Halloween Marketing Ideas: How to Host an Event That Attracts Customers

Halloween is one of the most festive (and profitable) times of the year for small businesses. However, instead of relying solely on the usual sales and spooky décor, the best way to stand out is to host an event that brings people through your doors. 

A well-planned Halloween event creates memorable experiences that spark word-of-mouth, generate new leads, and strengthen customer loyalty. Today, we’ll show you how to make it happen: from choosing the types of events that drive the most foot traffic, to promoting them across the right marketing channels, to collecting leads and following up so your event pays off long after the pumpkins are gone.

Types of Events That Drive Foot Traffic and Engagement

When it comes to Halloween marketing, nothing beats creating an experience that brings people into your business and gives them a reason to stay. Seasonal promotions can catch attention, but events build memories and connections, which are two of the strongest customer engagement strategies you can leverage.

These Halloween event ideas will spark excitement and community buzz:

1. Family-Friendly Trick-or-Treat Nights: Host a safe and fun trick-or-treat experience for kids and families. Add interactive stations, games, and photo booths, then share those moments instantly on social media. With Thryv’s social media management, you can schedule posts showcasing costumes in real time and keep your business in customers’ feeds even after the event ends.
2. Costume Contests: Invite customers to dress up and compete for prizes. Encourage them to tag your business on social channels with a branded hashtag. Thryv makes it easy to automate posts announcing winners and follow up with personalized thank-you emails, so your event doesn’t just drive one-time foot traffic, but also builds ongoing engagement.
3. DIY Workshops or Demos: Depending on your business, hosting a DIY workshop or demonstration can attract a significant number of customers. For example, a bakery could run a “decorate your own haunted cupcake” night, or a home services company could offer a quick seasonal safety demo. These workshops highlight your expertise, position your brand as approachable, and give attendees a tangible takeaway they’ll share online.
4. Community Collaborations: Team up with nearby businesses for a block party or scavenger hunt. This approach increases exposure and reaches new audiences. With Thryv’s marketing automation, you can coordinate campaigns with partners, schedule posts across multiple channels, and ensure all promotions run seamlessly.
   

The most successful Halloween events mix fun, interactivity, and shareability. They create opportunities for customers to experience your brand firsthand while also generating plenty of content to fuel your online presence.

Marketing Channels to Promote Your Local Event

An unforgettable event only works if people actually show up. Promotion is just as important as the event itself, and layering multiple channels ensures your audience hears about it more than once. Social media event promotion and marketing automation help you streamline and scale your outreach without sacrificing personal touches.

Here are a few high-impact ways to get the word out:

1. Social Media Campaigns: Start building anticipation weeks in advance. Schedule teaser posts, behind-the-scenes setup videos, and countdown reminders to keep your audience engaged.
2. Email Campaigns: Segment your customer list and send save-the-date emails, RSVP requests, and last-minute reminders to ensure a seamless event experience. After the event, use automated workflows to send thank-you messages or special offers. This keeps your audience engaged before, during, and after the big night.
3. Local Listings and Community Boards: Don’t underestimate the power of being visible on Google Business Profile, Yelp, and community event calendars. These listings are where locals search for family-friendly Halloween activities. Thryv helps you manage and update those listings in one place, keeping everything accurate and up-to-date.
4. Cross-Promotion with Partners: If you’re co-hosting, ensure that each business promotes the event to its own network. Automated campaign tools make this collaboration easier, allowing each partner to share consistent messaging without duplicating effort.
5. In-Store Marketing: Flyers, posters, and signage in your business help spread the word to your existing customers. Use QR codes linked to an online RSVP form to capture interest on the spot and follow up later with automated reminders.

The goal is to create consistent promotion that is everywhere your audience looks. Thryv’s automation ensures that once your campaign is set, your fall marketing runs in the background, allowing you to focus on preparing the actual event.

How to Collect Leads and Follow Up After the Event

A Halloween event isn’t just about one night of fun. It’s an opportunity to grow your customer base and strengthen loyalty. The trick (and treat) is in how you capture attendee information and turn it into ongoing engagement.

Here’s how you can do it effectively:

1. Pre-Event Sign-Ups: Use an online registration form to collect attendee names and email addresses prior to the event. With Thryv, those contacts are automatically imported into your CRM, making it easy to segment and market to them later.
2. On-Site Lead Capture: Create QR codes at check-in or offer raffle entries that require basic information, such as name and email.
3. Social Sharing Incentives: Encourage attendees to post their costumes or event photos using your hashtag. Automate a follow-up campaign that thanks them for sharing and offers a discount code for their next visit.
4. Post-Event Nurture Campaigns: The most successful events don’t end when the decorations come down. Use Thryv’s marketing automation for events to send targeted drip campaigns, including thank-you emails, highlight reels from the event, and invitations to your next seasonal promotion. These ongoing touchpoints keep your business top of mind and give customers a reason to return.

By pairing the excitement of an in-person event with the power of marketing automation, you ensure that every attendee becomes part of your long-term customer journey, not just a one-time visitor.

Turn Halloween Fun Into Year-Round Growth

A Halloween event is more than just a seasonal celebration. It’s a smart business move that strengthens customer relationships, builds community buzz, and creates opportunities long after the costumes are packed away. By hosting the right kind of event, promoting it across multiple channels, and capturing leads for follow-up, you transform one night of fun into months of engagement and sales. With tools like Thryv’s marketing automation and social media management, it’s easier than ever to preschedule promotions, stay connected with attendees, and keep your brand top-of-mind year-round. This October, don’t just host an event – host the one that grows your business.