Top 6 ways to deliver thrilling Halloween marketing campaigns

Most businesses are missing out on a huge wave of sales this spooky season. Halloween has grown far beyond trick-or-treating for kids. From haunted houses and Halloween parties to candy, costumes, and limited-edition products, the holiday now drives billions in spending every year. 

Halloween 2025 spending breakdown: Opportunities for marketers

In 2025, 73% of consumers in the United States plan to celebrate Halloween, spending an average of $114 each, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual Halloween consumer survey. Total spending is expected to reach $13.1 billion, with $4.3 billion on candy, $4.2 billion on costumes, $0.7 billion on decorations, and $3.9 billion on greeting cards. That means businesses have a massive opportunity to connect with consumers, drive sales, and deliver standout conversational experiences. But how do you launch the best Halloween marketing campaigns without scaring away your audience? 

6 ways to improve your Halloween marketing campaigns

Here are six practical ways to upgrade your Halloween campaign this season:

1. Personalize campaigns using customer data 

Imagine your customer is a busy mom hunting for a Halloween costume online. She looks at a Michael Myers mask, leaves, and later receives a generic email for pumpkin decorations. She’s unlikely to return. 

This is where data-driven personalization comes in. By using customer insights, you can deliver messages that feel personal, timely, and relevant. You can also track behaviors such as past purchases, abandoned carts, and product searches to guide your Halloween marketing campaigns across channels. 

2. Make your campaigns omnichannel 

Your customers aren’t sticking to one platform, so neither should your Halloween marketing campaign. They browse social media platforms for costume ideas, check email for deals, and sometimes even call or text businesses directly. 

An effective omnichannel retail strategy lets you meet customers wherever they are. For example, a shopper might abandon their cart, then spot your Halloween ad on Instagram. With one click, they can move to WhatsApp, chat with a chatbot about limited edition products, and complete their purchase in minutes. 

By using multiple channels, your campaigns feel seamless and accessible. Customers don’t have to jump between apps or websites, which makes it easier for them to act on your offers. 

3. Use automation and chatbots to support customers 24/7 

Halloween season means more questions, abandoned carts, and last-minute shoppers. Automating responses ensures you don’t miss an opportunity to drive sales. 

Self-service options like retail chatbots act as automated shopping assistants. They use AI to answer FAQs, recommend products, upsell, and guide customers through interactive conversations that enhance the shopping experience. During the Halloween rush, they can instantly help customers find costumes, candy, or haunted house tickets, and even complete purchases. A chatbot can handle high traffic during peak hours, so your team can focus on more complex queries. 

Picture a shopper searching for the perfect Halloween party outfit. They click your Instagram ad, chat with an AI shopping assistant through WhatsApp, and get an instant answer about size availability. The bot then sends a link to purchase, applying a limited-time offer. That’s how automation can turn curiosity into a conversion. 

By offloading repetitive queries, your team can focus on creating more personalized campaigns, planning new promotions, and managing logistics during the Halloween season. 

Halloween is all about the thrill of the moment. Limited-time offers and Halloween-themed products tap into that excitement and nudge customers to buy before it’s too late. 

Think flash sales on candy and costumes, exclusive Halloween bundles, or limited-edition products that disappear after the holiday. Highlight these offers in your social media campaigns, messaging apps like SMS, WhatsApp or RCS, and even in-store messaging to boost Halloween spending. 

For example, a campaign might feature a special set of Halloween costumes with a countdown timer, driving urgency and increasing the chances that customers will make a purchase immediately. Adding phrases like “while supplies last” or “limited edition” keeps your audience engaged and eager to act. Here is an example:

5. Encourage user-generated content 

Halloween is one of the most social holidays of the year. People love to share pictures of their costumes and decorations. Your marketing campaigns can join the fun by encouraging user-generated content (UGC). 

Ask your customers to post photos of their Halloween parties, costumes, or creative uses of your Halloween-themed products on social media platforms. Offer small rewards, discounts, or a chance to be featured in your marketing campaigns. 

UGC not only increases engagement but also builds trust and authenticity. Shoppers are more likely to buy when they see real people enjoying your products. It’s also a great way to make your campaign interactive without a huge investment. 

For example, a Halloween campaign could invite users to share their spooky setups or pumpkin carving skills with a branded hashtag. Every submission doubles as social proof and content you can showcase across channels. 

6. Launch AI-powered voice games 

Interactive voice games are bringing Halloween campaigns to life. They combine fun, competition, and thrill, while driving significant lead generation through AI-powered experiences on messaging channels like WhatsApp.

For example, a Halloween-themed voice challenge could have participants say a spooky phrase to unlock rewards. Players opt in by providing basic information, which is captured directly in the customer data platform for effortless 1st party data capture, ideal for efficient lead management. The AI analyzes voice notes in real time, provides a live standing, and delivers playful, engaging feedback to keep participants hooked. 

Learn from experts how to engage, convert and retain through AI gameplay: 

Halloween retail habits to keep in mind 

Understanding how consumers are planning to spend their Halloween budget in 2025 helps you design campaigns that drive results. According to the NRF survey: 

• 66% of spending goes to candy 
• 51% on home and yard decorations 
• 51% on costumes 
• 46% on pumpkin carving 
• 32% on private parties 

These numbers highlight opportunities for both physical and digital retailers. Highlight the Halloween favorites in your campaigns: spooky costumes, haunted experiences or limited-edition treats. Your campaigns should speak directly to these high-interest areas. 

Combine fun with a Halloween marketing strategy 

Halloween marketing campaigns are an opportunity to connect with customers, drive sales, and create memorable experiences. 

Personalizing campaigns, using omnichannel communication, offering limited-time deals, encouraging user-generated content, and automating customer support can help your business make the most of the Halloween season. 

If you want your Halloween marketing campaign to drive sales, delight customers, and leave a lasting impression, now is the time to plan. With the right strategies and tools, you can turn this Halloween into one of your most successful yet.