12 Halloween SMS Ideas for Your Business

Spooky season is upon us. For businesses, Halloween represents a staggering $10 billion market opportunity, filled with candy, costumes and, of course, customer engagement. 

To stand out from the horde of ghouls, ghosts, and goblins clamoring for consumer attention, SMS can be your magic potion. This marketing elixir isn't mere hocus pocus; it taps directly into the mobile-first lifestyle of your customers, offering real-time engagement and sky-high open rates that other channels simply can’t summon. 

That said, to truly capture attention and convert, you need to be meticulous in crafting your messages. To help with that, we’ve conjured up a list of 12 monstrously good Halloween text message ideas that can turn seasonal browsers into bona fide buyers.

Why Halloween SMS Marketing Works

Halloween SMS marketing proves highly effective due to its unique combination of timeliness, personalization, and high engagement rates. During the Halloween season, this potential is amplified as consumers are highly receptive to festive promotions. The seasonal appeal of Halloween encourages brands to create engaging, time-sensitive offers that resonate with consumers, leading to a significant boost in interaction and conversion. With the ability to deliver instant, personalized content directly to consumers' pockets, SMS marketing capitalizes on the excitement and urgency of Halloween, making it a potent tool for driving sales and fostering brand loyalty.

Best Practices for Halloween SMS Campaigns 

Timing Your Messages: To maximize impact, start your messaging early, ideally in mid-October, to build anticipation and excitement. Send follow-up messages in the final week leading up to Halloween, focusing on last-minute deals and reminders. Consider sending messages in the late afternoon or early evening when people are winding down from their day and are more likely to engage with festive offers. Additionally, scheduling messages for key times, such as right before Halloween parties or trick-or-treating hours, can ensure your promotions are top of mind. By strategically timing your SMS campaigns, you can enhance engagement and drive better results.

Creating a Sense of Urgency: Use limited-time offers and countdowns to create excitement and encourage immediate action. For example, sending messages with phrases like "Spooky Savings End Soon!" or "24 Hours Left for 20% Off!" can prompt recipients to act quickly. Countdown timers in your messages can visually reinforce the urgency, making it clear that they need to act fast to take advantage of the Halloween deals. This approach not only boosts engagement but also helps in increasing conversions by leveraging the festive thrill of the season.

Personalization and Segmentation: Tailor your messages by addressing recipients by name and offering promotions that align with their previous purchases or preferences. For example, send exclusive Halloween discounts on products they’ve shown interest in or remind them of similar deals based on their shopping history. Segment your audience by demographics, such as age or location, to provide relevant content, like family-friendly offers for parents or spooky deals for young adults. By customizing your messages and targeting specific customer segments, you enhance engagement and make your Halloween promotions more effective and memorable.

Spooky Discounts and Offers 

Halloween isn't just for trick-or-treaters; it's a golden opportunity for businesses to treat their customers to something special. The key to killer SMS marketing this Halloween is blending urgency with exclusivity. You don't just want your audience to open the message—you want them to act on it, or else… 

For example, here are templates for Halloween text messages you can use: 

• “👻 Boo! No tricks, just treats. Unlock a spine-chilling 25% OFF your next purchase. Act fast; offer expires at midnight! Use code: BOO25"
• "🎃 Exclusive VIP offer! Enjoy 30% OFF our Halloween collection. For our favorite ghouls only—expires in 24 hours! Use code: VIPGHOUL"
• "🕸️ Get tangled in our web of deals! Swipe 20% off site-wide. Hurry, this wicked offer vanishes in 3 hours! Use code: WEB20"

A sense of urgency and exclusivity are woven into the fabric of each one. Phrases like "expires at midnight," "expires in 24 hours," and "vanishes in 3 hours" not only grab attention but encourage immediate action. Meanwhile, the code provides an easy way for you to track the success of your outreach, and it gives loyal customers a simple, actionable step to claim their offer.

Halloween Contests and Giveaways

Kids aren’t the only ones who love Halloween treats like contests and giveaways. They’re an excellent vehicle businesses can leverage to generate excitement, amplify engagement and drive Halloween sales. 

So, how do you translate this giddy anticipation into a text message? Try this:

• "Hey [Customer's Name], want a treat without the trick? Text 'SPOOKY' to enter our Halloween contest. You could win a $100 gift card! Hurry, entry closes Oct. 30th!"
• "Boo! Enter our Halloween giveaway by clicking this link and filling out the form. Don't miss your chance to win a Halloween gift basket of our most popular items worth $150! Entry closes at midnight!"
• "Don't ghost us—join our Halloween giveaway! Text 'SPOOKY' for a chance to participate in our Halloween quiz and win special discounts! Ends Oct. 30th.”

For these SMS messages, the aim here is clarity. Clear instructions make it a no-brainer for customers to participate. And, once more, the ticking clock creates that sense of urgency, compelling customers to act now rather than later. 

Whatever your product or service, tailor your giveaway so that customers feel they're getting access to something truly special this Halloween season. 

A Seasonal Product Launch

Halloween is a fantastic time to unmask a new exciting product or service. The autumnal vibes and general excitement for change are a perfect backdrop to introduce something fresh to your lineup.

Here are some industry-specific SMS templates you can use as an example:

• Cafes – "Pumpkin spice lovers rejoice! Our legendary Pumpkin Spice latte is back and better than ever. To celebrate the season, we’re also unveiling a cinnamon-spiced apple oat milk espresso and an iced pumpkin cream chai tea latte. Text 'PSL' for a sneak peek and an exclusive coupon. Be the first to sip the magic!"
• SaaS companies – "Tech or Treat! Get ready for our spooky-tacular new app feature dropping this Halloween. Click this link for VIP early access!"
• Retail – “Need last-minute Halloween inspo? Transform our newest fall styles into a killer costume. Swipe through our DIY costume guide here: [Link] and make a spooky splash this season!"
• Entertainment - “👻🎬 Get in the Halloween spirit with our new horror movie release on [Date]! Join us at [Theater Name] for a night of thrills and chills. Book your tickets now at [Link] and save 20%! 🎃🍿"
• Beauty & Personal Care - “🕸️💄 Our Halloween beauty collection drops on [Date]! Discover bewitching new shades and spooky skincare at [Store Name]. Shop now at [Store URL] and get 10% off with code HALLOWEEN10. 🎃✨"
• Fitness & Wellness - "🕸️🏋️‍♂️ Get a head start on your Halloween fitness goals with our new seasonal workout gear launching [Date]! Shop at [Store URL] and enjoy 20% off your first order with code HALLOFIT20. 🎃💪"

For product launches, you’re not just advertising the new product or service, but the experience as a whole. It represents an opportunity for your customers to be part of something novel and exciting. So, the messaging is less about the 'what' and more about the 'woah.' 

Halloween Event Promotions

Whether you’re hosting a spine-chilling Halloween party or participating in the local harvest festival, SMS is the ideal medium to notify your audience in real-time to get the excitement brewing. Potential templates include:

• "We’re excited to be a main sponsor of this year's Harvest Festival on Oct. 20th! Join us for a day of fall family fun—games, food, live music, giveaways, corn mazes, costume contests and more! RSVP today: [Event Link]"
• "Think you’ve got the best costume? Prove it! 🎃 Visit our store in costume on Oct. 31st, and you could win big! All costumed shoppers will be entered into our Halloween contest. Big prizes await.” 
• “Ready for some fall fun? Join us at [Location] for Pumpkin Patch Day on Oct. 25th. The first 50 RSVPs get a free pumpkin! [Event Link]"
• General Halloween Event: "👻🎃 Join us for a spook-tacular Halloween event at [Store Name] this [Date]! Enjoy ghoulish games, creepy cocktails, and exclusive discounts. Don’t miss out on the frightful fun! 🕸️👻 RSVP now!"
• Trick-or-Treat Event: "🍬👻 Bring the kids to [Store Name] on [Date] for a Halloween Trick-or-Treat event! Free candy, fun activities, and special discounts await. From 4 PM - 7 PM, let the Halloween magic begin! 🎃🎉"
• Virtual Halloween Party: "🎃🕸️ Get ready for our Virtual Halloween Party on [Date]! Join us online for spooky fun, games, and exclusive deals. Click here [Link] to join the party and celebrate from the comfort of your home! 👻🍹"
• Online Costume Contest: "👻📸 Show off your Halloween spirit in our Online Costume Contest! Post your best costume photo on social media with the hashtag #[YourHashtag] by [Date] to win awesome prizes. More details here [Link]. 🕷️🎉"

Measuring the Success of Your Halloween SMS Campaign

Key metrics to track include open rates, click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, and opt-out rates. Open rates reveal how many recipients are engaging with your messages, while CTR indicates how effectively your SMS content drives recipients to take action. Conversion rates help you understand how many of those interactions result in actual sales or sign-ups, and opt-out rates can signal if your messaging is too frequent or irrelevant. Analyzing these metrics provides valuable insights into what worked well and what needs adjustment. For instance, if your open rates were high but your CTR was low, you might need to refine your call-to-action or offer more compelling incentives. By leveraging these insights, you can continuously optimize your SMS campaigns, ensuring each Halloween season brings even greater success.

Halloween SMS Marketing with Textedly 

The alchemy of Halloween and SMS marketing can conjure real magic for your business. By implementing these tricks and treats, you’ll position your brand for a profitable spooky season.

Looking for an SMS platform that makes communicating with your contacts easy and efficient this Halloween? 

For that, Textedly is the #1 rated texting platform. Whether you want to send out a dozen SMS and MMS mobile text messages or thousands at a time, we’re the trusted choice for both small businesses and world-class brands. 

To elevate your SMS marketing this fall season, sign up today for a free 14-day trial.