Choosing a Halloween mask often involves researching what other people are planning to wear to fright night parties. Creative people often express their individuality by picking a unique Halloween mask that will stand out in a crowd of partygoers.
This analysis is based on average monthly Google search results for the keyword phrase “Halloween masks 2009”. Current statistics for Google search results are publicly available by visiting Google’s free online AdWords keywords tool.
By organizing the number of average monthly Halloween mask searches into meaningful categories, the most-searched-for characteristics of these masks were then used to develop profiles of some common Halloween masks likely to be seen at end-of-October parties.
Most Searched Halloween Masks by Color
White was used most often in Halloween mask searches involving color, followed by black mask queries. Blue and clear were the least popular search terms for Halloween mask information. Below are the average monthly statistics pertinent to Halloween mask colors.
- White Halloween mask … 1,780 average monthly searches (39% of color-related keywords)
- Black Halloween mask … 1,000 searches (21.9%)
- Red Halloween mask … 590 searches (12.9%)
- Green Halloween mask … 480 searches (10.5%)
- Blue Halloween mask … 390 searches (8.5%)
- Clear Halloween mask … 320 searches (7%).
Most Searched Halloween Masks by Material
There were far more searches for silicone Halloween masks than for latex and plastic versions. High-quality silicone masks consist of an extremely flexible rubber that is skin-soft. Fitted to the contours of the face, silicone masks enable their wearers to enjoy free mouth and head movement while allowing full vision, hearing and natural breathing. Consumers should be aware, however, that lower-end silicone masks often tear unless they are reinforced in mask areas subject to high stress.
- Silicone Halloween mask … 10,100 searches (74.4% of materials-related searches)
- Latex Halloween mask … 2,900 searches (21.3%)
- Plastic Halloween mask … 590 searches (4.3%).
Stiff plastic and latex masks are prone to a host of problems such as dry rotting, paint chipping and excessive sweating. Allergic reactions particularly to Halloween masks made of latex rubber create another concern which may explain the higher number of average monthly searches for silicone products.
Most Searched Halloween Masks by Theme
If Google search keywords accurately reflect the mood of this year’s trick or treat mask wearers, Halloween 2009 will be a scary affair indeed. Almost 75% of Google searches involved terms like scary, spooky, horror or the devil associated with a Halloween mask. An interest in clown masks offers some light-hearted relief.
- Scary or spooky … 81,380 searches (47.9% of theme-related searches)
- Clown Halloween mask … 42,900 searches (25.2%)
- Halloween monster mask … 24,700 searches (14.5%)
- Horror mask searches … 12,100 searches (7.1%)
- Devil mask … 8,100 searches (4.8%)
- Celebrity Halloween masks … 390 searches (0.2%)
- Wars Halloween masks … 390 searches (0.2%).
Most Searched Halloween Masks by Character
Similarly, the personas associated with Halloween mask searches mostly represent menacing and horrifying characters. The nu metal group Slipknot is as well known for its masks as the band is known for dark, aggressive music that explores nihilism, anger, misanthropy and psychosis.
Michael Myers is the mass-murdering protagonist from the Halloween series of slasher films, while A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddie Krueger is the undead antagonist who can attack victims from within their own dreams.
- Slipknot Halloween mask … 136,100 searches (51% of character-related searches)
- Michael Myers Halloween mask … 110,579 searches (41.4%)
- Freddy Halloween mask … 12,100 searches (4.5%)
- Frankenstein mask … 4,400 searches (1.7%)
- Joker Halloween mask … 1,900 searches (0.7%)
- Saw Halloween mask … 1,000 searches (0.4%)
- Kirk Halloween mask … 140 searches (0.05%)
- Rorschach Halloween mask … 58 searches (0.02%).
Star Trek enthusiasts may argue that Captain Kirk represents an upbeat mask of hope; others point to the fact that the chilling Michael Myers mask was based on the actor who portrayed Kirk, William Shatner. Finally, Rorschach is a dark vigilante superhero from the Watchmen movie released in March.
Most Searched Halloween Masks by Celebrity
Perhaps because of the oversupply of Barack Obama masks from last Halloween, the US president remains in first place among celebrity Halloween masks. Always popular around Halloween given the success of the music-video Thriller, Michael Jackson masks are today receiving an increase in searches. However, some of the ghoulish Jackson masks available are controversial given the sensitivities surrounding the King of Pop’s recent death.
- Barack Obama Halloween mask … 4,420 searches (66.6% of celebrity-related searches)
- Michael Jackson Halloween mask … 910 searches (13.7%)
- Bush Halloween mask … 390 searches (5.9%)
- Joe Paterno Halloween mask … 420 searches (6.3%)
- Nixon Halloween mask … 91 searches (1.4%)
- Bob Dylan Halloween mask … 86 searches (1.30%).
Nicknamed JoePa and with a face as intriguing as Richard Nixon’s visage, Joe Paterno is the inspiring head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions. JoePa has more bowl game victories and undefeated seasons than any other coach in college football history. Bob Dylan’s mask may well represent the most notable singer-song writer in U.S. history.
Question: Search for a Unique Mask or Go with Crowd?
Based on the above keyword searches for Halloween masks, finding a unique Halloween mask may mean avoiding characters from popular horror movies. Otherwise, one runs the risk of seeing many others wearing the same spooky mask at the Halloween party - something guaranteed to take away from a mask's scare effect.
More creative Halloween mask searchers are focusing on individuals like football coaching legend Joe Paterno and timeless poet Bob Dylan. Masks from unique leaders like golf superstar Tiger Woods or Bono from U2 will also instil some distinctive Halloween hope in the midst of an economic crisis that make this October scary enough as it is.
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