That time of the year when the coffee tables and cushioned chairs of your front porch make way for carved pumpkins, fake spider webs, and skeleton figurines (among other things) is almost upon us- no points for guessing what we are talking about! For email marketers, however, expressing their creativity isn’t confined to their yard decorations. It also extends to their Halloween email campaigns.
Halloween is synonymous with massive levels of customer spending. Last year, in the US, it touched an all-time-high figure of $10.14 billion (up from $8.05 billion in 2020), and if past trends are any indication, this number is most likely to be toppled this year. There is a LOT up for grabs, sure, but claiming it is no walk in the park. If you wish to enchant your existing subscribers and draw in new ones, there’s only one course of action- craft immaculate campaigns!
Need some help getting started? We got you. Today, we share with you a host of stunning Halloween email examples which are bound to get your creative juices flowing. Before you sit down to read this, don’t forget to grab a pen and a notebook; you’ll be knee-deep in notes by the time this article ends!
Grammarly
Subject line: We have a riddle for you . . .
You don’t always have to necessarily go over the top to catch your customer’s eye. Simplicity is enough, sometimes, to sweep them off their feet. Don’t believe us? Take a look at this email from Grammarly. Firstly, the subject line itself is super-inviting. Who doesn’t like a riddle, after all? Next, the hero section- an enticing animated GIF which communicates their special Halloween offer.
Now, on to the content side of things. The email copy starts with a riddle (which the subject line hinted at). The answer to the same is clever and cheeky, and brings a smile to the reader’s face. And once you disarm someone with your humor, it gets easier to put forth your message to them, doesn’t it? That’s exactly what Grammarly has done too. The riddle is followed by a content segment which, while crisp, perfectly tells subscribers all they need to know about Grammarly’s Halloween deal.
Penguin Random House
Subject: Thrillers and Horror for Halloween Fright
Aligning your offerings with that of a particular occasion’s theme is among the most effective and reliable ways of making your seasonal emails stand out. And that’s precisely the route Penguin Random House have taken over here. As a publishing house, Penguin uses Halloween to recommend a slew of spine-chilling books to their subscribers. After all, not everyone prefers to go out trick-or-treating on Halloween, right? Some prefer to occupy a cozy corner and dive deep into the most sinister of plots that the human brain has to offer.
The layout is neat and focuses on making the brand offerings (books, in this case) the hero of the email. One thing that I particularly appreciate about this email is that Penguin has highlighted several online stores where one can buy these books, thereby effectively resolving a dilemma that grips most readers whenever they come across a new book. What this maneuver also does is maximize the probability of subscribers interacting with this email.
Lastly, let’s talk about the CTA (call-to-action) button. Visually, it contrasts sharply against the background, making it extremely prominent. On the content front, the phrase is crisp and smart, inviting the readers to check out more recommendations.
Carnival
Subject line: Can YOU embrace the spooky side of travel? 👻
Using the hero image to set the mood of the entire email is an excellent tactic, and one that has been carried out to perfection by Carnival in their Halloween emailer. The hero section has a very small, yet amusing, interactive component to it as well- when you hover the cursor over it, certain parts of the image brighten up, almost as if the scene has been struck by lightning.
The copy is brilliantly written, has a friendly tone, and sublimely weaves the brand offerings with the celebration in question- Halloween. The pictures used perfectly complement the copy, further heightening the email’s appeal. My favorite bit about this example is its CTAs- not only do they ooze wit, but they are also perfectly aligned with the content segment where they are present.
Brooks
Subject line: Boo! 👻
The first thing I want to highlight about Brook’s Halloween email is its single-column layout. This approach makes the email mobile-friendly, doing away with all the complications that arise with multi-column layouts, such as overflowing text, shifting of images, and overlapping of columns.
The headline is quite catchy, designed to intrigue the reader and encourage them to engage with the content. The copy, for its part, is persuasive while being endearingly casual. Notice how Brooks has included two CTAs over here, one each for men and women. This, in my view, is a brilliant way to invite greater subscriber engagement and interaction. Additionally, it also provides a better user experience to your customers. A generic CTA leads subscribers to your website where they, themselves, have to put the necessary men/women filters and then browse your products. In this case, they are directly led to the relevant browsing section. Now, which scenario will fetch you more brownie points, you reckon?
Another thing worth discussing is how Brooks have included a social proof section in this email to seal their credibility. This section contains a collage, comprising pictures put up by happy customers. How do you know these aren’t stock photos? Because the social handles of said customers have also been mentioned. Might seem like a trivial detail, but small things like this go a long way toward establishing authenticity.
Email Uplers
Subject line: Sinisterland’s Halloween is far from happy
At Email Uplers, we always look to share the holiday cheer with our subscribers. To actualize that sentiment, we keep a small interactivity at the core of all our holiday season emailers. Last Halloween was no different.
As you can see, the first screen of the game elucidates the story and gameplay to the users, as well as sets the mood with the background visual. Upon clicking the CTA button, users are led to the main game frame.
This game is a re-imagination of the popular “Whac-A-Mole” arcade game. Here, users are required to click on the zombies against a ticking clock to fulfill the game’s objective.
Depending on how the player fares, there are two outcomes.
If they manage to vanquish all the monsters, a “victory frame” pops up on their screen. Here, along with a congratulatory message, the player is encouraged to share their achievement across their social handles.
If they are unsuccessful, the “defeat frame” pops up.
Here, they are prompted to give the game another go.
Here’s the live link of this emailer: emailmarketing.uplers.com/sinisterlands-halloween-is-far-from-happy-3
Monica + Andy
Subject line: NEW! Spooky Squad print for Halloween 🧛🕯️🎃
What’s peerlessly brilliant about this Halloween email from Monica + Andy is their subversive approach to it. While the rest of the brands look to embrace the horror of Halloween in their campaigns, Monica + Andy decided to look at the opposite end of the spectrum. The end result? As convincing as any!
The hero image used over here is probably the last thing you’d expect from a Holiday emailer, but you certainly aren’t complaining, are you? The email, overall, is rich in visuals- from the playful GIF that displays the product to the adorable illustrations that drive home the Halloween sentiment. As a result, it is a delight to engage with. Even though this is a special occasion- emailer, Monica + Andy have still chosen to highlight the brand USP (“All made from certified organic cotton that is soft on skin”). A smart call, if you ask me.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Subject line: Michael Myers is Back for More
Who doesn’t like Halloween horror flicks? A whole genre unto themselves, these movies form a core part of many families’ Halloween rituals. So, dropping a reference to one of the most iconic characters of this genre in your subject line is an amazing way to get readers to open your emails. Yes, we are alluding to what Universal Studios Hollywood has done with their Halloween emailer.
A simple scroll of the email will tell you that black and red are its defining colors- shades associated with dread and terror. The way they have gone about highlighting their Halloween-special attractions is impressive: a stirring visual accompanied by a crisp and impactful description.
Rugs.com
Subject line: Last Chance For Spooky Good Savings
If you are wondering how to use bold typography in your Halloween emails, look no further than this email by Rugs.com. Here, Rugs.com also instills a sense of urgency in the reader’s mind courtesy of their CTA button. This is a good way to spur subscribers into action. The layout focuses on generously displaying the products and is extremely neat. Additionally, the colors used in the email go wonderfully along with those of the displayed products.
Wrapping It Up
We hope the above examples have left you bubbling with ideas for your campaign. So, what’s the wait? Gather your team, sit down for a fun brainstorming session, and create a campaign that’ll leave your customers entranced!