Holiday promotions are a great way to bump sales, and Halloween events are no exception. With a well-constructed plan, creative approach, and formidable organization, you can embrace the shenanigans of this holiday to bring in extra profits. Here are some tips to help you be successful.
Generate Buzz
When marketing your event, take advantage of your social following by posting and sharing the details. Then go beyond the usual online channels and put advertisements in local, weekly magazines that cover nightlife and the local scene. Spend money on having a professional design the ad to create the most impact. You can even create buzz about your event by handing out hard-copy fliers, hanging them in your bathroom, or placing them on the windshields of your customers' cars in your parking lot.
Adjust Your Food and Drink Menu
Get into the Halloween theme but don't overdo it. Renaming everything on your menu with spooky verbiage might be overkill and could come across as silly to your customers. Instead, add a limited-time offering to your menu that represents the theme of your event. A handful of fun, whimsical dishes will make more of an impact and will be more effectively produced. Tasking bartenders and cooks with, say, creating three to five really original ideas gives them ownership of their creations and, at the same, pushes them to be creative.
Differentiate Your Event
Your patrons will likely be attending many Halloween-themed events. In order to make yours stand out, differentiate your approach. For instance, rather than decorating with streamers and handing out candy corn, opt to accentuate your space with candles and dry ice. You can also come up with unique offerings that will grab the attention of your guests. For example, try partnering with a local animal rescue and offering a percentage of sales to the shelter. The shelter may even agree to send an e-mail out to their list of contacts to promote your Halloween extravaganza.
Go After the Adults
There are plenty of kid-centric activities around Halloween. Instead of targeting youngsters, go after millennials and baby boomers that want to celebrate without having the kids in tow. While all-out booze fests are not necessarily the answer, putting emphasis on the fact that adults can also have a good time celebrating Halloween will intrigue people.
With a well-honed marketing plan, a solid spread of themed food and drink, and a creative approach to the details, hosting Halloween events can be well worth your time. Start with these tips, and you'll be well on your way to holding a successful, fruitful celebration.
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