More than just the spookiest day of the year, Halloween is big business. Spending for the holiday is expected to reach $10.1 billion this year, up from $8.05 billion in 2020, according to the National Retail Federation.
In fact, 65 percent of people plan to celebrate. Given these numbers, it’s clear your patient base is seriously into Halloween. Getting in on the fun can put your dental practice on the map, so here are a few tips to engage your patients.
Halloween dental marketing ideas
1. Host a dental costume contest
A classic idea with a modern twist, host a social media costume contest where patients are encouraged to dress up in dental-related costumes. To enter, patients must post their pictures on social media and tag your office. Give prizes to your top choices.
Check out: 5 ideas to take your dental social media to the next level
2. Offer a candy buy-back program
‘Tis the season for cavity-causing sugary treats! Start a dental marketing campaign to remove candy from your patients’ homes by offering to “buy” it back.
Ask patients to surrender their candy to your office staff in exchange for non-sugary alternatives like nuts, pretzels, or microwave popcorn. Alternatively, you could give out dental goodie bags containing stickers or other small toys or splurge for a big prize like a kids electric toothbrush.
3. Challenge patients with a guessing game
Rename candy corn “rotten witches teeth” and fill a jar with them. Place it on your front desk and challenge patients to guess how many are in it. Post a photo of the jar on your dental social media pages, so both patients who visit your office during this time and those who don’t can enter. Give the winner a non-sugary treat.
4. Record a “scary” video
Make a “scary” dental-related promo video for Halloween. For example, you might tell a tale of a patient who didn’t go to the dentist for a decade, with your actor wearing a pair of witch dentures. Post it on YouTube, then share it on social media to create buzz for your practice.
YouTube 101: An introduction to video marketing for dentists
5. Participate in trick-or-treating
One of the classic dental marketing ideas: Open your doors to trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Invite parents to bring their costumed kids to your office in the hour before trick-or-treating begins to collect a few goodies. As a dentist, you wouldn’t dream of giving out candy, so hand out healthy snacks and other fun non-edible surprises.
6. Email Halloween savings
Everyone won’t be able to make it into your office around Halloween, so send out a special trick-or-treat email with savings opportunities. For example, you could offer a special discount on out-of-pocket services like teeth whitening. Or, you could encourage patients to enter a raffle for a larger prize.
Read: Healthcare email marketing best practices for dentists
7. Share healthy Halloween tips
Most people hand out candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween, but many would be happy to give something a bit healthier. Write a blog post listing non-sugary ideas that can be doled out instead.
Maximize your reach by posting it on social media. Since it appeals to a mass audience, this is one of the best dental marketing ideas, as it has the potential to be shared beyond your immediate followers.
You might like: 4 blog post ideas to enhance your dental marketing efforts
8. Hold a coloring contest
Entertain kids who come to your office during the month of October by inviting them to participate in a coloring contest. Parents will be grateful for this distraction, as it will keep them occupied in the waiting room.
Don’t see many children at your dental practice? Adult coloring books are all the rage, so you can include people of all ages in your contest. Reward both adult and child winners with a prize, and post photos of their creation on social media.
Dental marketing ideas centered on Halloween are a great way to promote your practice. This gives you the opportunity to have a little fun with your patients while encouraging them to be mindful of their dental health.
For more dental marketing tips, check out “Online marketing for dentists: A beginner’s guide.”
