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Business Advice

How To Run a Successful Stoptober Campaign and Effectively Connect with Smokers

By Katie Loomes 30th August 2024 4 Mins

ADVERTISMENT: Flonq AD

Stoptober is a significant smoking cessation initiative recognised for facilitating the largest number of quit attempts every year in England.

Since its formation in 2012, more than 2.3 million individuals have attempted to quit smoking in England.

Unlike earlier quit-smoking campaigns that focused on harm reduction, Stoptober promotes a message of hope and encouragement.

stoptober 2024 logo

Stoptober creates a valuable opportunity for vape and alternative nicotine companies to connect with smokers and assist them in making the switch through their marketing efforts during October.

We’ll provide strategies to help you run a successful campaign this Stoptober, whilst following the UK e-cigarette product and advertising regulations.

3 strategies to increase sales

1. Drive Stoptober’s effectiveness

It is essential to remind individuals of the effectiveness of Stoptober. Those who commit to quitting for 28 days are five times more likely to achieve success.

Evaluate your product offerings, take into account their smoking behaviours, and suggest a product that increases their likelihood of quitting.

2. Share quit smoking success stories

Sharing success stories is a great way to establish trust and credibility with potential customers.

By sharing case studies of how your products have helped people make the switch from smoking, you will showcase the real experiences of individuals who have had a successful experience and demonstrate the value of your product.

This can be achieved through testimonials from customers you’ve helped to quit smoking.

3. Create fact-based educational content

Launch an educational campaign by developing materials like videos, infographics, blog articles, and in-store POS for retailers. These educational initiatives can foster customer loyalty and enhance brand recognition, ultimately attracting new customers.

This is a great chance to provide factual information about smoking and vaping, such as the Public Health England statistic that “Vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking.”

Why messaging is so important

The importance of messaging in product promotion cannot be overstated.

When reaching out to smokers, it’s vital to understand that their main concerns often lie beyond the specifics of choosing a safer alternative nicotine product.

Their primary focus is usually on their wish to quit smoking and enhance their health and well-being. It’s important to shift your approach from simply selling a product to promoting a smoke-free lifestyle.

This change in messaging calls for a better grasp of what motivates smokers and what they aspire to achieve. They are looking for a solution that not only helps them move away from traditional cigarettes but also aids them in their quest for a healthier, smoke-free life.

By highlighting the positive transformation your product can provide, you can craft a more engaging story that truly connects with potential customers.

Choosing your marketing channels

Even though quitting smoking offers numerous advantages for individuals, the options for marketing to them as a vape business are somewhat restricted. Allowed advertising methods include cinema, billboards, and bus ads, which are all great ways to connect with potential smokers.

Make the most of your website and enhance your SEO to attract the right audience. Concentrate on quit-smoking subjects for your blog; timeless topics like how-to guides, helpful resources, and answers to common questions will keep your content relevant for years to come.

Direct mail marketing is a powerful approach to engage potential customers and provide them with valuable information about your products or services. It often outperforms online marketing because of the ability to personalise messages. This personalisation can be particularly effective in reaching smokers.

Consider partnering with Vapouround Media for your next mail campaign, we have a ready-made database of vapers and smokers that can be tailored to fit your specific target audience.

How to ensure compliance

It’s important to ensure that any advertisements comply with UK e-cigarette product regulations and the UK advertising codes.

Stick to allowed marketing channels, avoid making medical claims, refrain from using individuals under 25 or directing ads at those under 18, and if your product contains nicotine, that should be clearly stated in the advert. Following these simple steps will help ensure compliance.

Need more help with your Stoptober marketing?

If you’re looking for help with your campaign, or advertising promotion, we have a range of strategies and opportunities to help you. Contact Vapouround Media to start a Stoptober marketing collaboration today!

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About this author

Katie Loomes

Katie has been part of the Vapouround team since the very beginning. As Marketing Director, she has witness first hand how the UK and international industry has changed and evolved over the last 10 years; what products have stood the test of time and what trends have fallen by the wayside. She has ample knowledge on how the industry adapts, innovates and grows, as well as knowledge on navigating the tricky landscape of marketing and advertising vapes, both online and in print.