Snapchat never fails to engage its users with innovative content, particularly during festive seasons. As Halloween approaches, the social media giant is resurrecting its popular Halloween-themed series, Phantom House, prompting excitement from both users and participating brands like Maybelline New York, State Farm, and Hulu. This return is not merely for entertainment; it strategically taps into the cultural zeitgeist of Halloween, translating it into opportunities for brand engagement, enhanced user interaction, and revenue growth.
Phantom House is a unique blend of storytelling through short episodes featuring a cast of popular content creators who navigate bizarre and spooky environments. This year’s incarnation promises to up the ante with four episodes that showcase Snapchat’s innovative features. By incorporating augmented reality (AR) lenses and Snap Video Ads alongside custom creator content, Snapchat places itself at the crossroads of user entertainment and brand advertising. Creators such as Tue Nguyen, Jake Koehler, Rachel Levin, and Caryn Marjorie are set to lead audiences through these eerie narratives, ensuring that the series retains its youthful and adventurous spirit.
Snapchat’s decision to bring back Phantom House is largely driven by data from last year, which showed that 80% of Snapchat users intended to use the app during Halloween. This year, users are showing even greater enthusiasm, with statistics indicating a substantial increase in anticipated spending during the Halloween period compared to the previous year. Such insights reflect Snapchat’s keen understanding of seasonal user behavior, marking Halloween as an opportune moment for promotional activities.
The involvement of renowned brands elevates Phantom House from a simple entertainment series to an integrated marketing spectacle. Maybelline, known for its strong presence in the beauty industry, emphasizes the importance of Halloween as a platform for self-expression. According to Jessica Feinstein, Maybelline’s senior vice president of marketing, the brand aims to harness Halloween as a phase when consumers feel empowered to explore their creativity. Their engagement within Phantom House will consist of branded content seamlessly woven into episode narratives, customized AR lenses, and engaging advertisements.
Following suit, State Farm and Hulu are also capitalizing on the show’s potential to drive brand awareness. State Farm will introduce its own AR Lens, pushing the possibilities of interactive advertising, while Hulu enriches its annual Huluween campaign, promoting its collection of Halloween content. The strategic choice of partnerships signifies how brands recognize the value of engaging with Snapchat users during a culturally significant time.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Phantom House is Snapchat’s dedication to augmented reality. This year, Snap has collaborated with Atomic Digital Design to create four unique AR lenses, each specifically tied to an episode of Phantom House. Offering real-time facial morphing, pet tracking, and dynamic 3D animations, these lenses provide Snapchat users with an immersive experience that goes beyond passive viewing. Imagery like a zombie-infested freezer and demon dogs transforms the spookiness of Halloween into an interactive adventure, enhancing user engagement significantly.
The engagement metrics and feedback from previous Halloween campaigns on Snapchat are indicative of the unfolding success. Research from Kantar MarketNorms points to substantial upticks in brand awareness, ad recognition, and purchase intent among users involved in Halloween-themed activities on the platform. By continuing to innovate and invest in these seasonal campaigns, Snapchat not only promotes user interaction but also paves the way for substantial growth in brand partnerships, thereby fueling economic benefits across its business model.
The revival of Phantom House fits perfectly within Snapchat’s broader strategy to boost user retention and increase revenue. Recent figures point to a 16% year-over-year revenue increase in the second quarter, showcasing impressive growth with a reported total of $1.23 million. The platform also proudly notes its active user base, now standing at 432 million daily users, illustrating a continuous upward trajectory.
As Snapchat harnesses the festive spirit attached to Halloween and merges it with compelling content and strategic brand partnerships, it not only captivates its audience but also sets the stage for ongoing profitability. The Phantom House series serves as a testament to Snapchat’s mastery of blending social interaction, creativity, and brand campaigns, solidifying its position as a platform of choice for brands seeking to connect with younger audiences during the Halloween season and beyond.