3 Creepy Campaigns to Inspire Your Brand’s Halloween Marketing & Advertising This Fall

The faint scent of pumpkin spice in the air can only mean one thing: Halloween is creeping around the corner. It’s the time of year when ghosts, goblins, and all things macabre take center stage, and creative opportunities for brands to showcase their spooky side abound. 

Enter, if you dare, as we dig into a TEGNA-themed cauldron of inspiration, concocting a spellbinding brew of Halloween campaigns that have cast their magic on audiences and left a lingering sense of enchantment. 

WNEP Celebrates Fall-O-Ween with Several Sponsors 

Our e-book, Understanding Today’s Leisure Traveler, found that due to inflation concerns, we’re seeing a  rise in hometown tourists, resulting in Americans choosing to participate in leisure activities closer to home.   

To capture the attention of locals, several sponsors, including the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau, Norm’s Computers, Lehigh Valley Zoo, and others, teamed up with WNEP and sponsored Fall-O-Ween. For this campaign, WNEP aired 30-second spots informing loyal viewers about local fall happenings, including visiting a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, and even a haunted house.  

These types of sponsorships are beneficial for local brands for several reasons.  

• First is the halo effect that they benefit from aligning with a trusted brand in the community. 
• The second is community connection. As more consumers than ever are involved in their local communities, local TV advertising – including sponsorships for community events like Fall-O-Ween – allows brands to showcase their commitment to the community, which in turn helps to generate even more trust and further build brand awareness.   

Blank Park Zoo Promotes Key Messaging Surrounding Events  

Another example of reaching local audiences to increase attendance for special events is the Blank Park Zoo, which appeared on an Iowa Live broadcast to tell audiences about the latest news and upcoming events for kids and adults at the Zoo. They also informed audiences that every dollar spent at the zoo during these special events goes back to the animals. This is a vital message to communicate, especially as 94% of global consumers feel it’s essential to engage with brands with a strong purpose, and 76% say that when a company leads with a purpose, they are more likely to trust and be loyal to that company.   

72Sold Sponsors Trick-or-Treat Weather Reports with KPNX 

Millions of kids in Arizona go house to house on Halloween for trick-or-treating. Real estate consultants 72Sold knew that while the children are focused on candy, parents may be curious about property values – a trick-or-treat in its own right. But the weather could also quickly scare away trick-or-treaters in the case of a big storm or, in Arizona’s case, overwhelming heat. Therefore, a weather sponsorship with KPNX makes for a perfect fit.  

That’s because TEGNA audiences trust their award-winning meteorologists. They have created unique bonds with millions of loyal viewers who depend on them to provide accurate, real-time weather forecasts so they can make informed decisions about their day. Partnering with these reliable and trustworthy experts allows brands like 72Sold to experience the halo effect that TEGNA meteorologists provide.  

Additionally, during the holiday season and with any threats of extreme weather, TEGNA stations across the country tend to see a spike in ratings and online search traffic relating to weather. The spike in weather interest around the holidays also means that brands and advertisers can expand their reach among a loyal and engaged audience with consistent, highly visible branding during a time of need and create a ‘go-to’ consistency that can build a brand’s affinity as a community partner.    

Don’t be Scared. Join TEGNA for your Holiday Marketing Campaign 

The marketing experts at TEGNA are ready to learn about your unique needs to create a holiday marketing and advertising campaign that best fits your brand, goals, and creative ideas. From concept development to implementation and measurement, we offer the highest level of support as your marketing partner. Let’s get in touch to talk about your holiday marketing plans.