Halloween spending is expected to reach $10.6 billion in the United States. While the biggest percentage will go toward buying costumes, candy, and spooky decorations, the celebration can also benefit businesses from other industries.
So don’t worry if your products or services have nothing to do with scary apparel, sugary treats, or spider-inspired ornaments. You, too, can tap into the Halloween spirit and create a marketing campaign to BOOOst sales!
Seeing you here, chances are you have many questions about the ins and outs of an effective Halloween campaign. So, let’s get the main thing out of the way – the marketing channel. With a return on investment (ROI) of $36 for every dollar spent, email marketing is the best answer to where your marketing efforts should go.
That said, let’s dive deeper into why you should choose email marketing this fall, inspire you with frighteningly good Halloween email examples, and get you started with spooktastic templates. Read on!
Reasons to Send a Halloween Email Campaign
It’s no secret that Halloween is fun, and one of the more attractive reasons for your campaigns is to enjoy this time together. But it’s not all the treats this trick can bring:
- Showcase for creativity. Use this opportunity to design visually striking and attention-grabbing emails that stand out in crowded inboxes. Creative content can leave the recipients in a positive mood and motivate them to buy from you.
- Brand loyalty. Holiday-themed emails can foster a sense of community among your subscribers. Use your Halloween campaign to bond on a common theme and offer exclusive perks to your loyal customers.
- Increased website traffic. Your email campaign can direct recipients to Halloween-themed landing pages or blog posts on your website.
- Social sharing. Your subscribers might share your spooky content on the internet, or you may display user-generated content (UGC) in your emails.
Halloween Email Marketing Examples
You know it’s Halloween-themed within seconds of seeing it. Yet, slapping a bat next to a product or writing “15% off” in orange isn’t enough. You’ve got to get creative. And these winning examples (Halloween email subject line included) are at your service:
Teaser Email
Like anything horror, you need to build suspense first to have a maximum effect. Tease your sale, offer, or deal one week before Halloween and hear your customers scream (out of awe) when you reveal it on October 31st.
In the teaser, mention to your subscribers that your brand is preparing something great they don’t want to miss, especially if there’s a time limit. Your message should give away enough to arouse curiosity and keep them guessing.
Subject line: Forget the candy, this deal will be the sweetest one yet!
What we like:
- The brand perfectly matches its meal delivery service with a Halloween theme;
- The teaser creates Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) with a captivating copy;
- Both the subject line and copy arouses curiosity about what’s coming.
Aligning Anything With the Holiday
The charm of celebration is that it’s a celebration for anyone, young or old, woman or man. And even if you’re selling shoes for chickens, you still can put on your Halloween costume and create a thrilling email out of it. Craft a nifty copy and design or go over the board with the concept (a witch reviewing sneakers for Fowl?) – everything goes during the spooky season.
Subject line: What’s a ghost’s favorite dinner? 👻
What we like:
- Pizza rarely comes to mind when talking about Halloween, but the brand managed to find a connection through a common pain point;
- Posing a question in the subject line to answer in the email hooks the recipient to open it;
- A fun fact about the celebration further boosts engagement.
Animated GIF Email
Including GIFs in your Halloween emails is a trusted way to stand out in the black-orange sea. Dynamic pictures are sure to draw the recipient’s eye, and even better – it can say much more in less time!
While a spooky GIF found on the internet might work as well, nothing beats homemade ones. For instance, you can show how to use your products for more fun!
Subject line: Make room on your shelf for the Hereditary screenplay book
What we like:
- The GIF is minimal, putting the focus on the product;
- The brand smoothly plays around the Halloween theme by promoting a horror-genre book;
- The header copy is clever at communicating the value the buyers are getting.
Trick or Treat
The email design isn’t the only Halloweeny attribute you can play with. Take a billion times heard saying ‘Trick or treat’ and make a creative spin on it referring to your offer. We’d avoid threatening your customers with tricks, but your email does promise a treat after all!
Subject line: 👻Don’t be scared, these snacks are simple!🎃
What we like:
- The slogan refers to the value point of the brand’s products, energy bars: all healthy ingredients without any unnatural additions;
- The product is a limited edition, available only for spooky season, urging the recipients to buy it while it’s gone;
- The email design balances the brand’s visual identity and Halloween theme.
Adding an Element of Gamification
The gamified Halloween email example below is easily the most entertaining one on the list. After all, finding a person who doesn’t enjoy games is next to impossible. So, email marketers can easily bet on that and include gamified elements to boost engagement to the maximum and push more sales.
Subject line: Play a spooky Halloween game! 🎃
What we like:
- The brand found a bridge between its products and Halloween – Disney villains;
- The card game is simple yet highly engaging as it tests the reader’s knowledge of Disney lore;
- The game is put before CTA, offering to buy the products after the subscriber is in a positive mood.
Sale Ends Today
“Scare” your subscribers with the idea that if not now, they’ll never be able to get such a good deal. Fear of Missing Out is an effective way to motivate them to take advantage of your offer.
Subject line: Halloween Deals Ending Soon
What we like:
- Thanks to the design and extra simple copy, the whole focus is on the main message;
- Immediately after, the participants are given a clear CTA;
- The email manages to create a spooky season feel without being overwhelmed.
Sale Announcement Email
Are your subscribers hyped up from the teaser email? Wonderful! The time for a loud boom has come – announce that big sale and watch the open and click-through rates soar.
Remember – your actual offer shouldn’t be less attractive than the teaser. The fun-o-meter’s arrow should go up and never down.
Subject line: Spooktacular deal awaits 👻
What we like:
- The brand is worth a tap on the shoulder for its creative visual idea;
- The whole copy is synced with the holiday, making it highly engaging;
- Limited time offer urges you to do it ASAP.
Reveal Your Deal
And reveal it bombastically! Nothing is overboard as long as you stay in the Halloween mood. After all, it has to be freaky (in other words, amusing). This Halloween email example is a haunting proof:
Subject line: Your number is up… (Happy Halloween)
What we like:
- The horrifying symbolism is there and very on point;
- The design has a unique spin on Halloween;
- The CTA is creative and targeted at the brand’s fans.
Discount Email
Your email can scream Halloween in the chosen color scheme, imagery, and copy, but if you want to be more subtle about it, there’s another way – the 31% discount.
Since the holiday falls on the 31st of October, it’s a slight yet recognizable nod to the day of the ghouls and witches.
Subject line: 🎃 31% Off screaming – er, streaming. An Out-of-This-World Deal!
What we like:
- The brand thought of a clever way to use the number 31;
- In the subject line, the brand’s name was “Halloweened”;
- The deal is targeted at inactive customers, making it ever so attractive to return.
Sale Reminder Email
Keep your Halloween email marketing campaign from going stale after the second email. At this time of the year, your subscribers’ inboxes will be haunted by offers from other brands. To be noticed, you have to be persistent.
End your email sequence with a reminder email that it’s the last day to use the offer. It creates a sense of urgency and can motivate the doubters to make a move. If ‘you have time until midnight’ isn’t scary enough, you can also include an interactive countdown clock.
Subject line: 30% Final Sale Ends Tomorrow
What we like:
- The email has a fun, recognizable Halloween-themed design (for example, the teaser email had a candy corn-patterned background);
- Thanks to the frame used, the eyes are immediately drawn to the discount offer;
- The brand also uses relevant humor that can boost engagement.
Last Chance Email
This is the go-to email if you have excess stock. A valuable discount with very little time to use is the fastest way to leave nothing but ghosts in your warehouse.
Subject line: 🎃 Will You Dare to Miss Out? Up to 70% Off!
What we like:
- The time-sensitive offer is hard to miss;
- The email has a shocking factor fitting to the offer and is very attention-grabbing;
- The brand went beyond the email layout and also designed a scary CTA.
Also read: 12 Last Chance Email Examples and Templates
Halloween Email Templates
Teaser Email
The goal of a teaser email is to catch the attention of your biggest fans. While you will target everyone in the audience, low-engagement customers will likely forget that your business will be doing a Halloween sale.
On the other hand, the biggest fans will take note and prepare for the coming holiday. Additionally, it will serve as a great way to warm up your prospects to the sales you’ll be holding reasonably soon.
Subject line: Trick or Treating Is Right Around the Corner!
Hey, [name],
A very special time of the year is coming soon – a time for spooks and scares. We have decided to join the festivities this year and help you get the most out of Halloween! Keep an eye on our future emails, where we will reveal all of the sales and discounts we will be holding.
Regards,
[Company name]
Subject line: Get Ready for a Special Halloween with [Company name]
It’s almost that special time of the year, Halloween when all the horrors stalk right around the corner. [Company name] will be celebrating Halloween together with you this year and offer some very special offers and discounts. Keep your eyes peeled for some big news soon!
Regards,
[Company name]
Subject line: Time to Get Spooky with [Company name]
Hi, [name],
This year we’ve been hard at work to bring you an amazing Halloween! We have prepared something truly special for the holiday, something we believe you will greatly enjoy. All the updates will start rolling in soon!
Regards,
[Company name]
Halloween Discount Sales Email
That’s where you drop the bomb. Sending out a teaser and everything else is simply not worth the effort if you don’t craft a beautiful email in which you display all the benefits that you will give your customers. In essence, it’s the most important happy Halloween email you’ll be sending.
Additionally, it’s highly recommended to create an automated email chain to ensure you don’t miss the date or opportunity to send the sales email. You can fully automate huge campaigns and create beautiful emails with Sender without having to pay a dollar.
Subject line: [%] Halloween Discount on [products] [Company name]
Hey, [name],
As we have promised, we are here to celebrate the big Fall holiday – Halloween. Check out all of our special offers and celebrate Halloween like never before!
[Products and discount]
Subject line: Halloween Brings Huge Sales to [Company name]
It’s that time of the year again! Save [%] on all products and have the spookiest time of the year ever
[Products]
[Shop now]
Subject line: No Tricks, All Treats at [Company name]
Happy Halloween! We’re here to celebrate the festivities with you. Get [%] off on selected products with the discount code [Code].
[Products]
[Shop now]
Also read: 5 Powerful Promotional Email Examples
Halloween Sale Reminder Email
Reminders are there to help you squeeze out more ROI from the holiday festivities. Some people will have simply missed the previous emails, and some will have forgotten. You send a reminder to give those people a small push.
It’s best to only send a reminder to people who haven’t bought or opened your previous emails. Bombarding the people who have made purchases might just be seen as annoying.
Subject line: Halloween Sale is Still Live [company name]
Hey, [name],
Want to get some of our products at an amazing price? We’re still running a Halloween sale. Check out our discounted products! Grab them while stocks last.
[Shop now]
Subject line: Get It While Halloween Sales Last
Our Halloween sale is still going on. If you missed the opportunity to grab some of your favorite items, get them now! Use code [%] to get a discount for specified products.
[Shop now]
Also read: 14 Reminder Email Examples For Every Situation
Halloween Last Chance Email
Usually, even after sending a reminder, you will have some clients who have not opened emails or bought anything remaining. It’s highly recommended to reach out at least to those people with a Halloween last-chance email to get the most out of your campaign.
However, last-chance emails can be sent to a wider audience. It all depends on how the campaign went and what is your overall marketing strategy.
Subject line: Time’s Almost Up for Halloween Sales!
That’s it! In the next [hours] hours we will be closing our Halloween sales for good. Grab all the stock and products while you can!
[Products]
[Shop now]
Subject line: Last Call for Halloween Sales at [Company name]
Hey, [name],
Time’s almost up! Our Halloween sales will only last for [hours] hours. You can still make the most out of them and get your favorite products.
[Shop now]
Subject line: Halloween Sale Ends Today
This cyber sale is coming to a close as in the next 24 hours, and we will be removing it from our store. However, you still have plenty of time to take advantage and save big.
[Shop now]
Increase Your Sales Using Halloween Emails
Nearly any holiday is a great time for marketers. People will be spending a lot more money on products and gifts. Halloween is no different. However, prepare early and intelligently if you want to get the most bang for your buck.
Finally, some companies opt to create newsletters. While we haven’t given you any direct Halloween email ideas, the strategy and content is much the same as outlined above. You can easily take the examples shown and craft a beautiful Halloween email.
Want to make holiday email marketing campaigns simple and effective? Use our mailer solution to automate any email message and use our drag-and-drop editor to craft the most beautiful templates.
Here’s a great example of a Halloween newsletter built on a drag-and-drop editor:
Also read:
Key Takeaways
Halloween marketing can be more of a treat than a trick when you feel motivated, inspired, and have the know-how. To send you off prepared, here’s a recap of what we’ve discussed:
- Halloween spending in the United States is expected to reach $10.6 billion, making it a prime opportunity for businesses from various industries to participate in Halloween campaigns.
- There are many reasons to send Halloween email marketing campaigns, mainly showcasing creativity through visually striking emails, fostering brand loyalty, directing recipients to Halloween-themed landing pages or blog posts, and encouraging social sharing of spooky content.
- Halloween email marketing examples should go beyond simple graphics or discounts and aim to be creative and engaging. Whether it’s spooky copy, scary GIFs, or Halloween edition products – aim to surprise.
- We recommend including teaser emails, discount sales emails, reminder emails, and last-chance emails in Halloween marketing campaigns.
Author bio
Vesta Oldenburg is a content writer specializing in email marketing strategies. In her daily work, creativity intertwines with a strategic mindset to create content that captivates its readers.
