The nights are drawing in, the clocks are about to change, our conversations have turned to discussing how cold it is and many of us have given up and turned the heating on. In addition to all of that, it’s Halloween – so we thought we’d embrace the spirit of Halloween in our marketing strategies. (See what we did there?!?) We all know that an effective marketing strategy can leave a lasting impression. However, beware! There are marketing dos and don’ts that can either enchant your customers or send them running scared. Here are a few do’s (treats) and don’ts (tricks) of marketing.

Marketing Tricks

1. **Gory Grammar and Spelling Mistakes**: Don’t let your content be haunted by poor grammar and spelling mistakes. Proofread meticulously to avoid spooking potential customers away. Here’s a little secret, sshhh! A great tool we use is Grammarly https://www.grammarly.com/. There are both free and paid options – use it!

2. **Vanishing Act on Social Media**: Don’t disappear from social media! Consistency is key; keep your social media presence active with regular updates. The more you engage with your audience, the more invested in your brand they will be. This doesn’t mean you have to be on social media for 10 hours a day. You can stay consistent using our handy 5 things a day resources https://www.green-umbrella.biz/5-a-day

3. **Cursed Customer Service**: Don’t neglect your customers – seems obvious, right? Responding to comments, DM’s, emails and concerns promptly maintains a positive reputation.

4. **Hiding in the Shadows**: Don’t hide your unique selling points in the shadows. Clearly communicate what sets your business apart, why people should work with you instead of your competitors, to attract and retain clients and customers. Don’t be shy – show up, back you!

5. **Zombie-like Social Media Automation**: Don’t rely solely on social media automation. Whilst scheduling tools and other automation tools are great for ensuring consistency, they’ll never beat real human interactions. Make sure you’re responding to comments and engaging with your audience in real-time.

6. **Ignoring Analytics**: Don’t ignore the analytics cemetery. Regularly analyse your marketing efforts to understand what’s working and what isn’t. Use data-driven insights to make informed decisions and refine your strategies.

Marketing Treats

1. **Craft Ghostly Narratives**: Storytelling is so, so powerful! Tell captivating and compelling stories that resonate with your audience. Take them on a journey of the hell (a pain point they have), the heaven (where they want to be), and how (what they need to do to get there…work with you!). But don’t give all your secrets away, you want to leave out some details to entice them to come directly to you. A story that sends a shiver down their spine can help them to create a memorable connection with your brand.

2. **Summon Social Media Engagement**: Your social media presence should feel like the hub of a community. Engage your audience with spine-chilling polls, spooky quizzes, and frighteningly fun contests that encourage active participation. Facebook and Instagram stories are great for this. Start the day with an engagement piece to ensure you’re getting more eyes on the salesly stuff you add later on.

3. **Witchy Webinars and Podcasts**: Hosting webinars or podcasts is a great way to capture leads. We often host regular free webinars focussing on the topics we’re hearing and seeing in the industry. Include an offer to a product and service, tease your audience during the introduction and reveal towards the end of the webinar.  

4. **Ghoulishly Good Graphics**: Invest in visually striking graphics and designs that capture the essence of your message without being overly cliché. A well-designed, visual identity can leave a lasting impact. You can find out more about the good and bad practices when choosing an image on our previous blog https://www.green-umbrella.biz/images-for-social-media/

5. **Cryptic Email Newsletters**: Email marketing is not dead. Send out intriguing email newsletters that pique curiosity. Use mysterious subject lines and captivating visuals to entice readers to open your emails and explore your content.

6. **Apparitional Appreciation**: Show your audience appreciation with ghostly gestures. Surprise them with exclusive, limited-time offers, or send handwritten notes expressing gratitude for their continued support. This is a great way to keep your audience engaged and invested in you and your brand.

By weaving a web of captivating narratives and engaging with your audience, your business can have a bewitching impact that stands out from the rest. It’s time to grab your broomsticks and cauldrons, and let the magic of marketing propel your business to spooktacular success!

Right, enough of the Halloween references, if you want to know how Green Umbrella can help with your marketing strategy, get in touch with us. I promise there’ll be no more cheesy cliches!