In the age of legalization, who knew marketing cannabis products, brands, and shops would be so challenging? Sure, a state or country can legalize weed, but marketing yourself without crossing rules or regulations can be a difficult feat.

This guide focuses on dispensary marketing. After all, without our cherished dispensaries, we’d still be buying weed from the street. Some consumers still do.

In order to spread the word about your dispensary, you must position yourself in the market with a fool-proof marketing strategy specifically designed for dispensaries. Not sure what that looks like? Read on to learn more about effectively promoting a cannabis dispensary online.

Before consumers stop by a shop, the first thing they’ll do is check out the website. That, and view your ratings on Google. Because of this, building an online presence is essential for a dispensary. Here are some ways to do it.

Building An Easy-To-Navigate Website: Dispensaries must have a website. As mentioned, consumers will likely visit your website before they stop by. Create a website that’s easy to navigate, clearly states your brand’s mission and who you are, and shares what products you offer. Letting consumers purchase products from your website is also a huge benefit.

Using Social Media: It’s almost essential for every brand and dispensary to have a social media page. For starters, it helps you build your own community. Secondly, it helps new customers get an idea of what to expect. You can encourage your customers to leave reviews on Google or share the inside scoop on new deals and discounts. In short, using social media to market your dispensary will only benefit you. Follow brands that your shop carries and build your following organically.

Creating Written Content With SEO In Mind: If you’re looking to generate organic traffic to your website, create a blog section with SEO-oriented articles. SEO stands for search engine optimization. Using keywords and phrases that are often searched for on Google will help you rank better in search engine results when consumers search about that topic you’ve written about. Do that by using relevant keywords, creating high-quality content, and building backlinks.

Let’s face it, online advertising in the cannabis industry is no walk in the park. Certain social media platforms will remove your post or ban your page altogether if you cross their rules and regulations regarding cannabis content. Here are some tips for dispensaries to leverage online advertising.

Use Social Media: I know, I just said it was challenging, but I didn’t say it was impossible. Twitter recently became the first major social media platform to allow cannabis advertisements with the proper licensing. Posting brand-oriented content rather than product content will help you stay in the clear on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Team Up With Influencers: There are tons of cannabis influencers who are eager to partner with brands and dispensaries. It’s a win-win. You can share some products and deals with them, and they’ll use their audience to spread the word about your shop. We suggest writing a script you can send to different influencers, encouraging them to partner with you.

Email Marketing: Encourage your audience to sign up for your newsletter. This way, you can give in-depth rundowns of new deals, products, and offerings to consumers who truly care (since they’ve voluntarily signed up).

You can’t start marketing your dispensary without an effective marketing strategy. You could hire a marketing team or find ways to market yourself with help from the tips below.

Membership & Loyalty Programs: One surefire way of intriguing potential customers is by offering loyalty and membership programs. By slashing prices on various products for members or offering discounts to repeat customers, people will feel more inclined to see what you have to offer.

Host Events: In-person marketing is a great way for dispensaries to make themselves known. By hosting events with live music, vendors, entertainment, and more, your dispensary will attract an entirely new audience. Anyone in the area will feel inclined to stop by, and that way, you can inform them about your shop and why you chose to host the event.

Partner With Complementary Businesses: Is there a yoga studio down the street from your shop? What about a wellness center? Partnering with local, like-minded businesses in your area can give you great exposure. It may help you reach new audiences, and the same for the business you’re partnering with. It’s a win-win.

Cannabis marketing can be challenging. With all the rules and regulations online and in society, it can be hard to find ways to effectively market your cannabis dispensary. With a fool-proof marketing strategy and help from the tips above, you’ll successfully spread the word about your shop in no time.