spooky jumper day" or similar, have an apple bobbing contest and document the results online (with images)!
- DIY Halloween! Get staffed involved in a DIY competition one Friday afternoon, see who can create the best scary jumper!
- DIY Halloween for clients! Encourage them to design a scary poster or similar - award the best!
- Thrilling brands! Redesign your logo with a spooky feel - give your audience a few options, find a hashtag that suits and share the options. Get people interested and they'll vote a winner!
By the way, we realise that we too are jumping on the back of Halloween with this blog, but hey, everyone else is doing it... Happy Halloween!
