Your 3-Step Guide to a Spooky-Themed Coupon Campaign

The leaves are turning, the air is crisp, and everywhere you look, businesses are putting up pumpkins and ghosts. "Spooky season" has become a massive cultural moment, but as a BIA manager or town promoter, you're probably wondering how to turn that festive spirit into tangible business for your local shops and restaurants.

You want to create buzz and drive foot traffic, but without a ton of administrative work.

What if there was a way to make it fun, simple, and profitable for everyone involved?

The answer is a well-designed digital campaign powered by a coupon management app.

Beyond Candy: Turning Spooky Season into an Economic Engine

The problem with many seasonal campaigns is that they’re all flash and no substance.

People come for the big event (like a parade or street party) but don't stick around to visit the businesses. You need a way to connect the dots and give visitors a real reason to explore your entire town.

This is where a coupon management app comes in. Instead of just a list of places to go, you can create an interactive, spooky-themed trail that gives visitors a reward for every stop they make. It transforms a simple theme into an engaging journey, turning "things to see" into "places to buy."

It's a powerful way to support local businesses and create an immersive travel experience that boosts your bottom line. That’s the power of a flexible, all-in-one coupon management app built for visitor engagement.

Your 3-Step Guide to a Spooky-Themed Coupon Campaign

Ready to launch a campaign that drives foot traffic and boosts sales?

Here's how to do it with a coupon management app.

1. Pick a Theme & Partner with Local Businesses. Your theme could be anything from a "Haunted History Tour" to a "Pumpkin Spice Crawl" or a "Costume Shop Hop." Then, reach out to local businesses to participate, such as bakeries, cafes, boutique shops, and even museums. Don't be afraid to think outside the box! The town of Thunder Bay created a self-guided Haunted House Tour that led to a 1000% increase in engagement by tapping into a popular community tradition. You can see how they promoted the tour on their Visit Thunder Bay website.

2. Create a Digital Rewards System. This is the core of your campaign. Use your coupon management app to give visitors a digital coupons when they check in at a participating business. The coupon could offer a small discount, a free seasonal treat, or an entry into a grand prize draw. The Crescent Heights BIA used a similar strategy to great effect, seeing over 5,000 user interactions and saving thousands on print materials.

3. Promote with a Clear Story. Market the campaign as a fun adventure for families, couples, or friends. Use a catchy hashtag and a simple call to action like "Complete the Spooky Trail and Get Your Reward!" The right platform will give you analytics, so you can track how many people downloaded the tour and, most importantly, how many coupons were redeemed.

Pro Tip: Remember, the best spooky season campaigns are interactive. Don’t just tell people where to go; give them a challenge or a reward for getting there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can a small town afford a coupon management app?

A: Absolutely. Many platforms, like Driftscape, are designed to be affordable for any size of organization. They often save you money on printing and give you valuable data to prove your return on investment, which is a powerful tool for securing future funding.

Q: Do we need a big budget for prizes?

A: Not at all! The prizes can be small, like a free cookie or a discounted item. You can also get local businesses to donate prizes, like a gift basket or a gift card. The real prize is the fun of the experience itself.

Q: How do we get businesses to participate?

A: Frame it as a free marketing opportunity that will drive foot traffic directly to their door. You're offering them a spot on a modern, fun campaign that's easy for them to participate in. It's a quick and simple way to build local business support.

Q: Can we track the coupons?

A: Yes! A good coupon management app will give you an easy-to-use analytics dashboard. You'll be able to see how many people are using the coupons, which businesses are the most popular, and which coupons are getting the most attention. This is invaluable information.

Q: What if our businesses don't have spooky themes?

A: No problem! The theme can be as simple as "The Great Fall Deals Hunt." You can also create a "Cozy Coffee Crawl" or a "Best Autumn Finds" tour that highlights businesses with Fall-related items, even if they aren't spooky.

This Fall, don't let the opportunity to drive local business slip away.

By using a clever coupon management app, you can create a simple, effective, and fun campaign that turns spooky season into an economic engine for your community and provides a great visitor experience platform for everyone who participates.

Start building your spooky season campaign and get your community exploring.

Book a demo now to learn more!