Content Creation

Top 5 Halloween Campaigns of All Time (2024 Selection)

Posted By
Johan Nortier
Insights
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Content Creation
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Top 5 Halloween Campaigns of All Time (2024 Selection)

Spooky season is here, and this year, consumers are gearing up to spend like never before. In the UK alone, Halloween spending is projected to skyrocket to a staggering £776 million, as brands conjure up innovative and thrilling campaigns to captivate their audiences.

According to recent research, nearly 3 in 5 Brits (58%) are gearing up for a Halloween splurge, with each spending an average of £25 on festive fun. This spells a golden opportunity for brands to cast a spell on consumers, boosting sales and building brand loyalty with bewitching marketing campaigns (see what we did there).

The Halloween season offers an enchanting opportunity for brands to enhance their visibility and engagement. It’s a chance to break free from traditional marketing norms and let creativity run wild, captivating audiences with spellbinding campaigns that leave a lasting impression.

Now for our list of the top-picked Halloween campaigns for 2024. Some of the campaigns are new, and others are masterpieces that have stood the test of time. In no particular order, let’s jump in:

Burger King – The Call

For those who aren’t fans of horror, this ad might feel surprisingly intense at first! Burger King’s The Call ad takes the spooky season to the next level with a suspense-filled storyline that feels like it’s straight out of a classic horror flick. Picture this: a young woman, all alone in her dimly lit living room, is suddenly jolted by a sinister phone call warning her, “It’s back. It’s coming for you.” The atmosphere thickens with suspense, making your heart race.

Just when you think it couldn’t get any more eerie, the ad takes a delightfully playful turn. The woman dashes to her car, but instead of a ghastly apparition, she’s haunted by something way hotter—Burger King’s Ghost Pepper Whopper and Ghost Pepper Chicken Fries! The chilling warning was all about the scorching heat of these fiery treats.

By ingeniously combining iconic horror elements with a dash of humor, Burger King crafts a Halloween campaign that’s both spine-tingling and fun. The unexpected twist and clever suspense make it an ad you’ll remember long after the spooky season ends, proving once again that Burger King knows how to serve up thrills and laughs in equal measure.

Heinz – Vegetarian Vampire Recruitment

Perhaps this ad on our list is one of our absolute favourites. In Heinz’s delightfully quirky campaign, the Vegetarian Vampire ad, the brand took a whimsical approach to the vampire mythos. Picture a charming vampire who, instead of craving “real” blood, prefers to quench his thirst with Heinz Tomato Blood ketchup. This humorous twist on the classic vampire tale seamlessly ties the product to Halloween in an endearing and unexpected way. The clever concept and witty execution made this commercial one of the most buzzed-about Halloween campaigns in 2022, allowing Heinz to connect with audiences through both humour and the spooky charm of the holiday.

Liquid Death – Martha Stewart Dismembered Moments Candle

Liquid Death never shies away from delivering a shock. Just consider the brand’s name! Their latest collaboration is with none other than Martha Stewart, creating an ad campaign that’s both bizarre and brilliant. Imagine the iconic homemaker promoting a candle shaped like a severed hand—it’s a perfect blend of elegance and eerie, capturing the essence of Halloween with a sophisticated yet spooky twist.

Tesco UK – Spookermarket

The 2018 Spookermarket campaign by supermarket giants Tesco was a masterclass in blending spookiness with a touch of humour. Picture this: trolleys gliding eerily down aisles on their own, employees lurking in the shadows, ready to give unsuspecting customers a playful scare, all set to a soundtrack that sends shivers down your spine.

This campaign wasn’t just about the fright—it had moments of light-heartedness that made it endearing to the everyday shoppers. It struck the perfect balance, creating an unforgettable shopping experience that resonated with customers long after they left the store.

Six Flags – “Tick. Tick. Tick.” horror short film

‍This video is not for the faint-hearted, embracing a longer form than most ads. Suspense builds as a clock ticks ominously, gripping viewers with a sense of impending doom. In classic horror fashion, the final reveal is a thrilling Six Flags Halloween attraction, challenging guests to face their deepest fears. The “Tick. Tick. Tick.” short film masterfully intertwines Halloween’s fright and excitement with the park’s pulse-pounding haunted attractions. With its cinematic flair and edge-of-your-seat tension, this campaign perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the season while driving anticipation for Six Flags’ spine-chilling experiences. It became a standout in the amusement park industry, merging entertainment with sheer terror.

The eerie narrative follows a nightmare-inducing clown who eventually lures a group of housemates to the Six Flags theme park for a spooky adventure they won’t soon forget.

Critical points for brands to effectively execute Halloween campaigns

When we embarked on our journey to provide you with some awesome Halloween campaigns, we noticed 4 points that most successful Halloween campaigns have in common:

  1. Tell a story: Use storytelling to connect your products with Halloween themes in a way that resonates with your target audience. Craft narratives that highlight how your products can enhance their Halloween experience, whether through spooky tales, historical references, or imaginative scenarios.
  2. Engage customers: Encourage participation through contests, challenges, or social media interaction to drive engagement and brand awareness. For example, you could host a costume contest, a pumpkin carving challenge, or a photo competition where users share their Halloween decorations.
  3. Surprise and delight: Add a twist or unexpected element to your products or campaign to make it more shareable and memorable. This could be a limited-edition product, an exclusive Halloween-themed packaging, or special promotional offers that add an element of surprise.
  4. Collaborate with pop culture: Leverage partnerships with popular movies, shows, or icons to boost appeal, especially for younger audiences. Collaborations with well-known franchises can create a buzz and attract fans of those properties, thereby expanding your reach.

We have to be honest with you…

We initially set out to highlight some exceptional B2B Halloween campaigns to spark creativity and inspiration within our community. However, we must admit, finding noteworthy examples proved to be quite the challenge. This highlights an issue in our industry—B2B marketers are still clinging to the dreaded “boring-to-boring” marketing strategies.

But here lies a golden opportunity to stand out and break the status quo. By infusing your B2B campaigns with creativity and a touch of Halloween spirit, you can differentiate your brand and captivate your audience in a way others haven’t even begun to explore. Food for thought, indeed.

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