It may come to you as a surprise but Halloween comes in second to Christmas for being the most popular holiday in the US & 9th globally. The significant opportunities it presents for your business are paramount, and your brand should definitely seize them.
If you’re unsure where to begin, here are some of the most successful Halloween marketing campaigns that spooked the advertising arena. We’ll also discuss different creative trends & tips to help you rock this year’s Halloween celebration.
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Brands That Nailed Halloween Marketing
Here are a few notable examples of an effective Halloween marketing campaign you may take inspiration from.
The Addams Family Gets Candified!
M&M has consistently delivered outstanding Halloween-themed video campaigns that never fail to generate excitement. In a 2007 commercial, the brand playfully transformed the Addams Family into candy characters to showcase their dark chocolate product. The ad cleverly incorporated the iconic Addams Family music, adding an engaging twist that captivated viewers.
@holidaythrowback 2007 Commercial for Dark Chocolate M&M’s in the Addams Family Style. #spooky #scary #halloweenmovie #skeleton #ghost #halloween #fall #spookyseason #80s #90s #2000s #pumpkinseason #pumpkin #halloweencountdown #holiday #throwback #holidayvibes #vintagecommercial #halloween2022 #vintagehalloween #addamsfamily
♬ original sound - Holiday Throwback
Geico’s Humorous Parodies
Geico is known for its Halloween-themed video ads that parody classic horror movies or supernatural scenarios. These humorous videos have garnered significant attention and engagement on social media. While it’s difficult to quantify direct sales impact, these ads reinforce brand recognition and keep Geico top-of-mind when people think about insurance.
@creagendow My Geico Horror Movie commercial is running again, and so am I. #letshidebehindthechainsaws #halloween #geicoween #foryou #foryoupage #fyp #tiktok #viral #trending #comedy #funny
♬ original sound - Creagen Dow
Snickers “You’re Not You When You’re Hungry”
Snickers often creates Halloween video ads that cleverly tie into their “You’re Not You When You’re Hungry” campaign. These ads show people transforming into monsters or famous characters when they’re hungry for Snickers. The success lies in the ads’ humor and the increased sales and brand association with satisfying hunger.
@mcgrelqv6e9 halloween 2010snostalgia 2010sthrowback 2019 2010shalloween snickers
♬ original sound - MyFaboriteTiktokChannel
Heinz “Tomato Blood Ketchup
Heinz launched a limited edition ‘Tomato Blood Ketchup, the same beloved sauce, but in a Halloween-themed package. To promote it, the brand introduced a TikTok hashtag challenge encouraging their audiences to create Halloween-themed videos featuring the tomato blood ketchup using the hastags, #HeinzHalloween and #Sweepstakes. The campaign was a absolute success which had over 5 billion views!
@brotherofcolor #ad if you have @heinz Tomato Blood you have a costume! Grab your own bottle at your local store while supplies last! #HeinzHalloween #HeinzPartner
♬ original sound - Brotherofcolor
Chipotle “Boorito Campaign
In collaboration with the popular TikTok personality Addison Ray (@addisonre), Chipotle introduced the #boorito hashtag challenge on TikTok encouraging audiences to utilize the platform’s morph feature to visually transform into their Halloween alter ego. The audiences can then unlock discount codes and get free burritos. This is in a collaboration with TikTok personality, Addison Ray. The result was nothing short of spectacular– an impressive 4.2 billion views!
@addisonre show me past costumes & this year! use boorito, #contest & this sound. picking ppl to win 1yr of free @chipotle ! terms: chip.tl/boo #ad 👻
♬ Monster Mash (Ethan Fields Remix) - Chipotle
Creative Trends for Halloween 2023
In recent years, Halloween marketing has seen a shift towards more innovative and engaging creative strategies. Here are some trends we expect to see with the rise of new formats and creative techniques for Halloween.
Interactive Content
Interactive videos, quizzes, and games that allow consumers to participate in a brand’s Halloween story or campaign are becoming increasingly popular. Brands may create choose-your-own-adventure style videos or interactive social media filters and apps.
@mobilelegendsphofficial A Halloween quiz for you! Write your answer in the comments! How many right answers have you got?
♬ original sound - Mobile Legends Philippines - Mobile Legends Philippines
Augmented Reality
AR and VR technologies offer immersive experiences. Brands can create AR filters, lenses, or VR experiences that allow users to engage with Halloween-themed content in a fun and interactive way.
@joannitante New Spooky Pumpkin Head Pets Effect! ✨️🐱🐶 Point the camera at your cat or dog and join the Halloween fun! 🎃 #spooky #halloween #effecthouse #filter #augmentedreality #ar #effecthousecreator #cute #pet #dog #cat #effect
♬ Ghost Duet - Louie Zong
User-Generated Content
Encouraging customers to create and share their Halloween content related to your brand can be a powerful strategy. UGC campaigns can include contests for the best Halloween costume featuring your product, or sharing customer-generated stories and photos.
Short-Form Video
Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels have become dominant for short-form video content. Brands can create entertaining, bite-sized Halloween-themed videos to reach a younger and more engaged audience.
@c_stove BFI Butterfinger Halloween Commercial (2023) #Butterfinger #halloween #halloweencommercial #halloweencandy
♬ original sound - C_Stove
Choosing the Right Creative Partner
At VMG Digital, we will help you create thumb-stopping & memorable Halloween marketing campaigns whether it be AR, 3D, 2D, Social ads, Interactive ads, or repurpose your existing creatives for you. We recognize thoughtful creativity, not just in captivating your consumers but also in optimizing your creatives into different channels, and formats, to achieve your desired results.
We are offering free bite-sized creative strategy sessions to talk through some important creative tips and best practices to help elevate your creativity across your social platforms. Plus, you’ll get 10% off your first project with us! Simply click this link to provide some top-line details and we’ll reach out to you for some suitable times for a 30-minute creative session.
Looking forward to a fruitful collaboration with you this Halloween!
Frequently Asked Questions About AR for Halloween
How can AR enhance Halloween experiences?
Augmented Reality (AR) enhances Halloween by offering virtual costume try-ons, interactive decorations, scavenger hunts, virtual pumpkin carving, haunted house tours, and more. It blends the physical and digital worlds, adding interactivity, creativity, and a touch of magic to make Halloween more engaging and memorable for all ages.
Can I create my own AR Halloween content?
You can create your own AR Halloween content using various AR development tools and platforms. With the right software and creativity, you can design AR experiences, decorations, games, or filters to add a unique and personalized touch to your Halloween campaigns.
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