We hope you have a frightful Halloween!
It’s a universally acknowledged truth that October is the perfect month for visiting pumpkin patches and apple farms and indulging in PSLs and freshly baked pumpkin pie. But we can’t deny that it’s also the best time of year to get our scare on. That means going to haunted houses and mist-laden graveyards, marathoning the most bone-chilling horror movies to date, and dressing up with fake blood and gore.
Although this time of year might be scary, digital marketing doesn’t have to be! If you're running behind on the latest updates, we have compiled everything that should be on your radar to help get you up to speed.
Without further ado, we have put together five highlights we think you should know about. From Halloween marketing campaigns to Black Friday Sales ideas, here’s what happened this month in marketing.
100+ of My Favorite Halloween Puns As a Marketer [Inspired by Real Campaigns]
Source: Shutterstock
We know that Halloween is that one time of year to celebrate all things spooky. From warty witches brewing bubbling cauldrons to vengeful ghosts with unfinished business. But who says you can’t bring in some fun and humour? If you haven’t guessed already, we’re talking about the clever wordplay that leaves people either impressed or in a fit of contagious laughter: puns.
In honour of Halloween, HubSpot recaps some un-BOO-lievably hilarious puns from big-name brands this month, including Hulu, Target, Yankee Candle, and more. The blog also gives a long list of puns that marketers can use for inspiration. These puns aren’t exclusive to marketing campaigns, but can also be applied for discounts and product offers–or even just for fun.
Here are a few of our personal favourites:
- It’s the most wonderful time of the fear. Take a look at this year’s Halloween line up.
- Enjoy the ghoul times. Sit back and relax while we handle [insert service] for you.
- Our Halloween sale is eerie-sistible.
- You don’t have to believe in ghosts to believe these savings.
To see the most spook-tacular Halloween puns of 2023, read the full blog here.
DALL-E 3 Image Generator Now Accessible In ChatGPT Plus
In the digital marketing world, artificial intelligence seems to be on everyone’s mind. One of the most common AI tools being used is OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which also offers an optional subscription known as ChatGPT Plus. It implements a more advanced and capable language model called “GPT-4” and, more recently, grants you access to the DALL-E 3 Image Generator.
The Search Engine Journal explains that the DALL-E 3 Image Generator enables users to provide textual prompts and, in turn, receive automatically generated images. This new feature in ChatGPT’s subscription service aims to churn out images that offer “enhanced visual detail” and “crisper imagery”, while being quick and responsive to prompts.
Now that ChatGPT Plus is automating AI images, businesses can expect to streamline daily operations and save more time, while focusing on other priorities to meet their bottom line. However, the DALL-E 3 Image Generator has encountered its fair share of challenges. This has led to a growing concern over the tool propagating harmful content, breaching ethical codes and violating copyright rules and regulations.
For the full details, read the Search Engine Journal’s blog here.
2024 Paris Olympics ad sales are ‘pacing ahead’ of past games, NBCU says
The 2024 Paris Olympics won’t be taking place until next summer, but marketers are already fighting to the death to spotlight major brands. The Marketing Brew reveals that NBCUniversal already sold all of the ad slots for the live airing and streaming of the Opening Ceremony, in addition to slots for “PrimePods”, a new linear and streaming ad format.
With NBC attracting a myriad of advertisers, there is a huge spike in automotive and pharmaceutical brand interest. This trend is also significantly higher compared to previous games, and that only goes to show the power of advertising in today’s digital age. But it doesn’t end there; advertisers have also shown an eagerness to participate in the Paralympic Games, which will occur right after the Olympic Games draw to a close.
Aside from advertisements, NBCU is also investing considerably in social media. (Long gone are the days when paying for a social media marketing service was considered an unnecessary expense!) Moreover, the leading media and entertainment company will distribute short-form content on platforms, like X and TikTok. In the same way as this year’s Super Bowl, we can also expect to see collaborations with creators making content for the games.
You can stream the 2024 Paris Olympics on Peacock. For more information, click the link here to read the blog.
How To Write Headlines That Hook: 8 Questions To Ask
Without a doubt, headlines are the most important aspect of content writing that should instantly reel in your target audience. According to the Content Marketing Institute, 8 out of 10 people will read the headline, but only two will read the rest.
For this reason, your headline needs to be succinct and punchy. At the same time, it should also compel potential leads to continue reading ahead and take further action by perusing your business’s website or clicking the “Contact Us” button. If that happens, that’s how you know you have quality content in your possession.
When it comes to your brand’s content, the Content Marketing Institute explains that there are some questions you should be able to answer with a confident “yes”. Here is a sneak peek of a few ones they believe you should be asking yourself:
- Does the headline promise a benefit to the audience?
- Is the headline specific?
- Does the headline identify the target audience?
- Does a headline evoke curiosity?
If you want to learn more to fine-tune your brand’s content, read the blog here.
16 inspiring small business Black Friday ideas to drum up sales
Source: Shutterstock
Black Friday (and Cyber Monday) may be next month, but now is the time for businesses to prepare for big-time sales. After all, no one wants to push their holiday shopping to the last minute and frantically search for items that aren’t even discounted. If anything, consumers see November as the perfect time to take full advantage of limited-time offers and purchase everything on their loved ones’ wish lists.
With all that being said, it’s necessary to have an action plan in mind to ensure you rake in extra profit. If you’re a small business and have no idea how to stand out from bigger brands, have no fear. In their latest blog, Wix shares a whopping 16 ideas that can help you attract more customers during the Black Friday craze. Each idea details the steps you should take to create a foolproof strategy and fully maximize profit.
Take a look at some of Wix’s suggestions below:
- Build value with product bundles
- Create curated collections
- Run a flash sale
- Build some mystery
- Sweeten the deal with freebies
Do you want the full scoop on how to generate more sales for your small business this Black Friday? Click the link here.
Wrap Up
This blog went over fun Halloween puns that marketers can use to their advantage.
Then, we went over ChatGPT Plus’s latest feature, the DALL-E 2 Image Generator.
Next, we learned how digital marketing is being integrated into the 2024 Paris Olympics.
After that, we discussed the importance of headlines in creating effective content.
Finally, we went over Black Friday sales ideas for small businesses.
Any questions, comments, or concerns? We’d love to hear your feedback!
We’ll be back next month with five new articles for you. In the meantime, if you’re looking to learn more, please check out our existing blogs that cover various digital marketing topics!
