It’s that time of year again: Halloween! This spooky day will be here before you know it, so now is the time to start planning for your local business.
According to the National Retail Federation, Halloween spending is expected to reach $8.8 billion this year. Consumers love to celebrate at restaurants, so use this guide to market yours and bring new guests to life.
Here are five marketing tips to make this time of year memorable for your customers:
1. Host a Costume Contest
Hosting a costume contest is a great way to increase business and bring fun into your restaurant. People love going to events around Halloween, so make it one to remember.
Award winners with discounts, gift cards, free meals, etc. Adults enjoy dressing up just like children, so you’ll need to decide who you’re hosting the event for.
Have your staff dress up for festivities- decide on a specific theme as a group or let everyone choose their own costume. This will contribute to the success of the event and allows employees to have a fun time at work.
2. Get Spooky With Decorations
It doesn’t matter what type of restaurant you own- decorate, decorate, decorate! If you are a family friendly restaurant, now is the time to go all out.
This is an easy way to put a smile on a customer’s face and get them into the spirit of the season. Use centerpieces to decorate the tables, hang stuff from the walls, or place jack-o-lanterns around the restaurant.
If you don’t want to go with a spooky theme in your restaurant, you can always choose fall-themed decor and colors. Create a fun Halloween playlist to go along with the decorations. However, be sure to play it at a low volume so people can enjoy their meal.
3. Spice up Your Menu
People love flavors such as pumpkin and cinnamon this time of year. Incorporate these flavors into your dishes and desserts. Give your existing recipes a tweak, or create limited-time food items on your restaurant’s menu.
You can choose to offer this special menu during the entire month of October or just on Halloween. Add some scary cocktails for adults to enjoy and fun drinks for the kids.
Food coloring can be your restaurant’s best friend. Use red, orange and black to make your seasonal menu pop. Come up with creative names for these special items. If the menu is a hit, offer it every year so loyal customers come back each Halloween.
4. Offer Halloween Promotions
People love a good promotion! Halloween is a great opportunity for businesses to offer discounts to get customers in the door. Your restaurant could advertise to those who dine-in wearing costumes. Offer a free appetizer to families that come in wearing costumes or give a free meal to kids who dress up.
You could also offer a percentage off in celebration of the holiday. Think about which promotion is best for your restaurant, and go with it!
5. Utilize Social Media
Halloween is the time to take advantage of social media. Posting Halloween-themed content can increase engagement and it’s free! Share photos of costumes, decor and contests across all platforms. If you have events or promotions planned, use social media to let customers know in advance.
If you’re offering seasonal menu items, get consumers excited about it via social media. Make sure you are using hashtags in your posts to draw attention to your posts.
They say word-of-mouth is the best form of advertising, so get your customers talking today by applying these fun Halloween restaurant marketing ideas.
If you need help spreading your Halloween promotion to local residents, direct mail marketing can be a great option! Welcomemat’s data-driven programs allow you to select your optimal direct mail sizes and targeting options. Contact Welcomemat today!
