Halloween Marketing for Small Businesses: 6 QR Code Ideas
By ERAGO · Published · 3 min read
Halloween is one of the easiest times of year to get people to scan something. Customers are already in a playful mood, so a themed QR code on a table, window or flyer feels like part of the fun, not an ad. Here are six ideas a small business can set up in an afternoon.
1. A spooky seasonal menu
For cafés and restaurants: put your limited Halloween drinks and desserts on their own page and add a QR code linking to it on every table. Customers see the specials, and you don't have to reprint the whole menu. In November, point the same code back to your regular menu.
2. A window promo
Stick a QR code on your shop window with a short line like "Scan for a treat." Link it to a discount page or a WhatsApp chat. A window code works even after closing time, when nobody is there to greet passers-by.
3. Costume contest voting
Running a costume night? Print one QR code per contestant, or a single code that opens a voting form. Guests vote from their phones, and you announce the winner without counting paper slips.
4. A trick-or-treat card in every bag
Add a small QR card to each shopping bag or delivery order. Link it to a "trick or treat" page with a random coupon, a short video or a playlist. It costs very little and gives customers a reason to come back.
5. Event tickets and RSVPs
For event organizers: put the QR code on posters and flyers and link it straight to your ticket or RSVP page. Use a short link with a readable name, like erago.site/hauntednight, so people can type it if they can't scan.
6. Social follows at the counter
A QR code by the cashier that opens your Instagram or TikTok turns walk-in visitors into followers. Pair it with a Halloween photo spot and ask people to tag you. Got several accounts? Point the code to a free ERAGO bio page instead, so one scan shows all your links.
Make it look like Halloween (and still scan)
Orange and black is the obvious palette, but bright orange is too light to scan well on white. Use a darker orange such as #c2410c for the corner eyes, with near-black dots on a white or cream background. In the QR studio you can set the dot color, corner color and center-dot color separately, and the studio warns you when contrast drops below 3:1. Bright orange #F97316 on white triggers that warning. You can also add your logo; see how to make a QR code with a logo.
Test-scan with two different phones before you print.
Reuse the code after October 31
This is the part most people miss: if your QR code points to an ERAGO short link, you can change where it goes after it's printed, for free. The table cards, window stickers and bag inserts you print for Halloween can lead to your year-end menu or a new promo in November. No reprint needed.
A free account includes 25 short links, so one code per idea above still leaves plenty of room. Pro ($5/month) adds scan analytics and unlimited links, handy if you want to see which spot gets scanned most.
Coming soon: Spooky presets
From October 19 to November 1, the QR studio gets ready-made Spooky presets, so you can pick a Halloween style in one click.
Design your Halloween QR code →
FAQ
Can I use orange in a QR code?
Yes, but choose a darker orange such as #c2410c. Bright orange on white is below a 3:1 contrast ratio and may not scan reliably.
What happens to my Halloween QR code after October?
If it points to an ERAGO short link, you can change its destination for free, so the same printed code can lead to a new page.
Do I need a paid plan to make a Halloween QR code?
No. Custom colors, corner colors and editable short links are all free.