Halloween is BIG business, much more than just a fun spooky trick-or-treat event. At least 65 percent of people plan to celebrate Halloween; spending is expected to reach $10.1 billion this year alone. Since your patients are quite likely “into” Halloween, you can safely add a bit of Halloween fun to your dental marketing.
A few Halloween ideas:
#1 - Open up for trick-or-treat!
Send out an email, inviting parents to bring costumed kids to your practice in the early evening, before trick-or-treating begins.
#2 - Dental goodie bags
No sugary candy in these bags! Give young patients bags with stickers, pretzels, nuts, or small toys. Send a Halloween-dressed staffer to nearby offices to hand out bags for adults — toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, pretzels.
#3 - Costume contest!
Host a costume contest on social media — and ask patients to wear healthcare- or dental-related costumes (dracula’s teeth?). They must post their pictures on social media and tag your office. Give prizes to your top choices.
#4 - Create a scary video
A dentist can have fun with this one — telling a tale of the patient who stayed away from the dentist for a very long time. The setting can be the dentist’s cubicle (darkened, with cobwebs, spiders, etc.), and a patient wearing fake rotted teeth or over-sized dentures. Post the video on TikTok or YouTube, then share on social media. You’ll create a fun bit of buzz for your practice.
There’s no reason why you can’t have a little Halloween fun with your healthcare or dental patients — and promote your practice at the same time. This can become a tradition, building a better connection with patients, and sending the unspoken message — “make an appointment.”