Category: Cannabis

Just because recreational and medical marijuana has become a legal and accepted practice throughout the United States and Canada, it doesn’t mean that any of us automatically know where to go or how to get pot without being ripped off, disappointed, or worse. Here are eight ways to help you find a marijuana dispensary.

Finding a marijuana dispensary may not be as simple as going to the first shop you see. Because of the recent explosion in legalization, you as a consumer now have options. Which can actually be a little intimidating when you haven’t bought pot in 25 years and the last time you did, some weird guy named Steven spent 3 hours explaining to you why the purple haze was totally worth $500 an ounce, as you sat awkwardly on a couch littered in cheeto crust and reeking of patchouli.

Luckily for you, we have eight ways to get you comfortable with marijuana again. We break down what to look for, what to ask, and how to find a marijuana dispensary.

What’s my goal?

So, why are you picking up some Mary Jane in the first place? What frame of mind are you hoping to achieve? Is it a recreational thing? A medical necessity? Or just for general wellbeing? Knowing what you want from your pot can help you more easily sniff out the right pot-shop to fit your needs.

Is the atmosphere right?

To find marijuana dispensaries that suit your needs best, you first have to be comfortable in the shop itself. If something more low key, with local growers and freshly stoned budtenders, is more your style, there is an incense smoke-filled shop waiting for you. If you prefer a more modern and sleek approach, akin to a nice microbrewery, with budtenders that have their weed knowledge down to a science, that also definitely exists. Looking for something a little more medically minded? There are shops that are so clean and minimal, they give pharmacies a run for their money.

The point is, that in order to become a regular and really trust what their staff is telling you, you have to find a marijuana dispensary that makes you feel comfortable the second you step foot in the door.

Do you feel safe?

Right, so it can seem like a pretty ridiculous question, but because of the hinky legality of marijuana, it is a cash-based business that roots itself in the buying and selling of intoxicants. It’s important that whatever marijuana dispensary you choose, you know that their product is of the highest quality and that they are in a safe neighborhood, even if that means a bit of a commute.

What’s your base knowledge?

If your brand new to marijuana, or haven’t consumed it in some time, get ready to be shocked, if not a little overwhelmed, by all of the different strains, routes of administration, and technical lingo that goes along with contemporary marijuana use. Find a marijuana dispensary that offers a wide range of cannabis products. Do a little research before you go in, but expect to rely pretty heavily on the knowledge of the staff before you settle on one dispensary. Try out different products and suggestions to make sure you get a good fit.

Do you like the staff?

Budtenders should be one of your most prized resources when navigating the high seas (no pun intended) of finding a marijuana dispensary that fits your style. A well-educated staff is a great way to learn all of the new language, products, and delivery systems that are associated with the ever-growing field of cannabis. The staff should be able to easily and understandably communicate to you the best choices for your needs. If the dispensary your considering doesn’t have a staff you feel you can trust, then it’s time to look elsewhere.

What is the quality like?

There is always a discrepancy in price, no matter what good or service you’re purchasing. Make sure that just because it’s cheap (or unnecessarily expensive) it isn’t poor quality. Make sure you know what you’re paying for and why. A good marijuana dispensary will be able to tell you a little bit about how their product grows. What sort of chemicals and growing methods they use, and essentially how they come to have it in their stores. Quality can be difficult to determine just by a single purchase, so if you think you’ve found a marijuana dispensary that you like, make sure to try a few different products.

Do they carry the right variety?

Cannabis comes in all different shapes, sizes, tastes, aromas, and THC/CBD levels. Some strains will get you pumped to change the world, while others will make it easy to relax. Some can help combat chronic pain, or even help fight disease.  Knowing what frame of mind you’d like to experience can help determine what type of cannabis you’d like to buy. Make sure that you find a cannabis dispensary that carries many strains so that you can get exactly what you’re looking for, even if that changes with each visit.

How much does it cost?

And what exactly are you paying for? Knowing what your future weed dealer will cost you, and why it is cheap/expensive are two very important parts of finding the right marijuana dispensary. Is it cheap because a factory produces it and covers it with chemicals? Is it expensive because the shop owner has to cover the cost of all of that gorgeous mid-century modern decor? Shop around and find a happy medium for both price and quality. Take your time and enjoy discovering why cheap weed is cheap and the expensive stuff is, well… expensive.

Moreover, in case you are a cannabis dispensary owner, you can always check our other article related to improving the online visibility of your dispensary using dispensary SEO techniques.

Whether you’ve started a new dispensary or you’re looking for ways to increase your existing customer base, dispensary SEO techniques can get your business growing strong.

Marijuana use laws become more user-friendly by the day. Twenty-nine states, plus the District of Columbia, have already legalized marijuana use. Also, one in five Americans currently resides in a state where they can consume marijuana at their leisure. Which means big business for growers, sellers, and dispensaries.

With booms in business, also comes waves of startups and competitors. The process can be confusing and sometimes defeating if you can’t get your firm to stand above the rest. Using common and accepted dispensary SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) practices can help give your business the nudge it needs. Reach more clients and continue on a higher trajectory!

Why is dispensary SEO important?

Marijuana Business Daily projects revenue generated by retailers and dispensaries to reach anywhere from 6.5 to 8 billion dollars by 2019. That’s quite a provocative claim for anyone who is looking to start or maintain their livelihood within the legal weed game.

People from all over the United States and Canada are clamouring to take part in such an exciting business opportunity. However, creating any successful business takes an unprecedented amount of dedication and hard work. Let alone breaking into one of the hottest trends in capitalist venture during our time!

How does dispensary SEO work?

Dispensary SEO is a collection of techniques and strategies aimed at improving the visibility of your physical business locally by using a series of different marketing and optimisation tools. According to a recent report from the US Department of Commerce, e-commerce sales brought in an estimated 1.3 billion dollars in 2018, with a 16.4% increase since 2017. And trends have been steadily on the rise since 2008.

It’s no secret that every successful business from our era has an equally successful website associated with it. Using dispensary SEO techniques can ensure that your firm’s website (and thus your local dispensary) structure drives traffic from potential customers directly to your digital doorbell. Dispensary SEO companies use search engine optimization as well as on-page and off-page content. This associates your business more readily with what your potential customer base is doing on a day to day basis.

Search Engine Optimization

Using specifically designed SEO practices to fit your dispensary, dispensary SEO uses algorithms to decipher just exactly what it is that your potential customer base is searching the web for, and how they see it. This process is largely reliant on understanding key search terms, or keywords. Once it’s known what your customer base is looking for, it’s easier to create content and a digital footprint suits them. This makes your business platform the convenient and most easily accessible go-to for what they need at a specific time.

On-page and Off-page Content

Dispensary SEO is largely made to be peerless in the practice of internet business solely due to its multifaceted approach. It uses on-page and off-page content alongside other standard cannabis SEO techniques. On-page content is everything that your website is. All of the content that is held within your business website itself. On-page content still utilizes the use of keywords to create relevancy for your platform within a search engine. Fresh and new on-page content, like having a blog section, or updates, are a great way to hold existing customer base interest, while at the same time improving the ranking of your page itself.

Off-page content has to do with articles, blogs, or other digital content that is related to your business platform. The more off-page content your business site is affiliated with, the more relevant to search engine rankings your business becomes. On top of that, the more off-page content your site is affiliated with, the more visible you become to potential customer pools that you may not be privy to yet. By being associated with things the customer base is already familiar with or looking for, your business is given credibility. This will make it have piqued interest all in one fell swoop!

Where do I find dispensary SEO for my business?

Talking to other similarly structured, or minded, businesses can be a great place to start. There is also a wealth of information on available dispensary SEO companies online. Always make sure that during any initial marketing interview that the Marijuana SEO company that you are choosing truly fits that vision that you have for your business. Ensure a good working relationship with anyone that you choose to represent your business. After all, the face of your business is crucial. Be happy to continue growing, together!

Have you got any questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us! We would be happy to hear from you.

So, you’ve recognized that as marijuana becomes legalized in more countries, the market increases and spots open up for your new cannabis business. Smart, but now what? Learn how cannabis SEO can get your business off the ground quickly and get you the attention your business deserves.

The widespread, and even wider spreading, legalization of cannabis throughout the US has given rise to a once in a century opportunity for startups to get into the business at the ground floor. Just like all of those people that jumped on automobile production at the turn of the last century, computer programming exploded in the 80’s, and social media guru’s reigned in the 90’s, we have countless examples of why it’s important to get into these businesses the moment the opportunity arises, and start building a brand that will hopefully one day be associated exclusively with your product.

Words like Ford, Chapstick, Kleenex, Facebook, Apple – they are all brands that have become completely synonymous with their respective products. If I say the name of the brand, you instantaneously know what product I’m talking about. This all has to do with knowing how to market your product to your audience, in a way that they easily understand. In the age of the internet, this means SEO for Cannabis business.

Cannabis SEO: What is it?

Cannabis SEO is a type of digital marketing that is tailored exclusively to fit the marijuana businesses’ needs. It works for both medical and recreational cannabis businesses. Cannabis SEO improves a business’s online presence, traffic, navigation, and even aids in improving local potential customer interest. Ultimately, the goal of Cannabis SEO is to increase conversions (lead, call, contact form, direction request – Google Maps, newsletter subscription or sale) and thus potential revenues by getting your cannabis-related website more visible online with content marketing and SEO.

Improving Online Presence

Cannabis SEO improves businesses’ online presence in many ways, but most notably in making it more directly visible to potential customers thru search engines such as Google. SEO techniques improve things like Google and other search engine rankings, getting you coveted first-page status where your website/shop/brand will be noticeable. Through the use of relevant content creation, your firm is then directly associated with topics, blogs, and other web pages that are important to your potential customer base.

Traffic and Navigation

Cannabis SEO not only improves where your website ranks among all the rest but also focuses on what gets people to choose your site. Focusing on new and exciting digital content for potential customers, easily navigable and user-friendly pages that encourage customers to share their great experiences, and in-depth analysis of direct competitors to secure your own niche in the market are all ways that an optimum SEO strategy not only improves your business but secures your brand.

Local Online Marketing

Local Cannabis SEO strategies offer your business the ability to promote itself to local customers in real time. Customers in today’s market readily search for necessary business services and goods online before just about anywhere else, so it’s important that if those customers are looking for your product, your business can be found quickly and easily. SEO drives geographically-relevant traffic directly to your site, letting them know that you’re nearby and your business provides exactly what they’re looking for. This is particularly relevant for marijuana businesses such as cannabis dispensary or local accessories resellers.

Cannabis SEO: Why does it work?

Cannabis SEO works based off of research and algorithms that clearly define what exactly it is that your potential customers are looking for. By defining what it is that each client is searching for online explicitly, SEO techniques for Cannabis tailor your digital content directly to those cannabis-related keywords. Allowing your brand and your business to become visible anytime someone is looking for a product or service that you offer. Moreover, if you are planning on having success with your cannabis-related business, you will need to attract attention and get noticed to be able to sell your products or services. As paid advertising for marijuana-related products is currently prohibited along with all the major online digital platforms (Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), your only chance to be visible online where and when your customers will look for you is SEO.

Cannabis SEO: How does it differ from “normal” SEO?

Basic SEO marketing is generally integrated into a cannabis SEO strategy in ways that are right for your marijuana-related business. Where they differ is that cannabis SEO focuses everything on this very specific niche! Everything is thought to target and meet the needs of your potential customers online. Depending on the objective of your website as well as the different approaches between medial and recreational uses, Cannabis SEO is made to create and implement a unique strategy for your cannabis business!

Conclusion

It seems that SEO for cannabis-related businesses is the solution for online visibility of all the new (and already existent) firms that are flourishing due to the massive growth of the marijuana market in the US but also internationally.

If you are interested in knowing more about Marijuana SEO, you can check out our dedicated service page to this topic. We share our process and describe precisely this our Marijuana SEO service that was created for cannabis-related companies, brands, products or services.