Halloween is no longer just a spooky celebration; it’s increasingly becoming a prime opportunity for creative marketing. As the occasion gains popularity and consumer enthusiasm, businesses are finding innovative ways to leverage the season’s fun and festive spirit to engage with their audiences. From elaborate themed promotions to seasonal product launches and interactive campaigns, Halloween offers a unique chance for brands to stand out and connect with consumers in a memorable way.
Once upon a time Halloween was snubbed in the UK, but in our increasingly connected worldwide social media communities, seasonal spookiness is now embraced wholeheartedly, with spending on costumes, decorations, and themed food reaching new heights each year. For marketers, this surge in consumer activity presents a golden opportunity to tap into the excitement and capitalise on seasonal trends. By crafting Halloween-themed content, launching limited-time offers, and participating in themed events, brands can capture the attention of their target market and drive sales.
In this article, we’ll explore 3 trends for creatively harnessing Halloween’s festive allure to boost your marketing efforts.
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice
The release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice presents businesses with a unique marketing opportunity to capitalise on nostalgia, pop culture, and Halloween hype. The movie’s cult following and distinct aesthetic presents a key opportunity for creative brands, although using a movie as a cue for your marketing requires a little outside-the-box thinking in order to avoid legal threats for using copyrighted or unlicensed content.
A business may not be able to directly reference the movie, but they can take cues that followers will instantly recognise as being influenced by the movie’s design and tone. You could get your design team to create social and video content that pull elements from the film such as the iconic black and white stripes paired with neon green and purple, or create limited edition products inspired by the character’s iconic outfits. Think Beetlejuice’s suit or Lydia’s red wedding dress!
Restaurants and bars can introduce themed menus or drinks, driving foot traffic with novelty. Create something that translates well into video and encourages shares and tags – don’t forget, on Instagram and TikTok you should even be able to find some trending spooky music that other creators are using on their Beetlejuice-influenced content – trending ‘sounds’ are a great way to give your content a chance to go viral.
Collaborations with influencers or content creators to produce Beetlejuice-inspired content can extend brand reach, especially among younger audiences. Leveraging the film’s humour, quirky style, and loyal fanbase can help businesses align their marketing efforts with the excitement surrounding the movie’s release, amplifying visibility and customer engagement.
70's / Disco / Kitsch Halloween Aesthetic
…what?
Yes, you read that right. Halloween is no longer as simple as bloody handprints and drippy fonts – much like Christmas, it now has it’s own microcosm of yearly design trends.
Usually these are highly influenced by American retailers like Target, who often inadvertently set the tone by being the go-to shop of many social media posters. This year, several American retailers have taken cues from the early 2024 fashion trends for 1970s retro, and the shelves are lined with pink neon pumpkins, disco-ball ghosts and groovy spooky spiders.
Investigate how your favourite influencers are translating this design trend, and take cues when creating your own marketing. Note however, that fashion trend-led marketing doesn’t always work for every business. Generally, it’s better utilised by those who are seeking out a younger market.
That said, few can resist the glittery allure of a disco ball, and they’re infiltrating everything from trending cakes to spangly shoes.
Halloween Mobile Video: Challenges, Trends and Sounds
Halloween always seems to bring a viral trends that’s accessible to influencers and businesses alike who use TikTok or Reels.
Some legacy trends re-emerge, such as dressing up as a sheet ghost, while Jack Stauber’s Oh-Klahoma plays in the background:
Another emerging trend seems to be that of collaborative Halloween costumes – this involves dressing up to a theme in a group, either matching with your bestie, your pet or your family. Why not choose an on-trend theme and get everyone within your business to come up with a Halloween costume within that theme for an easy viral video?
@addichris1 Send family costume ideas this is an sos #halloweencostume #costumeideas #fall #halloween #shrek #familycostume ♬ All Star - Smash Mouth
Plenty of short-form video creators are also finding success this year by sharing lists of local autumnal experiences they recommend. You can capitalise on this trend by collaborating with an influencer who could review a curated seasonal experience you’ve set up, or by making your own recommendation video, recommending other complimentary businesses or experiences that enhance your own offering.
Embracing Halloween marketing is a crucial activity for businesses as it allows them to tap into a season of heightened consumer engagement, creativity, and spending. Halloween has grown beyond a niche celebration to become a major commercial event. By aligning with current Halloween trends, businesses can capture a slice of this lucrative market, boost brand visibility, and connect with customers in fun, memorable ways.
Halloween is an opportunity for brands to showcase their creative side. From launching themed products to designing interactive campaigns, businesses can craft unique experiences that stand out during the busy Autumn season.
