Focus on Halloween: Making the Most of the Spooky Season

40% of U.S. Holiday Shoppers Start Shopping before the End of October

Temperatures are dropping, daylight hours are dwindling, and the trees are festooned with patches of yellow and orange – summer is in the rear view, and fall is upon us at last. The change in seasons brings a change in routine for small businesses, as final preparations for a busy holiday season take center stage.

But even as you’re deep into planning and implementing this year’s holiday strategy – and maybe even starting to look forward to 2021 – don’t forget about the spookiest day on the fall calendar. That’s right, it’s almost Halloween!

Not just for kids anymore, Halloween holds appeal to a broad cross-section of consumers, making it an increasingly marketable holiday. What’s more, it leads right into the traditional holiday rush, with an oft-cited study by the National Retail Federation indicating that about 40% of holiday shoppers in the U.S. actually get started before the end of October. So, with a smart Halloween strategy, you can put your brand on consumers’ radar right now, and keep them engaged through the holiday season.

Here are a few points to help your small business make the most of the spooky season…

Consumers look to the fall and winter holidays as a welcome distraction, a chance to lighten the mood – and in this year of historic upheaval, this will be especially true. Keep this in mind when filling out your marketing calendar. Video, high-impact photography, and other visually rich media are great choices for a content strategy built around emotionally driven brand storytelling.

With its playful character and focus on pretend, Halloween offers a terrific opportunity for brands to build a following on the social web with bold, unconventional strategies designed to turn heads. Be funny, grab people’s attention, make it shareable – your efforts may be rewarded with a viral moment that gives your brand a huge signal boost.

Holidays and other special events are a great way to drive online sales and Halloween is no exception. Promote seasonal or limited edition items, and use discount codes or flash sales to power your e-commerce efforts and kick-start a successful holiday season.

Finally, with so many in-person activities on hold amid the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional Halloween events like holiday parties and even trick-or-treating may be on the back burner this year. A smart digital marketing strategy can help small and local businesses pivot to virtual events aimed at building relationships in the community. Use livestreamed video or social media to bring people together and raise your brand’s profile in the process.

Are you looking to leverage the spooky season to boost your small business this October? Rosie’s Creative can help. From social media and email marketing, to web design, e-commerce, and much more, we cover all the bases. Our creative team stands ready to help your brand achieve enduring success – even in these challenging times. Read to learn more? Contact Rosie’s Creative today! Remember, with us, your first consultation is always free!