Halloween shopping is big business. According to the National Retail Federation, U.S. consumers spent over $10.6 billion on Halloween in 2022, with more than 69% of people participating in some form of celebration. Costumes, décor, candy, and themed products see a significant surge in demand.
On Facebook and Instagram, seasonal promotions generate higher engagement. Internal Meta reports show that themed ads tied to cultural moments often see click-through rate lifts of 20–30% compared to standard campaigns. This means Halloween is not just fun—it’s profitable.
Key Steps for Running Halloween Facebook Ads
1. Nail the Creative
Halloween is highly visual. Use seasonal themes like pumpkins, bats, ghosts, or haunted houses to make your ads stand out.
-
Test dark backgrounds with pops of orange and purple.
-
Add subtle animation or motion graphics for a playful twist.
-
Highlight products in a spooky but appealing setting.
2. Leverage Seasonal Offers
Consumers are primed to spend more during this season. Promotions framed around Halloween perform better than generic discounts.
-
Bundle deals (e.g., “Spooky savings on family costume sets”).
-
Limited-time offers (e.g., “Trick-or-treat pricing ends October 31st”).
-
Free shipping framed as a seasonal perk.
Research from RetailMeNot shows 67% of shoppers wait for special promotions before making holiday purchases. This makes clear, limited-time offers especially effective.
3. Target the Right Audience
Audience strategy is critical:
-
Retarget past buyers who engaged with your Halloween promotions last year.
-
Use lookalike audiences built from your top seasonal customers.
-
Target parents, young adults, or party planners—groups that typically spend more during Halloween.
4. Optimize Placements
Halloween ads often perform well on Instagram Stories and Reels, thanks to their immersive nature.
-
Compare performance between feeds and Stories.
-
Test automatic placements vs. manual optimization.
-
Prioritize mobile, since most seasonal shopping inspiration happens on smartphones.
5. Create Urgency
Halloween has a hard deadline. Build urgency into your ad copy and creatives.
-
“Only available until October 31st.”
-
“Limited stock—get your costume before it vanishes.”
-
Countdown-style creatives or animated clocks.
Measuring Success
When running your Halloween campaigns, focus on metrics like:
-
Click-through rate (CTR)
-
Cost per acquisition (CPA)
-
Return on ad spend (ROAS)
Seasonal campaigns often see short windows of activity. Monitor performance daily and reallocate budget quickly toward top performers.
Final Thoughts
Halloween provides a unique opportunity to blend fun with profitability. By combining themed creatives, compelling offers, sharp audience targeting, and urgency-driven messaging, your Facebook ads can capture attention and drive meaningful results during the spooky season.
